Personale docente

Personal data of Massimo Solzi

- Born in Soresina (CR), December 14, 1959.

Education
- 1988: Diploma degree of the Speciality in Science and Technology of Materials, at the University of Parma. Thesis: “Coercivity mechanisms in NdFeB-type permanent magnets”.
- 1984: Laurea degree in Physics (Solid State Physics) at the University of Parma. Thesis: “Energy transfer between dopants in alkaly halogen matrices”.

Experience
- 2004-2020: Research Associate in Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Sciences and the Department of Physics of the University of Parma.
- 1990-2004: Research Assistant in General Physics at the Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Physics of the University of Parma.
- 1989-1990: CNR Research Associate with a forward contract at the MASPEC-CNR Institute, Parma.
- 1988: Research Grant given by Tecsinter (Olivetti group, Ivrea)
- 1986-1987: Research Fellow at the MASPEC-CNR Institute, Parma.

Present position
Full Professor in Experimental Physics of Matter at the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences (SMFI) of the University of Parma. The research activity is carried out in the frame of the Parma Research on Magnetism Laboratory (PaRMA). Since 2020, he has held the role of coordinator of the Physics Unit of the SMFI Department. Since 2020, MS is member of the board of the Italian Magnetism Association (AIMagn) and, starting from 2017, MS is associated with research assignment to the IMEM-CNR Institute of Parma.

Teaching and tutoring activity
- 2004-: General Physics Courses of Graduation Classes in Physics and in Mathematics at the University of Parma;
- 2014-: “Highlights in Condensed Matter Physics” Course of Graduation Class in Physics;
- 2006-2014: Laboratory of General Physics Course of Graduation Class in Physics;
- 2006-2010: Laboratory of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Courses for the second cycle degrees in Physics of Matter and in Science and Technology of Materials;
- 2007-2010: “Nanostructured magnetic materials” lectures for the PhD in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials;
- 2009: “Magnetic Properties of Matter” Course for the second cycle degree in Physics of Matter;
- 1990-2004: General Physics Courses of Graduation Classes in Electronic Engineering, in Telecommunication Engineering and in Computer Science Engineering;
- 2004-2015: Supervisor of 17 theses for the first cycle degrees in Physics and in Science and Technology of Materials, 15 theses for the second cycle degrees in Physics of Matter and in Science and Technology of Materials and 6 theses for the PhD in Physics and in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials;
2017-: vice-coordinator of the PhD course in Science and Technology of Materials;
2006-2013: secretary of the unified board of the MSc and BSc degrees in Physics;
2013-: member of the self-assessment group of the BSc degree in Physics;
- Supervisor of 5 Post-doc research fellows;
- Lectures and seminars at international and national Schools.

Publications and conferences (2022)
- No. of papers published on international peer-reviewed journals with ISSN: 159
- No. of citations: 2569 (Scopus); 2479 (Clarivate WoS); 3141 (Scholar)
- h-index: 26 (Scopus); 25 (Clarivate WoS); 28 (Scholar)
- No. of chapters and articles on books with ISBN: 15
- No. of Conference presentations: 137 (international) and 76 (Italian)

Research interests (keywords)
- Phenomenology of the magneto-caloric effect in materials with potential applications in energy conversion processes;
- Magnetic and electric properties of multiferroic materials;
- Magnetic properties and magnetic phase transitions of high-anisotropy materials;
- Design of instruments for the measurement of magnetic and magneto-thermal quantities;
- Magnetization processes in nanostructured magnetic materials;
- Implementation of experimental set-ups and design of innovative instruments.

