One event, very different interpretations: The case study of the AC Sparta Praha vs. Rangers FC football match coverage in Scottish, nationwide UK, and Czech media

Based on a mixed method approach (content analysis and CDA), this article examines the media coverage of a football game between AC Sparta Praha and Rangers FC, played in Prague in the autumn of 2021, that was followed by heavily mediated discussion regard- ing the controversial booing of Rangers FC player Glen Kamara, who was sent off from the game after having been given a red card due to a pair of fouls. The audience in attendance was accused of Kamara’s racist abuse, but the UEFA later decided that there was insuf- ficient evidence of racism at the match. This case study focuses on the media coverage in Scottish, Czech, and UK nationwide media, as well as related discussions on Twitter. We revealed competing constructions of reality depending on diverse interpretations of the facts and lack of intercultural understanding

Laser modification of graphene oxide layers

The effect of linearly polarized laser irradiation with various energy densities was successfully used for reduction of graphene oxide (GO). The ion beam analytical methods (RBS, ERDA) were used to follow the elemental composition which is expected as the consequence of GO reduction. The chemical composition analysis was accompanied by structural study showing changed functionalities in the irradiated GO foils using spectroscopy techniques including XPS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The AFM was employed to identify the surface morphology and electric properties evolution were subsequently studied using standard two point method measurement. The used analytical methods report on reduction of irradiated graphene oxide on the surface and the decrease of surface resistivity as a growing function of the laser beam energy density

Plasma polymers as targets for laser-driven proton-boron fusion

Laser-driven proton-boron (pB) fusion has been gaining significant interest for energetic alpha particles production because of its neutron-less nature. This approach requires the use of B- and H-rich materials as targets, and common practice is the use of BN and conventional polymers. In this work, we chose plasma-assisted vapour phase deposition to prepare films of oligoethylenes (plasma polymers) on Boron Nitride BN substrates as an advanced alternative. The r.f. power delivered to the plasma was varied between 0 and 50 W to produce coatings with different crosslink density and hydrogen content, while maintaining the constant thickness of 1 μm. The chemical composition, including the hydrogen concentration, was investigated using XPS and RBS/ERDA, whereas the surface topography was analyzed using SEM and AFM. We triggered the pB nuclear fusion reaction focusing laser pulses from two different systems (i.e., the TARANIS multi-TW laser at the Queen’s University Belfast (United Kingdom) and the PERLA B 10-GW laser system at the HiLASE center in Prague (Czech Republic)) directly onto these targets. We achieved a yield up to 108 and 104 alpha particles/sr using the TARANIS and PERLA B lasers, respectively. Radiative-hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell PIC simulations were performed to understand the laser-target interaction and retrieve the energy spectra of the protons. The nuclear collisional algorithm implemented in the WarpX PIC code was used to identify the region where pB fusion occurs. Taken together, the results suggest a complex relationship between the hydrogen content, target morphology, and structure of the plasma polymer, which play a crucial role in laser absorption, target expansion, proton acceleration and ultimately nuclear fusion reactions in the plasma

What is hidden in nuclei, let it show on the table...

The main goal of this contribution was to show using the simple way several experiments which demonstrated the important features of nuclear radiation (absorption, penetration abilities, scattering of particles). People are confronted with radiation every day (cosmic radiation, natural radioactivity). We presented wide range of applications of nuclear physics in our life (radiology diagnostics of tumours, ion beams for material research, fusion reactors for future source of energy)

Ion beams provided by small accelerators for material synthesis and characterization

The compact, multipurpose electrostatic tandem accelerators are extensively used for production of ion beams with energies in the range from 400 keV to 24 MeV of almost all elements of the periodic system for the trace element analysis by means of nuclear analytical methods. The ion beams produced by small accelerators have a broad application, mainly for material characterization (Rutherford Back-Scattering spectrometry, Particle Induced X ray Emission analysis, Nuclear Reaction Analysis and Ion-Microprobe with 1 um lateral resolution among others) and for high-energy implantation. Material research belongs to traditionally progressive fields of technology. Due to the continuous miniaturization, the underlying structures are far beyond the analytical limits of the most conventional methods. Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) techniques provide this possibility as they use probes of similar or much smaller dimensions (particles, radiation). Ion beams can be used for the synthesis of new progressive functional nanomaterials for optics, electronics and other applications. Ion beams are extensively used in studies of the fundamental energetic ion interaction with matter as well as in the novel nanostructure synthesis using ion beam irradiation in various amorphous and crystalline materials in order to get structures with extraordinary functional properties. IBA methods serve for investigation of materials coming from material research, industry, micro- and nano-technology, electronics, optics and laser technology, chemical, biological and environmental investigation in general. Main research directions in laboratories employing small accelerators are also the preparation and characterization of micro- and nano-structured materials which are of interest for basic and oriented research in material science, and various studies of biological, geological, environmental and cultural heritage artefacts are provided too

Ion beam modification of materials for optics, electronic and spintronics -ion implantation using accelerators or laser induced plasma ion generation

Ion beam modification offers a broad field of the creating the new functional materials and nano-structures for optics, electronics, spintronics and other material branches. Using ions produced by ion accelerators or implanters\nmeans the usage of the monoenergetic beams for precise doped layer, nano-particles or cluster creation by varying the ion implantation specie versus matrix combination together with the implantation energy, ion flux etc. Recently\nappears the multienergetic ion implantation which is realized by using of the intense laser shot generating plasma from the specially designed targets, where the ions are accelerated and can be then implanted into the various\nmaterials. This contribution will present an overview and comparison of different ion beam modification techniques, plasma ion implantation will be also mentioned

Trip into the atomic nuclei and back

Several examples of applications of the nuclear physics are presented in this article. Nuclear and subnuclear physics enables us to describe the fundamental level of existence of matter and to contribute to the research and development of new materials and technologies simultaneously. Radioizotopes nowadays are very helpful in diagnostics and therapy of cancer. The main task of this article was introducing of nuclear physics as a broad research discipline with fundamental results and also functional applications

Influence of the regional periodical "User Egerland" on the attitude of German speaking inhabitants of the Chebsko region to Czechoslovakia and Germany in the first half of the 20th century.

The aim of this thesis is the presentation of the regional periodical "Unser Egerland" which came out in the years 1897-1943 and was designed for German inhabitants. The thesis tries to consider the influence of this journal on the forming of opinions and attitudes of the German minority, shows the process of it´s self-consciousness and the formation of it´s national and nationalistic feeling. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first, theoretical part, describes the historical forming of Egerland and his history from 11th to 20th century. Then it presents the other journals that came out in the region Egerland at the same time as "Unser Egerland", shows Alois John as the founder of the periodical and describes the Egerlander dialect which is used in the journal very often. The second part of the thesis deals with the proper analysis of the journal and with his influence on the German minority. The important personalities, etnographers, who appeared in the periodical are presented here as well