Dalibor Paar
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Dalibor Paar – biography and list of publications
List of publications
Dalibor Paar was born in 1969, Samobor, Croatia. He obtained his B.Sc.
Physics in 1997, PhD. Physics in 2006 (Topic: "Microwave properties of
YBa2Cu3Ox single crystals with different doping"). He was a PhD
student at the Physics Department of the Faculty of Science in Zagreb
(1997-2008), visiting scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State
Physics in Dresden (2007-2008, short visits 2009-2012) and Assistant
Professor at the Physics Department of the Faculty of Science in Zagreb
(2009-today).
He started his career in the field of solid-state physics, he obtained his
doctorate on the study of the microwave response of superconductors under
the guidance of professor Antonije Dulčić. Later, he specialized in the
field of solid-state NMR and participated in the establishment of the first
such physics laboratory at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science in
Zagreb under the coordination of Professor Miroslav Požek. Subsequently, he
started working on topics from environmental physics, more specifically
nature protection and water management in Croatia.
Within the framework of scientific work, he is the initiator of several
collaborations with experts from other institutes and faculties. In the
field of solid-state physics, he initiated cooperation with the Leibniz
Institute for the Solid State in Dresden and for the past ten years in the
field of environmental physics with the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb,
the physics departments on the University of Rijeka and University of
Osijek, Croatian Waters and Croatian Geological Survey.
At the Department of Physics, he initiated new activities in the field of
environmental physics. His key results in environmental science include the
first insight into the geochemistry of sediments in Croatia and the
perspectives of their study for the purpose of further paleoclimatic
reconstructions, data collection and modeling of physical and
hydrogeological processes in the karst relief and its subsoil, using the
example of the study of the deep pits of the Velebit mountain using isotopic
water tracing and other methods and monitoring of permanent ice in the
mountains in the context of climate change. This research is currently being
carried out through the ongoing scientific projects listed below.
At the IFW Dresden he contributed solid state research of new type of
superconductors - pnictides discovered in 2008, based on metallic Fe-As
planes. New superconductors have aroused great interest in the world
scientific community, and they were among the first to be synthesized at IFW
Dresden. With them, it is particularly interesting that the magnetic Fe2+
ion is directly responsible for the formation of superconducting condensate
(the highest temperatures of the superconducting transition are currently
55K, these are the highest critical temperatures outside of cuprates). The
NMR technique has proven to be important for the study of normal and
superconducting properties of strongly correlated electronic systems.
Through FizKO EU project he worked on defining the standards of the
environmental physicist profession on the national level. He developed
cooperation with the system of nature protection and water management,
applying physics in various environmental problems. As a representative of
the Physics Department at the Faculty's Center for Climatic Research, he
established interdisciplinary cooperation with experts in the fields of
geophysics, geography and geology, and the implementation or preparation of
projects is underway. In 2022, a project CARDIKARST under the coordination
of professor Nenad Buzjak was started to study carbon dioxide in the
environment with an emphasis on karst as a special relief. Previous research
in which he is the main author included the study of drinking water in the
karst underground and permafrost in in the context of climate change.
As part of his teaching activities at the faculty, he was mentor for more
than 50 diploma (i.e., master) theses, through which methods and topics in
physics teaching are often questioned and positive experiences and modern
approaches to physics teaching are presented. He improved the teaching
in physics courses on the Department for Geology and environmental science
students by creating manuals and new program content. With colleague prof.
Poljak he is the initiator of two new university courses with the topic
Popularization of science and scientific communication. As part of the EU
FizKO project, he prepared the Department's strategy for improving teaching
by introducing modern project-based physics teaching.
