ALESSANDRO NUCARA

Education and Training

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1989 Degree in Physics at the Sapienza University of Rome
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1993 PhD in Physics at Sapienza University of Rome
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1993 Chair for the teaching of Physics in the High School
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1993 INFM scholarship
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1994 post-Doc scholarship from Sapienza University of Rome
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1996 Fixed-term research contract of the CNRS in Orsay, France
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1998 Fixed-term research contract of INFM at Sapienza, Rome
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1999 Permanent position as Researcher at Sapienza University of Rome
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2012 National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor
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2014 Visiting Professor at the Physics Department of the University of Tours "Rabelais" (France)
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2019 - present: Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome SSD FIS / 03 SC 02B1

Main subjects of research
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Molecular Physics (1989-2000)
In the field of molecular physics, the primary studies have focused on light scattering experiments (Raman and Brillouin scattering) of hydrogen-bound liquids. These experiments aim to elucidate the translational and rotational dynamics hindered by hydrogen bonds, as well as to determine the activation energies of these dynamics and investigate possible liquid-glass transitions. Another research area involves the detection and assignment of vibrational (vibron) and rotational (roton) quasi-particles in molecular quantum solids using FTIR experiments. Studying the vibrational and rotational energy of loosely bound molecules arranged in a lattice provides a crucial test of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. The experimental results from these research areas continue to serve as standards for the analysis of planetary atmospheres.
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Infrared synchrotron radiation (1990-2005)
The characteristics of the infrared light emitted by relativistic particles traveling through bending magnets and oscillators have been studied both experimentally and technically. The low-energy electromagnetic emission (energy of the order of few meV) from relativistic particles does not conform to the commonly used formulations of high-energy synchrotron light (keV). Both theoretical studies and experimental measurements of the spectrum emitted by particles at the edges and within the magnetic fields were conducted at European synchrotrons (SuperACO, DAFNE). Additionally, the design of the optical components
of the infrared synchrotron light lines was carried out through computer simulations, and the optical and mechanical components of the infrared beamlines were also fine-tuned
• Condensed matter physics (2000-present)
Research in the field of solid-state physics includes several activities:
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Low-energy properties of oxides. The study focuses on the low-energy properties (meV) of oxides (both bulk and film) with strong-to-weak electronic correlation and charge-lattice correlation. Magnetic oxides (manganites), high-Tc superconductors (cuprates, ruthenates, and magnesium diboride), and other oxides with varying degrees of electron correlation were investigated using FTIR and THz spectroscopy. Understanding these properties makes these materials promising for use in electronic devices.
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Charge order phase and metal-insulator transition in oxides. Experimental studies on the charge order phase and metal-insulator transition in oxides were conducted using conventional and synchrotron-based infrared spectroscopy. This research highlighted the origins of the charge-order phase in systems of interest for electronic devices (manganites, ferrites, multiferroics, cuprates and heterostructures). The internal vibrational modes (phase and amplitude modes) of charge-density-wave systems, as well as the polaronic contributions (IRAVs), were measured in various crystals as a function of spatial symmetry, temperature, doping, and external pressure. The analysis of the vibrational spectra was carried out using theoretical and numerical models (DFT and shell-model).
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Two-Dimensional Electronic Gases (2DEG). The detection of two-dimensional electronic gases confined to the interfaces of oxides involved measuring the density and mobility of the carriers through reflection experiments in grazing angle geometry and in the THz region. LaAlO3-SrTiO3 interface systems were considered as prototypes for 2DEG and studied by varying the number of interfaces and morphology. Similar studies were conducted on a class of topological insulators (BiSe2). Infrared and visible spectroscopy experiments were performed on two-dimensional systems such as transition-metal dichalcogenides (WS2, MoS2) to study the behavior of phonon spectra and excitons (visible luminescence spectra), as well as their interactions under pressure and low temperatures.
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Hybrid perovskites for photovoltaic applications. Experiments on hybrid perovskites (organic molecules embedded in an inorganic lattice) relevant for photovoltaic applications aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the thermalization process of photoexcited electrons. This research focused on measuring the relaxation times and mobility of photoexcited electrons out of thermal equilibrium using infrared micro spectroscopy. Additionally, the environmental stability of these materials was evaluated.
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Spectroscopy methods for biosystems (2005-present)
In this field, the following activities are distinguished:
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Application of Mid-Infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to nutritional problems. Implementation of MIR micro spectroscopy on proteins important in nutritional processes. Research focuses on identifying spectroscopic markers for evaluating the bioavailability of proteins in cereals and legumes and developing methods for quantifying protein content in foods.
