SOLeNeMaR
Project full title: Strengthening the SOLid-state research capacities in Zagreb by the introduction of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance method
THEME 4: Research potential of Convergence Regions FP7-REGPOT-2008-1
Grant agreement no.: 229390
Duration: 03/2009-02/2012
Coordinator:
prof.dr.sc. Miroslav Požek
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Bijenicka 32, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
mpozek@phy.hr
Solid state NMR laboratory
Faculty of Science
Bijenicka 32
HR-10002 Zagreb
Croatia
Workshop: Concepts of pulsed NMR spectroscopy
Dr. Steffen Krämer from LNCMI, Grenoble, will give a series of lectures (January 23-27) about NMR: from basics of the method to applications in solid state. Abstract is here , and the examples will be from solid state physics.
Lectures will be every day 14-16 in seminar of theoretical physics, Bijenicka 32, room 201.
PhD students of solid state physics may obtain certificate of attendance in order to claim for ECTS points.
JSMD 2011
Damjan Pelc will present the work entitled "'Mesoscale organization in the gelation of gelatin'" at conference "Jülich Soft Matter Days 2011" in Bonn, Germany, November 15-18, 2011. The scientific work of this young researcher was enabled by the equipment purchased within SOLeNeMaR, and and his attendance to the conference is financially supported by SOLeNeMaR.
Franziska Hammerath visits Zagreb
In the week November 13-19, 2011, Franziska Hammerath from the Leibniz Institute for Solid State Research (IFW), Dresden is visiting PDFS in Zagreb. During the visit she will get acquainted with the new Laboratory for ssNMR and the other research groups for solid state physics in Zagreb. On Tuesday she will give a seminar "Unusual NMR Line Broadening and Spin Gap in the Zigzag S=1/2 Spin Chain Compound Sr1-xCaxCuO2"
Abstract of the seminar:
"We present 63Cu Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements on undoped SrCuO2 and Ca-doped Sr0.9Ca0.1CuO2 single crystals. The crystal structure contains one-dimensional CuO2 double chains that are magnetically decoupled due to frustration. The system orders magnetically only below 2K. Nevertheless, the Cu NMR spectra broaden already at temperatures below 100K and show an anomalous two peak structure at low temperatures, which are still far above the magnetic ordering temperature. For the Ca-doped sample, this broadening is reduced. The reason for this unusual broadening is not known, but a similar broadening has been reported for the single chain compound Sr2CuO3.
The Cu NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate, T1-1 , is temperature independent for SrCuO2, as it is expected for a one-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg spin chain. Doping with nonmagnetic, isovalent Ca takes place on the Sr sites outside the spin chains, and should not aect the magnetic properties of the compound. It is therefore very surprising that we do observe a decrease of T1-1 in Ca-doped Sr0.9Ca0.1CuO2 for temperatures below 90K that clearly evidences the opening of a gap in the spin excitation spectrum. Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) calculations of the J1-J2 Heisenberg model are presented to discuss the origin of this spin gap.
[1] F. Hammerath et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 017203 (2011)."
SOLeNeMaR presented at scientific meeting of CPS
Project SOLeNeMaR was presented at The 7th Scientific Meeting of the Croatian Physical Society, held October 13-6, 2011 in Primošten. Two scientific contributions, made on equipment purchased within the SOLeNeMaR project, were presented: "Cooperative motion of mercury ions in ionic conductor Cu2HgI4", and "Static NMR and NQR investigations of hexanuclear metallic clusters".
Exchange of experience with LPS in Orsay
Marko Bosiočić is in his second stay in Laboratoire de Physique des Solides d'Orsay, Universite Paris-Sud 11, from October 4, 2011 to February 29, 2012. He is hosted by rofessor Philippe Mendels, head of the NMR group. The aim of this stay is acquainting with the Laboratory and exchange of experience by taking part in experiments which are running there.
Dr. Hannes Kühne visits Zagreb
Dr. Hannes Kühne from Technical Institute in Dresden has visited the Physics Department from 10. to 21. September 2011. Dr. Kühne held a seminar "Quantum critical dynamics in the one-dimensional spin chain systems Cu(C4H4N2)(NO3)2 and (phzH)2CuCl4H2O.
Dr. Kühne has also put in a significant effort to improve the functioning of the NMR spectrometer in the new ssNMR lab. He implemented the programs for magnetic field control and data analysis (originally developed at the Institute in Dresden), and installed them on the setup in Zagreb. He has additionally participated in current discussions with the members of the SOLeNeMaR project and other researchers interested in his work.
