Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Effetto StARC'

In industrialized economies such as the European countries unemployment rates are very responsive to the business cycle and significant shares stay unemployed for more than one year. To fight cyclical and long-term unemployment countries spend significant shares of their budget on Active Labor Market Policies (ALMP). To improve the allocation and design of ALMP it is essential for policy makers to have reliable evidence on the effectiveness of such programs available. Although the number of studies has been increased during the last decades, policy makers still lack evidence on innovative programs and for specific subgroups of the labor market. Using Germany as a case study, the dissertation aims at contributing in this way by providing new evidence on start-up subsidies, marginal employment and programs for youth unemployed. The idea behind start-up subsidies is to encourage unemployed individuals to exit unemployment by starting their own business. Those programs have compared to traditional programs of ALMP the advantage that not only the participant escapes unemployment but also might generate additional jobs for other individuals. Considering two distinct start-up subsidy programs, the dissertation adds three substantial aspects to the literature: First, the programs are effective in improving the employment and income situation of participants compared to non-participants in the long-run. Second, the analysis on effect heterogeneity reveals that the programs are particularly effective for disadvantaged groups in the labor market like low educated or low qualified individuals, and in regions with unfavorable economic conditions. Third, the analysis considers the effectiveness of start-up programs for women. Due to higher preferences for flexible working hours and limited part-time jobs, unemployed women often face more difficulties to integrate in dependent employment. It can be shown that start-up subsidy programs are very promising as unemployed women become self-employed which gives them more flexibility to reconcile work and family. Overall, the results suggest that the promotion of self-employment among the unemployed is a sensible strategy to fight unemployment by abolishing labor market barriers for disadvantaged groups and sustainably integrating those into the labor market. The next chapter of the dissertation considers the impact of marginal employment on labor market outcomes of the unemployed. Unemployed individuals in Germany are allowed to earn additional income during unemployment without suffering a reduction in their unemployment benefits. Those additional earnings are usually earned by taking up so-called marginal employment that is employment below a certain income level subject to reduced payroll taxes (also known as “mini-job”). The dissertation provides an empirical evaluation of the impact of marginal employment on unemployment duration and subsequent job quality. The results suggest that being marginal employed during unemployment has no significant effect on unemployment duration but extends employment duration. Moreover, it can be shown that taking up marginal employment is particularly effective for long-term unemployed, leading to higher job-finding probabilities and stronger job stability. It seems that mini-jobs can be an effective instrument to help long-term unemployed individuals to find (stable) jobs which is particularly interesting given the persistently high shares of long-term unemployed in European countries. Finally, the dissertation provides an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of ALMP programs to improve labor market prospects of unemployed youth. Youth are generally considered a population at risk as they have lower search skills and little work experience compared to adults. This results in above-average turnover rates between jobs and unemployment for youth which is particularly sensitive to economic fluctuations. Therefore, countries spend significant resources on ALMP programs to fight youth unemployment. However, so far only little is known about the effectiveness of ALMP for unemployed youth and with respect to Germany no comprehensive quantitative analysis exists at all. Considering seven different ALMP programs, the results show an overall positive picture with respect to post-treatment employment probabilities for all measures under scrutiny except for job creation schemes. With respect to effect heterogeneity, it can be shown that almost all programs particularly improve the labor market prospects of youths with high levels of pretreatment schooling. Furthermore, youths who are assigned to the most successful employment measures have much better characteristics in terms of their pre-treatment employment chances compared to non-participants. Therefore, the program assignment process seems to favor individuals for whom the measures are most beneficial, indicating a lack of ALMP alternatives that could benefit low-educated youths.