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Detection of pesticides and bacterial agents in feed and food products. Using various spectroscopic approaches such as fluorescence, near and mid-infrared, UV, and visible spectroscopy to search for traces of pesticides and bacterial agents in feed and food products.
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Advancements in spectroscopic techniques for sub-wavelength infrared microscopy. Improvements in spectroscopic techniques to extend infrared microscopy to the sub-wavelength
regime (near
-field spectroscopy). Applications include studies on protein aggregates, cell cytoplasm, bacteria, and phospholipid membranes.
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Studies on amyloid fibril formation and inhibition in protein complexes: Ongoing research on the formation and inhibition of amyloid fibrils in protein complexes (protein-stressor, protein-inhibitor) using the correlation between results from FTIR microscopy and AFM imaging. These studies target proteins and peptides responsible for neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Aβ42 and insulin). Additionally, a project to understand the nanoparticle-amyloid fibril interaction is at an advanced stage, with applications in SERS spectroscopy for studying single protein sites in the presence of fibrils.
Experimental Skills
• Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy
• Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy
• Far field and sub-wavelength FTIR micro-spectroscopy
• Spectroscopy in the visible and near UV region
• Fluorescence and micro-Fluorescence
Participation in peer-reviewed scientific projects
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Spettroscopia IR delle manganiti di Pr-Ca (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Studio dei diversi stati di ordinamento di carica nelle manganiti in funzione di temperatura e pressione mediante spettroscopia Raman ed Infrarossa (PRIN MIUR).
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Indagine sulla natura dei portatori di carica nel LSCO (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Studio infrarosso delle transizioni di fase nei piroclori (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Studio degli effetti dello strain isotropo ed epitassiale sui processi di metallizzazione nelle manganiti mediante spettroscopia x, Raman ed infrarossa (PRIN MIUR).
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Spettroscopia infrarossa di cuprati drogati con bario (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Spettroscopia infrarossa di cuprati drogati con bario (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Effetti della correlazione e delle fluttuazioni di ordinamento di carica sulla conducibilità ottica dei superconduttori ad alta Tc (PRIN MIUR).
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La transizione metallo-isolante nei superconduttori ad alta temperatura di transizione e nei sistemi elettronici correlati studiata tramite Spettroscopia Infrarossa con luce di Sincrotrone (Ateneo Sapienza).
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La transizione metallo-isolante nei superconduttori ad alta temperatura di transizione e nei sistemi elettronici correlati studiata tramite Spettroscopia Infrarossa con luce di Sincrotrone (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Developing a FTIR Spectra Collection for Interpreting Residues of the Prehistoric Activities (Wenner-Gren Fund)
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Spettroscopia Terahertz di superconduttori e sistemi con ordinamento di carica (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Spettroscopia infrarossa di materiali di interesse fisica, geologico e chimico ad alte pressioni (Grandi Attr. Sapienza).
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Miglioramento del processo produttivo e valorizzazione di leguminose da granella in aree meridionali (PROM-MiPAAF).
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Spettroscopia Terahertz di superconduttori e sistemi con ordinamento di carica (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Spettroscopia pump-probe nel dominio del Terahertz di superconduttori e di sistemi quantum Wells (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Spettroscopia pump-probe nel dominio del Terahertz di superconduttori e di sistemi quantum wells (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Interfacce di ossidi: nuove proprietà emergenti, multifunzionalit e dispositivi per l’elettronica e l’energia (OXIDE) (PRIN MIUR).
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Infrared spectroscopy of Topological Insulators (Ateneo Sapienza)
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Nanospettrometro infrarosso per imaging di cellule e tessuti (Grandi Attrezzature Sapienza).
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Fundamental properties and applications of 2-D Dirac electron gases in topological insulators (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Biodiversità, territorio e nutrizione: la sostenibilità dell’agroalimentare italiano (Terravita-MiPAAF).
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Infrared micro-spectroscopy beyond the diffraction limit (CLNS-IIT).
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The good and the bad of protein fibrillation (Uncovering Excellence Tor Vergata Univ.).
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Laser a cascata quantica per spettroscopia micro/nanometrica (Medie Attrezzature Sapienza).
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Plasmon-enhanced vibrational circular dichroism (PRIN MIUR).