Dr. Kühne's visit was more than beneficial for the future operations of the ssNMR laboratory, and for future cooperation.
2nd Trogir workshop
5.9.2011. a second workshop in solid-state NMR was opened. 65 participants, among which there is a lot of well renowned scientists, from all over the world will present the most recent results in highly correlated systems. Also, many young researchers is attending the workshop, for whom this is a unique opportunity for quality discussions.
Trogir 2011.
Exchange of experience with IFW Dresden
SOLeNeMaR project collaborator prof. dr. Hrvoje Buljan has visited the NMR group at Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung, Dresden, lead by Dr. Hans. J. Grafe from June 19th until July 8th, and from July 17th until July 29th. The aim of the visit was first getting acquinted with the solid-state NMR laboratory in one of the European centres of excellence for solid state physics, and second exploring the possibilities for extending a research topic on dynamics of so-called Loschmidt echoes, that Prof. Hrvoje Buljan is interested in, to NMR systems studied within the groups of the SOLeNeMaR project.
The visit of H. Buljan partially coincided with the visit of Prof. Dalibor Paar to the same Laboratory.
Loschmidt echoes which measure reversibility of the dynamics in classical and quantum systems have been explored in the past by using the NMR techniques. The experiments of Loschmidt echoes are particularly interesting today in the context of low dimensional quantum systems and they are performed to some extent in ultracold atomic gases. However, experiments in those systems are quite hard and NMR could be the technique that could have advantages over other techniques. These studies are currently underway.
Exchange of experience with JSI Ljubljana
In the period 1. - 29. July doc. dr. sc. Damir Pajić is staying at Jožef Stefan Institute and Institute of mathematics, physics and mechanics for exchange of knowledge and experience regarding research by NMR and NQR. Additional focus is intended on research of multiferroic and complex materials.
Exchange of experience with IFW Dresden
During the period from June 26 to July 22, 2011. assistant professor Dalibor Paar is visiting the NMR lab at IFW Dresden. He continued the cooperation in the research of superconducting ferropnictides and exchange of experience in solid-state NMR.
Exchange of experience with LPS in Orsay
Marko Bosiočić is in his first stay in Laboratoire de Physique des Solides d'Orsay, Universite Paris-Sud 11, from June 15 to July 15. He is hosted by rofessor Philippe Mendels, head of the NMR group. The aim of this stay is acquainting with the Laboratory and exchange of experience by taking part in experiments which are running there. This visit is a preparation for a longer stay in Orsay, starting from October.
SOLeNeMaR project coordinator prof. dr. Miroslav Požek has joined Marko Bosiočić July 2-10. The aim of this stay is also acquainting with the Laboratory and discussion about future cooperation. Marko Bosiočić and Miroslav Požek have presented to the hosts current stay of research in Zagreb and plans for future investigations. The presentation has attracted interest for the future cooperation between the two NMR groups.
UniZg rector award for an NMR study
Undergraduate students Tonči Cvitanić and Ivan Sudić are winners of 2010./2011. Rector award of University of Zagreb in natural sciences. The award was received for a research entiteled "Examination of glass and crystal states of ethanol by a broadband nuclear magnetic resonance technique". Research was performed in the solid state NMR laboratory under the guidance of prof. dr. Miroslav Požek. Congratulations to the winners!
doc. Pajić employed
May 2nd 2011. doc. dr. Damir Pajić joined the SOLeNeMaR project.
Seminar by dr. Seung-Ho Baek
Next Tuesday (3.5.2011.), begining at 14.15 hours a lecture named "Role of anisotropic spin fluctuations in "115" heavy fermion superconductors" will be held by dr. Seung-Ho Baek (Leibniz Institute for Solid State Research, Dresden). The lecture is organized within the framework of project SOLeNeMaR, and will take place at lecture room F201.
Abstract:
"In this talk, I will discuss the results of NMR study in PuCoGa5, whose superconducting transition temperature (18.5 K) is an order of magnitude higher than Ce- or Yb-based heavy fermion materials. The strongest anisotropy of spin fluctuations among the "115" heavy fermion compounds has been found in this compound in the normal state. By comparison with other 115 compounds, it will be suggested that the XY-type anisotropy of spin fluctuations plays an important role in promoting superconductivity in the 115 heavy fermion family."
Seminar on appliation of Mössbauer technique
On Tuesday, the 19th April, SOLeNeMaR project member dr. Brajesh Pandey will give a seminar enitled "Mössbauer Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications".
Time: 19. 04. 2011., 14:15
Place: lecture room F201
Dr. Brayesh Pandey employed as postdoctoral researcher
Dr. Brajesh Pandey from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kanpur has been employed in March at PDFS as postdoctoral researcher in the frame of SOLeNeMaR project.