Zur Verbesserung der Arbeitsmarktchancen arbeitsloser Personen und damit zur Bekämpfung von Arbeitslosigkeit werden innerhalb der Europäischen Union jedes Jahr beträchtliche Summen für Maßnahmen der aktiven Arbeitsmarktpolitik (AAP) aufgewendet. Vor diesem Hintergrund ergibt sich die Frage nach der Effektivität dieser Programme. Obwohl in den vergangenen Jahren zahlreiche empirische Evaluationsstudien durchgeführt und hierdurch wesentliche Erkenntnisse über die Wirksamkeit von AAP gewonnen wurden, bestehen noch stets unerforschte bzw. nur unzureichend erforschte Bereiche, wie zum Beispiel für innovative Programme oder für Untergruppen am Arbeitsmarkt. Hierin liegt der Beitrag der Dissertationsschrift. Am Beispiel von Deutschland werden neue Erkenntnisse zur Wirksamkeit der Existenzgründungsförderung, der geringfügigen Beschäftigung sowie der Programme für arbeitslose Jugendliche geliefert. Mit Einführung des Existenzgründungszuschusses (Ich-AG) im Rahmen der Hartz-Reformen, standen gründungswilligen Arbeitslosen, zusammen mit dem bereits seit Mitte der Achtziger Jahre bekannten Überbrückungsgeld, zwischen 2003 und 2006 zwei Förderprogramme zur Verfügung. Beide Programme umfassen eine monetäre Förderung während der Gründungsphase, um arbeitslosen Personen den Weg in die berufliche Selbständigkeit zu erleichtern. Die Analyse der beiden Programme zeigt deutlich, dass die intendierten Ziele, d.h. die Verbesserung der Beschäftigungschancen sowie der Einkommenssituation der Teilnehmer, erreicht wurden. Es zeigt sich weiter, dass beide Programme insbesondere effektiv für benachteiligte Gruppen am Arbeitsmarkt, wie z.B. Geringqualifizierte, sowie in Regionen mit eher schlechten ökonomischen Bedingungen sind. Aber auch die getrennte Analyse für Frauen zieht eine positive Bilanz. Hier erweist sich die Förderung als besonders wirksam, da die berufliche Selbständigkeit (im Gegensatz zur abh. Beschäftigung) anscheinend eine bessere Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf ermöglicht. Abschließend lässt sich somit feststellen, dass die Förderung der beruflichen Selbständigkeit eine sinnvolle Strategie darstellt, da insbesondere bestehende Hürden für benachteiligte Gruppen am Arbeitsmarkt beseitigt und diese Personen langfristig in den Arbeitsmarkt integriert werden. Im nächsten Abschnitt der Dissertationsschrift wird die Aufnahme einer geringfügigen Beschäftigung während der Arbeitslosigkeit untersucht. In Deutschland können arbeitslose Personen bis zu 15 Stunden/Woche eine Beschäftigung aufnehmen, wobei ein Zuverdienst bis 165 Euro/Monat keine Auswirkung auf den Bezug von Arbeitslosengeld hat. Hierzu greifen arbeitslose Personen insbesondere auf die geringfügige Beschäftigung (genannt „Mini-Job“) zurück, da diese für die Arbeitslosen selbst abgabenfrei ist und Arbeitgeber nur einen reduzierten Beitrag zur Sozialversicherung sowie Einkommensteuer zahlen. Das erhöhte Einkommensniveau während der Arbeitslosigkeit sowie der enge Kontakt zum Arbeitsmarkt können unterschiedliche Wirkungen generieren. Es zeigt sich, dass die Aufnahme einer geringfügigen Beschäftigung grundsätzlich keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Arbeitslosigkeitsdauer hat, jedoch im Anschluss an die Arbeitslosigkeit zu längeren Beschäftigungsphasen führt. Die Untersuchung der Effektheterogenität zeigt, dass die geringfügige Beschäftigung während der Arbeitslosigkeit die Arbeitslosigkeitsdauer für Langzeitarbeitslose verkürzt und zu insgesamt stabileren Beschäftigungsphasen für diese Personengruppe führt. Das Ergebnis ist von hoher politischer Relevanz, da die Möglichkeit einer Zusatzbeschäftigung während der Arbeitslosigkeit anscheinend ein effektives Instrument zur Bekämpfung von Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit darstellt. Abschließend beschäftigt sich die Dissertationsschrift mit der Untersuchung der Effektivität von AAP zur Verbesserung der Arbeitsmarktchancen von arbeitslosen Jugendlichen. Jugendliche sind im Gegensatz zu Erwachsenen häufiger von Arbeitslosigkeit betroffen, da sie über geringere Such- bzw. Arbeitserfahrung verfügen. Die Bekämpfung von Jugendarbeitslosigkeit steht daher im Fokus der AAP. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es erstaunlich, dass bisher nur wenig über die Wirksamkeit von AAP für arbeitslose Jugendliche bekannt ist bzw. für Deutschland hierzu noch überhaupt keine Erkenntnisse existieren. Die Dissertationsschrift liefert nun erstmalig Evidenz zur Wirksamkeit von AAP für arbeitslose Jugendliche in Deutschland. Die untersuchten Programme (außer Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahmen) erhöhen die Beschäftigungswahrscheinlichkeit der Teilnehmer gegenüber den Nicht-Teilnehmern. Allerdings zeigt sich auch, dass arbeitslose Jugendliche ohne bzw. mit Hauptschulabschluss weniger von einer Programmteilnahme profitieren als Jugendliche mit einer höheren Schulbildung. Hier scheint noch Optimierungsbedarf zu bestehen, indem die Ausgestaltung der AAP stärker auf die Bedürfnisse von geringqualifizierten Jugendlichen eingehen sollte.