As part of the course Using computers in teaching since the beginning of the
use of the British micro:bit microcomputer in GB, he introduced this device
into the teaching of future physics and informatics teachers and encouraged
the development of ideas on how to implement it in physics teaching. In
addition to hardware, it participates in the initiative to introduce
advanced methods in physics teaching, such as augmented reality. In the
future, he intends to direct part of his scientific activity towards the
improvement of physics teaching by introducing modern methods and placing
the physics experiment at the center of the teaching process. He is also
active in the introduction of physics content into the field teaching of
schools, which is demonstrated by a series of science popularization
projects that connect physical topics to real life and global problems of
today in an interesting and motivating way for children. In cooperation with
several kindergartens, he is working on the development of an early science
education program, where children encounter the current topics of today's
science and technology.
In the next 5 years, the applicant has the following research and
activity plan:
• Application of scientific research projects in the field
of environmental physics and the application of experimental methods of
solid-state physics on environmental samples. Cooperation with physicists
from outside the Department who deal with this topic (Rijeka, Osijek) and
other experts (IRB, Geography Department, Geology Department, Geophysics
Department, Croatian Geological Survey). Interdisciplinary cooperation with
colleagues from other departments.
• Continuation of science popularization activities in
cooperation with kindergartens, schools, museums, presentation centers and
other institutions. The main goal is to arouse interest in physics and other
STEM fields from an early age. Cooperation at the level of all departments
on the popularization of science and mathematics through an open day and
other popularization activities.
• Further development of popularization activities at the
Department through new courses in science popularization and scientific
communication. Improvement of teaching at the Department, especially for
educational physics study with an emphasis on experiments as a central part
of physics teaching. Research on the effects of the introduction of modern
methods in physics teaching. Research into the application of new ideas and
equipment in the teaching of physics, especially within the framework of
graduate theses (microcomputers, new concepts for performing physical
experiments).
Brief description of scientific and professional activities
The contribution to the research of several topics in the field of solid
state physics and environmental physics is presented.
1. Investigations of non-resonant microwave response of superconducting
samples
In the period until 2007, he participated in the experimental research of
the Laboratory for High-Frequency Measurements of the Physics Department
under the guidance of professor Antonije Dulčić and professor Miroslav
Požek, which was based on the study of the non-resonant microwave response
of superconducting samples as a function of temperature (5-200 K) and
external magnetic field (0-16 T). The dynamics of weak bonds between
superconducting grains in polycrystalline samples in strong magnetic fields,
as well as in single crystals and thin films in which the superconducting
sample is in a mixed state, were studied. Superconducting parameters such as
the upper critical field, the coherence length and the release frequency of
the magnetic vortices were determined using the theoretical models.
Temperature and magnetic dependence of microwave absorption in ceramic and
powder samples of superconducting hybrid ruthenocuprates RuSr2EuCu2O8 and
RuSr2GdCu2O8 were studied. For the purposes of measurement, an experimental
method was additionally developed for the precise determination of the
Q-factor and frequency of the resonant microwave cavity as a function of
temperature and external magnetic field. The coexistence of
superconductivity and magnetic ordering can be described by unbonded RuO2
and CuO2 planes. RuO2 planes are conductive at all temperatures, even below
the critical temperature when a superconducting arrangement occurs in CuO2
planes. The temperature and magnetic dependences of YBCO single crystals
were also studied. The experimental method was further upgraded with the
possibility of simultaneous measurement in several resonant modes (9.33 GHz
– 17.48 GHz), which enables the analysis of anisotropic properties of
superconductors. In contrast to the optimally doped sample, the surface
resistance of the underdoped sample along the c-axis in the normal state has
semiconducting behavior and at the same time has metallic behavior in the
ab-plane. The temperature dependence of the complex conductivity in the
ab-plane and along the c-axis of the sample was determined, and from this
the London penetration depths in the ab-plane and along the c-axis were
calculated. An analysis of the magnetic dependencies of the surface
impedance was made using the effective conductivity model, which enables the
determination of the upper critical field and the dynamics of vortices in
the optimally doped and underdoped sample. In both samples in the
orientation in which the external magnetic field is parallel to the c-axis
of the sample, magnetic dependences of the surface resistance with an
inflection point were observed, which moves towards higher fields as the
temperature decreases. A possible explanation is given as a sign of the
phase transition of the mixed state from the glassy to the liquid phase of
the vortices.