Pictures from the Seminar
Photo - report from the 1st Seminar for Small and Medium Enterprises, organised by project SOLeNeMaR, are available at our website.
2nd Trogir workshop
The web-site of the second workshop for NMR in correlated systems is now open. The workshop will be held in Trogir 4.-9.9.2011., and many distinguished scientists from the field of ssNMR are invited as speakers. Registration will be available soon.
Post-doc leave
Within the SOLeNeMaR project dr. M. Grbić will leave to a post-doc position on LNCMI (Grenoble), on March 1st for further training in ss NMR technique. The arranged stay is one year.
Dr. Horvatic visits Zagrebu
dr. Mladen Horvatić from Laboratoire National des Champs Magnetiques Intenses (LNCMI) will hold a seminar talk at Physics Department on Tuesday 1.2.2011. with a topic "NMR and the physics of quantum spin systems in (high) magnetic field". Also, he will be involved in discussions regarding the latest research topics of the new ssMR laboratory, and act as a member of the comission for the PhD thesis defence by dipl. ing. M. Grbić. Abstract of the talk can be found here.
Applied physics workshop
FP7 project SOLeNeMaR is organising a workshop in applied physics for small, medium size and large enterprises in Croatia. The workshop will focus on presenting scientific capabilities in view of knowledge, human resources and technology of the Croatian scientific community. The workshop will be held on February 22nd 2011., begining at 14:00 at the Physics Department, Faculty of science, University of Zagreb.
Dr. Krämer visits Zagreb
Dr. Steffen Krämer is visiting Zagreb for the second time within the framework of the SOLeNeMaR project. The ssNMR group will discuss with him current research and development of the laboratory. Also, he will hold a seminar named "Topics and Techniques in NMR spectroscopy at ultra-high magnetic fields: From condensed matter physics to half-integer quadrupolar nuclei". Abstract of the seminar can be found here.
Opening ceremony
30.11.2010. the new solid state NMR laboratory was opened at Physics department marking the begining of a new level of research at the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, and by that also in Croatia.
The laboratory was officially opened by the minister of science, education and sports prof. dr. Radovan Fuchs, and the ceremony were also participated vice rector for science and technology prof. dr. M. Kovačević, dean of the faculty prof. dr. A. Hamzić, and other appointees and guests.
Photos of the new lab can be found here.
Video recording from Trogir workshop
Readers can find a video footage taken during the Trogir workshop on our website.
Materials from the SOLeNeMaR workshop
Participants of the I. SOLeNeMaR workshop can find photos, lecture presentations and a pdf form of the conference abstract book at the conference website. Saftey passes for the lecture presentations will additionally be sent to the participants.
I. SOLeNeMaR workshop finished
First SOLeNeMaR workshop was held last week in Trogir, where 69 scientist from all over the world prezented a large variety of topics related to the NMR research of strongly correlated systems. Appart from already world-recognized names, workshop attended around 20 young researchers who were, through this workshop, shown a broad perspective of research subjects studied by NMR.
The participants stressed the importance of such a workshop, since in the field of broad-band NMR this is the first symposium focused on the topic of strongly correlated systems.
Besides the workshop, the current status of the project and the progress of establishing an ssNMR lab at the Physics Department was presented during the SOLeNeMaR board meeting.
Also, members of the new organization board for the next workshop that will be held in 2011. was elected: Philippe Mendels, Slaven Barišić, Pietro Caretta, Hans-Joachim Grafe.
Dr. Krämer visits PDFS (Zagrebu)
Dr. Steffen Krämer from LNCMI (Grenoble) visited PDFS before proceeding to the 1st SOLeNeMaR workshop. During the visit, the organization and developement of the new ssNMR laboratory was discussed.
Also, together with prof. Požek, he performed first calibrations of the spectrometers.
First spectra measured
Soon after the successful installation of the magnet, the first experiment was done on a newly synthetized sample obtained in cooperation with dr. Berislav Perić from Rudjer Bošković Institute. Nuclear magnetic resonance of 93Nb was measured in a cluster compound. The part of a very broad spectrum is shown here. We can conclude that the ssNMR setup is now functional for broadband NMR spectroscopy.
Magnet instalation finished
At Friday, June 17th installation of the 12 T NMR magnet made by Oxford Instruments has been successfully finished. It is worth noting that this is the final large equipment acquisition foreseen by the SOLeNeMaR project. The remainder of the project is focused on scientific training and organization of two workshops where all interested can receive additional information on possibilities and application of the NMR technique in solid state physics.
