Brief Vita

• PhD in Physics, UC Davis, Department of Physics (2003)
  Thesis title:  Soft X-ray Spectroscopic and Structural Studies of Strongly Correlated Oxides
  Thesis advisor:  Prof. Charles S. Fadley
• Laurea in Fisica (Master in Physics), Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy (1996)
  Overall grade 110/110–cum laude (summa cum laude)
  Thesis title:   Study of Multi-Electron Excitations in Photoemission Spectra from Porous Silicon
  Thesis advisor: Prof. Fulvio Parmigiani
• August 2021 – Present: Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
• June 2013 – August 2021: Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
• August 2007 – May 2013: Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
• October 2006 – August 2007: Research Associate, GLAM, Physics Department
  Stanford University, USA
  Prof. Z. X. Shen’s group
• October 2006 – August 2007: Beamline Scientist (Bl. 10.0.1), Advanced Light Source
  LBNL, Berkeley, USA
  Scientific Support Group, Dr. Z. Hussain
• October 2003 – October 2006: Visiting Scientist, Advanced Light Source
  LBNL, Berkeley, USA
  Scientific Support Group, Dr. Z. Hussain
• October 2003 – October 2006: Postdoctoral Fellow, GLAM, Physics Department
  Stanford University, USA
  Advisor: Prof. Z. X. Shen

Selected Honors

• Professional Promise in Research and Creative Achievement
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2013)
• SPS Outstanding Teacher Award
  University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2013)
• NSF CAREER AWARD – Sub-picosecond electron dynamics in complex electron systems
  National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research (2011)

Research

We work in the area of Experimental Condensed Matter Physics. Our group focuses on trying to understand how the macroscopic properties of complex materials originate from the microscopic interactions of electrons among themselves (electron correlations), and other degrees of freedoms such as lattice and spin. Our approach is based on spectroscopic techniques in the ultraviolet and soft x-ray regime available in our Laboratory at the Institute of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (IAMM), or at Synchrotron Radiation Facilities. We most frequently use techniques such as angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), core level photoemission spectroscopy (PES), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and soft x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES).

Some of the most recent projects include the study of Fe-based high temperature superconductors (pnictides and FeSe thin films), materials for energy storage (delafossites, N/Cr-doped TiO₂), and materials for spintronic applications

Teaching

Dr. Mannella has taught the following courses:

• Physics 231 and Physics 232: Fundamentals of Physics: Waves, Optics and Modern Physics
• Physics 311: Classical Mechanics
• Physics 431: Electricity and Magnetism
• Physics 541: Electromagnetic Theory
• Physics 571: Mathematical Methods for Physics

Some Recent Publications

Google Scholar Profile

Disentangling electronic, lattice, and spin dynamics in the chiral helimagnet Cr_1/3NbS₂
N. Sirica, H. Hedayat, D. Bugini, M. R. Koehler, L. Li, D. S. Parker, D. G. Mandrus, C. Dallera, E. Carpene, and N. Mannella, Physical Review B 104, 174426 (2021).

The Nature of Ferromagnetism in the Chiral Helimagnet Cr_1/3NbS₂
N. Sirica, P. Vilmercati, F. Bondino, I. Pis, S. Nappini, S. –K. Mo, A. V. Federov, P. K. Das, I. Vobornik, J. Fujii,  L. Li, D. Sapkota, D. S. Parker, D. G. Mandrus, and N. Mannella, Nature Communications Physics 3, 65 (2020).

Doping dependence of the magnitude of fluctuating spin moments in the normal state of the pnictide superconductor Sr(Fe_1−xCo_x)₂As₂ inferred from photoemission spectroscopy
Paolo Vilmercati, Yeongkwan Kim, Sung-Kwan Mo, Michael McGuire, Brian Sales, David Mandrus, Wei Ku, Luigi Sangaletti, David J. Singh, and Norman Mannella, Physical Review B 99, 155132 (2019)

Non-rigid band shift and non-monotonic electronic structure changes upon doping in the normal state of the pnictide high-temperature superconductor Ba(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂As₂.
Paolo Vilmercati, Sung-Kwan Mo, Alexei Fedorov, Michael McGuire, Athena Sefat, Brian Sales, David Mandrus, David J. Singh, Wei Ku, Steve Johnston, and Norman Mannella, Physical Review B 94, 195147 (2016)

Electronic structure of the chiral helimagnet and 3d-intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide Cr_1/3NbS₂
N. Sirica, S.-K. Mo, F. Bondino, I. Pis, S. Nappini, P. Vilmercati, J. Yi, Z. Gai, P. C. Snijders, P. K. Das, I. Vobornik, N. Ghimire, M. R. Koehler, L. Li, D. Sapkota, D. S. Parker, D. G. Mandrus, and N. Mannella, Physical Review B 94, 075141 (2016)

Spectroscopic evidence for strong quantum spin fluctuations with itinerant character in YFe₂Ge₂
N. Sirica, F. Bondino, S. Nappini, I. Pis, L. Poudel, A. D. Christianson, D. Mandrus, D. J. Singh, and N. Mannella, Physical Review B – Rapid Communications, 91, 212102(R), (2015)

The magnetic moment enigma in Fe-based high temperature superconductors (Invited review article)
N. Mannella, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 26, 473202 (2014)

Origins of Electronic Band Gap Reduction in Cr/N Codoped TiO₂
C. Parks Cheney, P. Vilmercati, E.W. Martin, M. Chiodi, L. Gavioli, M. Regmi, G. Eres, T. A. Callcott, H. H. Weitering, and N. Mannella, Physical Review Letters 112, 036404 (2014)

Highlights in the Press

Catching Rays: UT Physicists Look at Turning Sunlight into Current
Web Feature on UT Physics Site, April 22 (2014)

Norman Mannella’s NSF CAREER Research Imposes Coherence on Complex Systems
Feature in UT Physics Newsletter (Spring/Summer 2012)

Three Researchers Win CAREER Awards
Highlighted in Tennessee Today, June 19 (2012)

UT Physics Honors Day 2012 (Norman Mannella Named UT Society of Physics Students Teacher of the Year)
Highlighted in UT Physics News, April 23 (2012)

A Class of Their Own – New Superconductors Defy Conventional Models
Highlighted in UT Physics News, July 13 (2009)

Polaron Coherence Condensation in Layered Colossal Resistive Manganites
Highlighted in ALSNews vol. 289, July 30 (2008)

Experiments debunk ‘pseudogap’ role in superconductivity, pave way to practical superconductors
Highlighted in Physorg.com/news10505, Feb. 2 (2006)

Experiments debunk ‘pseudogap’ role in superconductivity
Highlighted in Stanford Report, Feb. 1 (2006)

Pseudogaps Are Not The Answer
Highlighted in Science @ Berkeley Lab., Jan 30 (2006)

Pseudogaps, polarons, and the mystery of high-Tc superconductivity
Highlighted in ALSNews, vol. 264 (2006)

Condensed-matter physics: Focus on the Fermi surface
Highlighted in Nature 438, 435 (2005)

A Different Spin on Future Data Storage
Highlighted in Science @ Berkeley Lab., March 03 (2005)

Polaron Behavior in CMR Manganites
Highlighted in ALSNews, vol. 249 (2005)