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Tuning and understanding Quantum phases in 2D materials - Quantum2D (PRIN-MIUR)
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Osservazione con nanospettroscopia infrarossa di nanoparticelle di niobato di litio all'interno delle cellule (Ateneo Sapienza).
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A mid-infrared laser spectroscopy sensor based on surface waves for the study of the anisotropic protein conformational changes (Ateneo Sapienza H2020).
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Finanziamento delle attività base di ricerca (MIUR).
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L'uso del colore all'alba del Rinascimento. Sviluppo di tecniche di imaging multispettrale nell'infrarosso per lo studio di miniature nelle biblioteche romane (Ateneo Sapienza).
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PROgramma di rilancio LEguminose da Granella per alimentazione Umana (PROLEGU, MiPAAF).
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Ultrahigh critical current density superconductor: Study of structure - function relationship by spectroscopic techniques (Ateneo Sapienza).
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FingerSERSing. Fingerprint of a spot: Thin Layer Chromatography reaches out Raman Spectroscopy.
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Hydrogen hydrates under high pressure: from hydrogen storage to planetary modelling (Ateneo Sapienza).
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REMEDIAVI: Ricostruzione virtuale ed in realtà aumentata di Volsinii Novi: un approccio avanzato per la fruibilità sostenibile dell’area archeologica di Bolsena (DTC Regione Lazio).
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Sviluppo di un dispositivo portatile integrato per la valutazione spettroscopica multimodale non invasiva della qualità delle materie prime alimentari (POR FESR Regione Lazio).
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Optical properties of out-of-equilibrium hybrid PERovskites in the Mid-Infrared and TeraHertz regions -PERMIT (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Bandgap Engineering STudy of vdW INterfaces: BEST-WIN (PRIN-MIUR).
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Infrared Nanospectroscopy of Protein Aggregates in the Initial Steps of the Aggregation Pathways (Ateneo Sapienza).
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Infrared and Raman microscopy of brain tissues affected by WNT-Medulloblastoma: search for reliable spectroscopic markers and their potential use for tumors recognition (Ateneo Sapienza).

Other Projects
1998 - 2002: Installation of the SINBAD infrared synchrotron line at the DAFNE collider. Project financed by INFN.
2002 - 2004: Installation of the SISSI infrared synchrotron line at ELETTRA. Project financed by Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA and INFM.
Teaching at Sapienza
• 1999-2000 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA "Physical Experimentation I", Ass. Prof.
• 2000-2001 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA "Physical Experimentation II", Ass. Prof.
• 2000-2001 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA Lessons for the PhD in Physics
• 2001-2007 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA Professor of "Mechanics Laboratory"
• 2007-2010 Chem. Dept. SAPIENZA Professor of "Physics Laboratory"
• 2010-2012 Dep. Chim. SAPIENZA Professor of "Physics I with laboratory" Laboratory.
• 2011-2013 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA "Mechanics", Ass. Prof.
• 2015-2019 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA "Laboratory of Physics of Matter" ,Ass. Prof.
• 2014-2026 Env. Bio. Dept. SAPIENZA Professor of "Physics"
• 2020-2026 Phys. Dept. SAPIENZA Professor of Physics Laboratory II (Biosystems)
Supervisor of 18 Master thesis, 2 doctoral thesis and 7 Bachelor's degree thesis
Bibliometric indicators and commitments
• Author of 160 publications (Scopus) in peer-reviewed journals.
• Hirsch index 26 (Scopus)
• Head of the IRS1 laboratory of the Physics department at Sapienza (since 2016)
• Head of the Biological Systems Didactics Laboratory of the Physics Department at Sapienza (since 2020)
• Speaker at 17 Congresses and 3 training courses.
• Reviewer for Physical Review B, Journal of Physics C ,Nature Comm. (Since 2000) and MDPI Journals
• Associate Editor for International Journal of Molecular Science (since 2018)
• Associated with the INFN LNF laboratories (since 1992)
• Associated with the Coherentia INFM R&D center (1993-2005)
• Associated with SPIN Institute of the CNR (since 2010)
• Expert user at AILES beamline, Soleil synchrotron, France
• Expert user at IRIS beamline, Bessy II synchrotron, Germany
• Expert user at SINBAD beamline, DaFne synchrotron, Italy
• Associated with the CLNS @ Sapienza center (since 2007)
• Associated with the CNIS center (since 2022)
•Member of the steering committee of the A3TEX Sapienza interdepartmental center (since 2023)