Magnet installation started
On July 12, the installation of the 12 tesla NMR magnet has started. The installation is forseen until the end of the week, followed by the final acceptance of the magnet
SOLeNeMaR presented at Worldwide Magnetic Resonance Conference 2010
Project SOLeNeMaR has been presented at WWMR 2010 conference (joint EUROMAR and ISMAR conference) held in Florence (Italy) July 4-9, 2010.
Prof. dr. Miroslav Požek has presented the new established broadband ssNMR laboratory at PDFS, University of Zagreb. He has expressed interests for scientific cooperation.
Dr. Ivan Kupčić has presented theoretical work "Comparison of the occupation numbers nd in La2-xSrxCuO4 estimated by NMR/NQR and ARPES probes", showing the scientific competence of physicists grouped within the SOLeNeMaR project.
Both presentations have attracted considerable interest of the conference attendants.
12 T ssNMR magnet delivered
12 T ssNMR magnet has been delivered to the Physics Department, University of Zagreb. Due to the warranty clause, unpacking and installation of the system will begin after the arrival of the Oxford Instruments technician. In the meantime, entrances leading towards the NMR laboratory will be adapted to fit the package dimensions.
Dr. Lang visits PDFS (Zagreb)
Dr. Guillaume Lang from IFW institue in Dresden (Germany) will be staying in Zagreb next week within the SOLeNeMaR project. Aim of the visit is transfer of knowledge and experience in NMR research on novel types of superconductors. Also, he will give a lecture on Tuesday, June 1st with a topic "Probing the local properties of correlated electron systems: application to cobaltates and iron pnictides" in the large lecture hall of the Physics Department.
Lecture starts at 14:15, and the abstract can be found here.
Testing of the ssNMR magnet
5.-9.5.2010. prof. dr. M. Požek and prof. dr. A. Dulčić are visiting Oxford (Great Britain) to participate in factory testing of the 12 T ssNMR magnet. Contract for the ssNMR magnet was signed with Oxford Instruments in Spetember 2009.
Dr. Klanjšek visits PDFS (Zagreb)
Dr. Martin Klanjšek from Jozef Stefan Insititute, Ljubljana is currentli on short visit to PDFS. The aim of his visit is transfer of knowledge and experience between NMR groups in Ljubljana and Zagreb, and talks about future cooperation. Dr. Klanjšek will give a seminar „Nuclear magnetic resonance in spin Luttinger liquids“ on Tuesday, May 4th, at 14:15 in the large lecture hall of the Physics Department.
dipl. ing. M. Grbić returned from Grenoble
April 30th 2010. dipl. ing. M. Grbić has returned from a scientific exchange collaboration (started on October 5th 2009) with LNCMI (Grenoble). During this period he was actively involved in measurements on various systems, analysis and interpretation of the measured data, numerous discussions, and under supervision of dr. M. Horvatić and dr. S. Krämer constructed an NMR probe.
Registration ending
Registration for the International workshop "Recent advances in broad-band solid-state NMR of correlated electronic systems", is temporarily closed as the workshop has reached the maximum number of participants. Thank you for such a large interest in the Trogir conference.
Registration opened
Registration for the International workshop "Recent advances in broad-band solid-state NMR of correlated electronic systems", which will be held 5.-10. September 2010. in Trogir (Croatia), has been offically opened.
Exchange of know-how with LNCMI Grenoble
In February 2010, SOLeNeMaR project coordinator prof. dr. Miroslav Požek was in Grenoble, France, in professional visit to NAtional Laboratory for Intense Magnetic Fields (LNCMI/CNRS). The aim of the visit was exchange of know-how and experience for the establishment and conduct of solid-state NMR laboratory. During the visit, a series of useful discussions was conducted with the hosts (prof. Claude Berthier, dr. Mladen Horvatić and dr. Steffen Krämer), but also with other visitors (e.g. prof Pietro Carretta from Pavia, Italy). The modalities of future cooperations were agreed. In addition, M. Požek got insight into several sophisticated NMR experiments conducted in February.
Collaboration with IFW Dresden
During the period Feb 01. – Mar 01, 2010, Dr. Dalibor Paar (assistant professor at PDFS) has visited NMR group of Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung in Dresden. The discovery of superconductivity in iron pnictides in 2008. has generated a great interest in how this new class of superconductor is similar to or different from conventional BCS and high-temperature cuprate superconductors. During this visit, we have performed ssNMR/NQR measurements of those superconductive materials. The results of this cooperation are published in Physical Review Letters.