2. NMR/NQR research of superconductors
As part of his post-doctoral and subsequent stays at the Leibnitz Institute
for the Solid State in Dresden and as part of the newly established
laboratory for solid state NMR at the Physics Department of the Faculty of
Science (head: Prof. M. Požek). D. Paar worked on NMR/NQR research of
materials, especially new superconductors. He established cooperation with
the NMR group of Dr. H.-J. Grafe at IFW Dresden. Nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) are one of the leading methods
for studying the structure and dynamic properties of materials. The NMR
technique allows not only insight into the local electronic and magnetic
structure of these compounds, but also provides information on electronic
spin dynamics and magnetization. Therefore, the nuclei that are bound to the
electron spin system can be observed in different ways. With these
investigations, it is possible to observe local inhomogeneities in spin and
charge density, and previous studies indicate that such spatially
inhomogeneous charge distributions play an important role in the mechanism
of high-temperature superconductors. As part of the post-doctoral project
"Research of high-temperature superconductors with nuclear magnetic
resonance", NMR and NQR measurements of various superconductors were
performed, with special emphasis on ruthenocuprates and YBCO single
crystals. Quasiparticle excitations and vortex cores in the mixed state of
superconductors were studied by NMR spin-lattice T1 relaxation time
measurements. The dynamics and vibrations of the vortices were studied by T2
spin-spin relaxation measurements. NQR measurements provide information on
inhomogeneities and charge fluctuations in the CuO2 planes. A new group of
superconductors - pnictides discovered in 2008, based on metallic Fe-As
planes was investigated. New superconductors have aroused great interest in
the world scientific community, and they were among the first to be
synthesized at IFW Dresden. With them, it is particularly interesting that
the magnetic Fe2+ ion is directly responsible for the formation of
superconducting condensate (the highest temperatures of the superconducting
transition are currently 55K, these are the highest critical temperatures
outside of cuprates). The NMR technique has proven to be important for the
study of normal and superconducting properties of strongly correlated
electronic systems. NMR studies of the 75As core in the compound
LaO0.9F0.1FeAs revealed a strong temperature dependence of the spin-lattice
relaxation time and a Korringa-shaped dependence. In the superconducting
state, the measurement results indicated spin-singlet pairing, and the
strong anisotropy in the spin-lattice relaxation time is a possible
consequence of the contribution of superconducting vortices.
3. Research in the field of Environmental physics
These researches represent an extension of experimental physics topics at
the Department. Entering this topic opens up opportunities to apply the
knowledge and equipment we have at the Department for the needs of various
stakeholders, such as nature protection systems, water management and the
energy sector. A broader approach to environmental issues was encouraged at
the faculty level by the establishment of the Center for Climatological
Research. Research activities related to environmental physics were
recognized as an important part of these activities. In the field of
environmental physics, he initiated research within the topic "Physical,
chemical, geomorphological, hydrological and microbiological research of
processes between the surface and underground of the Dinaric Karst". During
the application of the CeNIKS project to the FO, thanks to this cooperation,
the project was supported by stakeholders from the nature protection system,
and the potential of the equipment that was procured for the analysis of
environmental samples was recognized. The first results were published in Q1
and Q2 journals, and s new scientific project CARDIKARST coordinated by
professor Nenad Buzjak started in 2022. The results of preliminary research
show further perspectives in the direction of paleoclimatic and
paleoenvironmental reconstructions. It is expected that the composition of
elements and mineralogy of sediments from different places in the Croatian
karst reflect different climatic, geological, geomorphological and
hydrological characteristics of the karst areas.