Details of the research activity
An important part of the research activity of MS has been devoted to the study of the intrinsic and extrinsic magnetic properties of hard magnetic materials, in particular rare-earth/transition metal (RE-TM) intermetallic compounds, with application in the field of permanent magnets and magnetic recording. The research has been mainly focused on the study of magneto-crystalline anisotropy both in the 3d metal and in the RE ions sublattice of RE-TM intermetallics. The utilized experimental techniques were the Singular Point Detection in pulsed field, and in general the different magnetometry techniques for measurement of magnetization curves, hysteresis loops and thermomagnetic analysis. Another field of interest is the study of the magnetic transitions induced by both field and temperature: in particular, it has been investigated the complex interplay between magneto-crystalline anisotropy and exchange interaction which gives origin to a wide variety of phenomena in ferrimagnetic RE-TM intermetallic compounds.
A further research interest of MS concerns the study of nanostructured magnetic materials and in particular the analysis of exchange-coupled hard/soft multilayers for potential applications in the fields of micro-electromechanical systems and high-density magnetic recording. In this frame MS developed, together with his research group, some micromagnetic analytical model aimed at describing the magnetization reversal process of exchange-coupled hard/soft multilayers.
In collaboration with the Chemistry Department of the University of Parma and with the IMEM-CNR Institute of Parma, MS participates in a research program with the aim of studying the magnetic and magneto-electric properties of multiferroic bulk compounds with perovskite and tungsten bronze structure, realized by means of solid-state reactions and high-pressure synthesis techniques.
MS is also involved in a research activity about the phenomenology of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and in the search for novel materials showing an enhancement of this effect, to find application in the field of magnetic refrigeration and, more generally, of the energy conversion processes. A particular focus has been given to the definition of the proper experimental methods for deducing the MCE at first-order magneto-structural transitions and to the development of ad hoc instruments, such as magnetic calorimeters and adiabatic temperature change probes. Such instruments may be utilized to study the magnetocaloric materials in nearly operating conditions. This approach has been applied in particular to NiMnGa Heusler alloys, in collaboration with the IMEM-CNR Institute of Parma.
The research activity of MS, besides that described above, has been also aimed at the creation and development of the Laboratory of Magnetometry at the Physics Department of the University of Parma, through the installation of advanced research equipment, the set-up of experimental lines and the design of innovative ad hoc instruments. Of particular relevance is the design, together with prof. G. Asti, and realization of an innovative instrument for the high sensitivity measurement of magnetic susceptibility, the Vibrating Wire Susceptometer, for which an Italian patent was deposited.

Project management
- 2005-2007: MS has been local coordinator for the Parma Research Unit in the frame of an italian PRIN 2005 Project entitled “Magnetization dynamics in artificial and self-organizing ferromagnetic nanostructures”.
- 2006-2011: MS is local coordinator for the Parma Research Unit in the frame of an italian FAR (Industrial Research Fund) Project entitled “Magnetic refrigeration, or research on the application of the magnetocaloric effect in ferromagnetic solids as an alternative to conventional gas compression in refrigeration cycles”, proposed by Zanotti S.p.A. of Pegognaga (MN).
- 2011-2013: MS was responsible of a Research Project funded by the Fondazione Cariparma, “Multifunctional materials for applications in spintronics and magnetic recording”.
- 2010-2012: MS has been general and local coordinator of an Italian PRIN 2008 Project entitled “Thermal stability of exchange-spring magnetic planar nanostructures with perpendicular and lateral exchange coupling”.
- 2016-2018: MS is presently involved in a POR-FESR 2014-2020 Project of the Regione Emilia-Romagna, dealing with Magnetic refrigeration technology.

Editorial and referee activity
- MS collaborates with the following international journals: Physical Review B, Physical Review Letters, Nanotechnology, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Journal of Physics C: Condensed Matter, Physics Letters A, Measurement Science and Technology, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.
- MS performed the evaluation of Research Projects on behalf of the following organizations: European Science Foundation (ESF), U.S. Department of Energy (Physical Behavior of Materials - Basic Energy Sciences); Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Technische Universität Wien, National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FONDECYT) of the Chilean Government Commission for Scientific and Technological Development (CONICYT).
- Member of the Editorial Board of: International Conference on Magnetism ICM 2003 (Roma, July 27 – August 1, 2003); IEEE International Magnetics Conference INTERMAG 2009, Sacramento (CA, USA, May 4-8, 2009); Joint European Magnetic Symposia JEMS 2012 (Parma, September 9-14, 2012).
- Co-Editor of the Topical Issue: New Trends in Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of European Physical Journal B (2013).
- Member of the Program Committee of the International Conference on Magnetism ICM 2015 (Barcelona, July 5-10, 2015).
- Member of the Scientific Committee of the 4th Conference of the Italian Magnetism Association (AIMagn) MAGNET 2015 (Bologna, February 17-19, 2015).
- Member of the Publication Committee of the AIM Conference 2021 Advances in Magnetics (Moena, June 13-16, 2021).
- Research Projects reviewing on behalf of the following entities: European Science Foundation (ESF), U.S.A. Department of Energy (Physical Behavior of Materials - Basic Energy Sciences); Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Technische Universitat Wien, National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FONDECYT) of the Chilean Government Commission for Scientific and Technological Development (CONICYT).