International workshop on
International workshop on "Recent advances in broad-band solid-state NMR of correlated electronic systems" will take place in 5-10 September 2010, in Trogir, Croatia.
The workshop is part of European efforts to promote broad-band NMR, and will mark the foundation of the first solid-state NMR facility in Zagreb, established with the support of the Croatian Government and of the European Commisssion through the 7th framework project SOLeNeMaR.
First Announcement and Call for Participation is on www.phy.hr/trogir2010/
SOLeNeMaR presented on workshop
Project SOLeNeMaR was presented at the worksop "New advanced method in material research" held in Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb (November 25, 2009).
Dalibor Paar gave a lecture "Solid state NMR/NQR: principles and use in material study".
University of Zagreb celebrates 340 years of founding
At the ceremonial session of the Senate, held on tuesday November 3rd 2009 in the Rectorial Hall, University of Zagreb celebrated 340th anniversary of founding and the Day of the University of Zagreb. During the ceremony, Rector of the University, prof. dr. sc. Aleksa Bjeliš handed a special award to prof. dr. sc. Miroslav Požek (head of the SOLeNeMaR project) for successfully competing in European research area, and his contributiion to the strengthening of the research potential of the University.
Scientific exchange at LNCMI
During the period 5.10.2009. - 30.04.2010. dipl. ing M. Grbić is posted at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) as part of the scientific exchange collaboration with LNCMI (Laboratoire National des Champs Magnetique Intenses). Link
ssNMR magnet ordered
After closing the public tender for an ssNMR magnet (open on 4.7.2009.), SOLeNeMaR signed a contract with Oxford instruments on September 28th. The magnet will be able to reach 12T (14T if using λ-plate), have homogeneity of 10 ppm (within a 10 mm diameter sphere), bore of 80 mm and a VTI cryostat with a temperature range 1.5 - 400 K.
The magnet will be delivered in the first half of 2010.
SOLeNeMaR presented on 9th International Conference on Materials and Mechanisms of Superconductivity
Project SOLeNeMaR was presented at the 9th International Conference on Materials and Mechanisms of Superconductivity held in Tokyo (September 7-12, 2009). Dalibor Paar presented NMR studies of electronic properties of superconducting LaO1-xFxFeAs. This work was done in collaboration between PDFS and IFW Dresden – Dr. H.-J.Grafe and NMR group.
Collaboration with LNCMI (Grenoble)
Scientific exchange visit of dipl. ing. M. Grbić has been arranged with LNCMI (Grenoble). Purpose of the visit is scientific training in NMR techniques within the framework of SOLeNeMaR project. The visit will last in a period: October 2009. - April 2010.
SOLeNeMaR presented on EUROMAR
Project SOLeNeMaR was presented at the EUROMAR 2009 conference held in Göteborg (July 5 - 9, 2009).
Doc. Dalibor Paar presented his research published in New Journal of Physics
The recent discovery of superconductivity in the layered ferropnictides RO1-xFxFeAs (R=rare earth) has raised great interest within the solid state community. We have performed 139La, 57Fe, and 75As NMR and NQR measurements on the LaO1-xFxFeAs oriented powders at temperatures up to 480 K. This work was done in collaboration between Department of Physics in Zagreb and IFW Dresden.
Presentation at Euromar 2009.
Public tender for NMR magnet opened
Second public tender for an NMR magnet system has been opened on July 4th 2009. (the first one was opened on May 4th 2009., but it was cancelled)
Collaboration with IFW Dresden
Doc. D. Paar is visiting IFW Dresden (secondment of a senior researcher) June 29 - July 28, 2009.
I. NMR workshop
Within the SOLeNeMaR project two workohps on NMR techniques will be organized. Workshops are formed as a series of lectures held by internationally recognized scientists who will present the span of possibilities and siginificance of NMR spectrometry. The workshops are intended for senior level of undergraduate students and PhD students.
The time and venue of the I. workshop: Trogir, September 5 - 11, 2010.
dr. Dalibor Paar employed
June 1st 2009. dr. Dalibor Paar is employed at the position of assistant professor.
Project activities
- SOLeNeMaR project started on 1st of March 2009.
- SOLeNeMaR kick-off meeting has been held in Zagreb on March 19-20, 2009.
Photo Gallery: SOLeNeMaR kick-off meeting, Zagreb, March 19-20, 2009
Video: Kick-off meeting, Friday, March 20, 2009: Presentation of partners - The acquisition of the parts of an ssNMR spectrometer is in progress.
- Photo Gallery: Presentation of SOLeNeMaR project at EUROMAR 2009 conference.