Applied physical research in the environment represents a great potential,
both because of the need for such research for the purpose of managing and
protecting natural resources and because of the fundamental issues of
changes in the environment. As EU funding sources are significantly focused
on environmental and climate change issues, the Croatian karst represents an
ideal training ground where these issues can be considered with the
application of a range of research techniques successfully used by Croatian
physicists. Karst is a complex system in which a number of processes take
place in the interaction of the surface and the subsoil with natural and
possible anthropogenic influences. Caves are natural laboratories where it
is possible to clearly define and study these processes, associate them with
physical variables and observe their space-time dynamics. The role of
physicists in this consideration is to distinguish the key variables and
apply physical models of speleogenesis and morphogenesis, heat flow and
underground microclimate. These studies should be accompanied by appropriate
geological, geomorphological and hydrographic research, which contributes to
the interpretation of the observed processes. The importance of karst in
this consideration has become globally more important in the last decade,
since cave sediments contain unique archives of paleo- and recent climate
changes. They have long formation intervals and a wide geographical
distribution, and they can be conserved underground without significant
external influences. The key information in them is found in multiple
markers (proxy records) which are directly and indirectly related to
climatic, geomorphological and hydrogeological conditions. It is especially
important that cave sediments, in addition to well-defined formation
conditions related to the understanding of speleogenesis and the influence
of climatic conditions on the surface, have extremely good preservation in
relation to denudation and bioturbation after deposition. Research includes
the study of geochemistry and mineralogy of slag and other sediments,
physical research with an emphasis on deep pits (microclimate, radon, CO2),
hydrogeological research (origin, quality, water dynamics, isotopic
analyses), permanent ice in pits and climate change.
Leading or participating in scientific and professional projects
1. Collaborator on the project Dynamics and distribution
of CO2 in karst vadose and epiphreatic zone (CARDIKARST) (Leader: Nenad
Buzjak). Duration: 2022 to 2025. Amount of financing: EUR 127 897
2. Collaborator on the project Development of physics
studies with the application of the Croatian qualification framework
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:006276) (Leader: Mladen Petravić).
Duration: 2019 to 2022; Financing amount: EUR 529 784
3. Collaborator on the project Implementation and
improvement of professional practice at PMF
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:005990) (Leader: Sofia Ana Blažević).
Duration: 2020 to 2022; Financing amount: EUR 529 892
4. Collaborator on the project Microclimate of
speleological objects in Croatia
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:008005) (Leader: Nenad Buzjak).
Duration: 2022 to 2025;
5. Collaborator on the project Microclimatic research of
Samograd cave and Medina cave (https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:008007)
(Leader: Nenad Buzjak). Duration: 2022 to 2023;
6. Collaborator on the project Microclimatic research of
the Samograd cave (https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:007685) (Leader:
Nenad Buzjak).
7. Collaborator on the project Local Probe and Mesoscopic
Dynamics in New Phases of Highly Correlated Electronic Systems
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:003238) (Leader: Miroslav Požek).
Duration: 2014 to 2018; Financing amount: EUR 125 427
8. Cooperation with the real sector: Coordinator of the
scientific-research project "Explorations of deep pits of the Northern
Velebit National Park" financed by the Fund for Environmental Protection and
Energy Efficiency and the Northern Velebit National Park (2010-2022)
9. Leader (PI) of the project "Water quality in the deep
karst of Velebit" financed by Croatian Waters (2009-2019)
10. Leader (PI) of the bilateral project Physical research
of active and paleoenvironmental processes in Dinaric karst pits
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:005748). Duration: 2014 to 2015;
11. Collaborator on the project Strengthening the SOLid
state research capacities in Zagreb by the introduction of the Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance method (https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:005787)
(Leader: Miroslav Požek). Duration: 2009 to 2012; Amount of financing: EUR
946 380
12. Leader (PI) of the research project Investigation of
high-temperature superconductors by nuclear magnetic resonance
(https://pdb.irb.hr:8443/project/irb:000256). Duration: 2008 to 2009;
Financing amount: EUR 7 339
13. Collaborator on the project "Microwave research of new
materials", HRZZ, 2007-2014. (Leaders: Antonije Dulčić, Miroslav Požek)
Member of the organizational or program committee of scientific and
professional meetings
1. 17th Castle Meeting - New Trends on Paleo, Rock and
Environmental Magnetism, Trakošćan, Aug 28 – Sep 3 2022.
2. International Symposium "Geodiversity and Geoheritage -
Status and Perspectives", Perušić, October 7-9, 2022.
3. Solid-State Science & Research, Zagreb, June 10-11
2021.
4. Solid-State Science & Research, Zagreb, June 27-29
2019.
5. Scientific expert meeting "From research to good
management of the Northern Velebit National Park". Krasno, 24-25. May 2017
6. International Scientific and Expert Meeting
"Geodiversity, Geoheritage and Geotourism in Karst Areas", Perušić, 18-19
February 2017
7. Scientific-expert meeting Special values of deep karst,
National Park Sjeverni Velebit, Krasno, April 21 - 22, 2012.
8. Recent advances in broad-band solid-state NMR of
correlated electronic systems, 4-9 September 2011, Trogir, Croatia
9. Professional seminar on speleological cadastre,
Perušić, 29-30. January 2011
10. Recent advances in broad-band solid-state NMR of
correlated electronic systems 5-10 September 2010, Trogir, Croatia.
11. Professional seminar on the protection of caves and
underground fauna, Ogulin, 30-31. January 2010
12. Professional seminar on the creation and evaluation of
a cave maps, Samobor, February 21, 2009.
13. 6th Scientific Meeting of Croatian Physical Society,
Primošten, October 8 - 11, 2009.
Educational activities
Innovation of teaching content and publication of manuals
He improved the teaching of physics for students of the Department of
Geology, Biology and Geography within the corresponding physics courses. He
prepared the manual Physics for geosciences and environmental sciences. He
also improved the teaching with field tours of the laboratories at the
Department of Physics, the Ruđer Bošković Institute and the Institute of
Physics, which aroused the interest of students in the interdisciplinary
application of physics.
He improved the teaching in the Department by introducing modern content in
the course Computer use in teaching. In addition to the Python programming
language, he introduced practical work on British micro:bit devices that
represent the front of modern education in Europe. The materials created
within the course contribute to the modernization of physics and informatics
teaching in schools and are available to all teachers in Croatia
https://www.pmf.unizg.hr/phy/RUNA
Through a series of graduate theses under the mentorship of applicants, new
educational content focused on using experiments in physics teaching and
problem-oriented teaching was developed. In the framework of the EU project
Development of physics studies with the application of the Croatian
qualification framework (2019-2022), he coordinated the creation of
guidelines for the introduction of project-based teaching in physics
studies.
New course, new experimental or practical methods
Within the framework of the EU project FizKO, the applicant prepared a FO
strategy for the introduction of project teaching, which was presented at
the FO Council in December 2021.
The applicant is in cooperation with associate professor Nikola Poljak
proposed 2 new courses:
• Popularization of science and scientific communication (research physics
study)
• Popularization of science and scientific communication (educational
physics studies)
The courses have been accepted by the Department of Physics, Faculty of
Science, Zagreb in 2022.
Scientific and professional activities in the field of science
popularization and scientific communication
Since 2018, the applicant has been working on the development of science
popularization methods and their implementation from kindergarten to
college. One of the results of these activities is the author's book - STEM
in non-formal education for occupations of the 21st century (Paar et al.
2022).
Teaching activity 2017-2022 (last 5 years)
Course Role Period
ECTS Teaching load
Physics 1 (171101) Course instructor
2017-2022 5 Winter 2+0+2
Physics 2 (171109) Course instructor
2017-2022 5 Summer 2+0+2
Physics (37632) Course instructor
2018-2022 4 Summer 2+1+0
Physics (36208) Course instructor
2017-2022 6 Summer 3+2+0
Use of Computers in Teaching (50846, 50851) Course
instructor 2017-2022 5
Summer 1+3+0
Energy and ecology (40727) Course
instructor 2017-2019 3
Summer 2+0+1
Teaching activity 1997-2017
Course Role Period
Teaching load
Physics 1 (171101) Course instructor
2015-2017 Winter 2+0+2
Physics 2 (171109) Course instructor
2015-2017 Summer 2+0+2
Physics (37632) Course instructor
2018-2017 Summer 2+1+0
Physics (36208) Course instructor
2015-2017 Summer 3+2+0
Physics 1 i 2
(36179, 37584) Course instructor
2008-2014 Winter 2+2
Summer 2+2
Physics (36208) Course instructor
2012-2014 Summer 3+2
Use of Computers in Teaching (50846, 50851) Course
instructor 2009-2017 Summer 1+3
Physics (35780) Course instructor
2009-2012 Summer 2+2
Physics 1 i 2
(31418, 31419) Course instructor
2008-2009 Winter 2+2
Summer 3+1
Basics of Physics
1, 2, 3 i 4. Assistant
1997-2007 Winter 0+4
Summer 0+4
Use of Computers in Teaching Lecturer
2006-2007 Summer 1+3
Multimedia Presentations Lecturer
2005-2007 Summer 1+3
Other professional and institutional activities
2021 - 2022. Representative of the Physics Department at the Center for
Climatological Research of the Faculty of Science, Zagreb
2013 - 2022 Representative of the Physics Department for e-learning at the
University of Zagreb
2020 – 2022 Coordinator of the Physics Department in the Merlin e-learning
system
2021 - 2022 Coordinator of the Open day of the Physics Department - Physics
today
2022 - Coordinator of the registration of the Collection of studies and
demonstration experiments of the Physics Department as a cultural asset of
the Republic of Croatia
1999 - 2022. Editor of the website of the Physics Department
2018 - 2019. Assistant to the head for monitoring the work of the Department
of Physics computer system
1999 - 2002. Creation of the lecture schedule of the Physics Department
Popularization of Science
Since 2018, the candidate has been actively working in the field of science
popularization and is the initiator and manager of a series of projects in
Croatia that work from an early age to popularize physics and STEM fields
with the aim of more children deciding on the direction of STEM professions,
thereby increasing interest for physics studies. Popularization activities
are connected with activities at Department of Physics, such as the open day
- Physics Today, and activities related to the Collection Physics
Experiments at Department of Physics.
Science popularization projects
2018-2022. Coordinator of the science popularization project "Scientific
(STEM/STEaM) education from an early age - towards modern education for
professions and citizens of the 21st century", financed by the Ministry of
Science and Education, hfd-steam.eu.
2018-2022. Coordinator of the science popularization project "Field teaching
of the 21st century in Samobor" co-financed by the City of Samobor and the
Ministry of Science and Education
2019-2022. Coordinator of the science popularization project "Explorers of
Velebit Mt - early scientific (STEM) education for 21st century occupations"
in cooperation with the Northern Velebit National Park with funding from the
Ministry of Science and Education.
2021-2022. Coordinator of the Contemporary Science in Samobor Museum project
financed by the City of Samobor, Zagreb County and the Ministry of Culture
2018-2019. Coordinator of the "Physics in Kindergarten" program in
cooperation with Izvor Kindergarten, Samobor, Trešnjevka Kindergarten,
Zagreb and Tratinčica Kindergarten, Zagreb.
2019-2021. Coordinator of project activities of the project "STEaM Lika -
through education to sustainable development", financed by Switzerland
within the Swiss-Croatian cooperation program, steam-lika.eu
2019-2022. Head of the "Samobor Summer School of Science and Technology", a
program intended for elementary school students
2019-2022. Coordinator of the PMF-Lumen project, pmf-lumen.eu
2018. Coordinator of the popular science event "Explorers of the 21st
Century" for about a thousand students of Ogulin elementary schools, held on
November 23, 2018 in Ogulin.
2019 Coordinator of the popular science event "Little researchers: Earth
needs our help. Let's explore and protect it!" for 200 elementary school
students in Samobor, held on May 5, 2019, in the Prica Small Gallery in
Samobor.
2019 Coordinator of the presentation of the STEM education program
MOHOROVIČIĆ with interactive physics experiments. Samobor Museum,
23/07/2019.