This thesis is concerned with effects of spin polarization in neutron stars. In particular, we focus on static and dynamic properties of dense neutron matter. We use two different kind of potential to perform our studies: the phenomenological two-body Argonne V$8$' potential plus the three-body Urbana IX force and a modern local version of chiral effective potential up to next-to-next-to-leading order (N$2$LO). Estimates are calculated for the neutrino mean free path in partially spin-polarized neutron matter starting from Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations and using mean-field approaches to compute the response function in the longitudinal and transverse channel. We also compute magnetic susceptibility of dense neutron matter from accurate QMC calculations of partially spin-polarized systems. Twist-averaged boundary conditions (TABC) have been implemented to reduce finite-size effects. In the results, we also account for the theoretical uncertainty coming from the chiral expansion scheme. These results may play a role in studying high-energy phenomena such as neutron star mergers and supernova explosions, although they have been computed only at T$=0$ K.

This thesis is concerned with effects of spin polarization in neutron stars. In particular, we focus on static and dynamic properties of dense neutron matter. We use two different kind of potential to perform our studies: the phenomenological two-body Argonne V$8$' potential plus the three-body Urbana IX force and a modern local version of chiral effective potential up to next-to-next-to-leading order (N$2$LO). Estimates are calculated for the neutrino mean free path in partially spin-polarized neutron matter starting from Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations and using mean-field approaches to compute the response function in the longitudinal and transverse channel. We also compute magnetic susceptibility of dense neutron matter from accurate QMC calculations of partially spin-polarized systems. Twist-averaged boundary conditions (TABC) have been implemented to reduce finite-size effects. In the results, we also account for the theoretical uncertainty coming from the chiral expansion scheme. These results may play a role in studying high-energy phenomena such as neutron star mergers and supernova explosions, although they have been computed only at T$=0$ K.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2005.
Typescript. "A dissertation [submitted] as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics." Bibliography: leaves 328-333.

Bei der theoretischen Beschreibung von spektroskopischen Experimenten wird in der Regel das Materiesystem quantenmechanisch beschrieben, während das Strahlungsfeld klassisch behandelt wird. Diese semiklassische Näherung ist zur Beschreibung von Experimenten, bei denen eine starke Kopplung zwischen dem Matriesystem und einzelnen Photonen besteht, nicht mehr gültig. Dies kann beispielsweise innerhalb eines optischen Resonators der Fall sein. In dieser Arbeit wird am Beispiel eines Pump-Test- Experiments zum Nachweis des optischen Stark-Effekts untersucht, welche zusätzlichen Effekte sich bei einer quantisierten Beschreibung des Strahlungsfeldes ergeben. Ein signifikanter Effekt ist, dass die Photonenstatistik des Pumpfeldes sich in der Linienform der verschobenen Resonanzlinie widerspiegelt. Weiter wurde in dieser Arbeit bei kleiner Pumpverstimmung ein Verstärkungseffekt gefunden, der ebenfalls auf der quantisierten Behandlung des Strahlungsfeldes beruht (nichtklassische Verstärkung). Es treten ferner bei grosseren Ensemblen von Zwei-Niveau -Systemen zusätzliche Unterstrukturen und Resonanzen auf. Auch kann der Nachweis des optischen Stark-Effekts Aufschluss über die Nichtdiagonalelemente bezüglich der Photonenzahl des quantisierten Pumpfeldes geben.Im Hinblick auf die Beschreibung komplexer Materiesystemen wurde in dieser Arbeit auch eine näherungsweise Berechnung der Testabsorption mit quantisiertem Strahlungsfeld im Rahmen einer Dichtematrixtheorie untersucht. Insbesondere war hier für die quantitative Beschreibung der nichtklassischen Verstärkung eine Berücksichtigung hoherer Korrelationen zwingend erforderlich. Auch wurden näherungsweise Entkopp- lungen unter Berücksichtigung der Erhaltungsgrossen durch- geführt. Die Dichtematrixtheorie wurde auf die Untersuchung des optischen Stark-Effektes an storstellengebundenen Exzitonen in Halbleitern angewandt. Da diese Resonanzen vergleichsweise kleine homogene und inhomogene Linienbreiten aufweisen,ist hier experimentell zu erwarten, dass sich feine Effekte des quantisierten Pumpfeldes bemerkbar machen konnen.
The theoretical description of spectroscopic experiments usu ally relies on a semiclassical approach where the matter system is described in terms of quantum mechanics while the radiation field is treated classically. This approach does n ot work well for systems with a strong coupling between the matter system and photons of the radiation field. The latter can be the case within an optical resonator.In this thesis, additional effects of a quantized radiation field are inves tigated on a pump-probe experiment for detecting the optical Stark effect. One significant effect is that the lineshape of the shifted resonance displays the photon statistics of the pump field. For small pump detuning probe gain results in a frequency regime where the semiclassical treatment predicts absorption. This effect is refered to nonclassical gain. For larger ensembles of two-level systems, additional substructures and resonances appear within the probe absorption spectrum. Also non- diagonal elements of the field density matrix can be detected in such an experiment. In order to describe a more complex matter systems, the optical Stark effect has been treated in terms of a density matrix approach with quantized radiation fields. For a quantitative description of nonclassical gain, higher correlation terms had to be treated properly. Moreover, conserved quantities were taken into account in approximate decouplings. The density matrix approach was applied to the description of the optical Stark effect on impurity-bound excitons in semiconductors. These systems are of high interest as their narrow resonances might allow the demonstration of fine effects of the quantized radiation field.

L'objectif de ce mémoire est de présenter une étude aussi complète que possible de l'effet Stark dans les molécules en général, et dans les molécules tétraédriques en particulier. Après une description du modèle de matrice 2*2 utilisé usuellement pour l'étude de l'effet Stark en champs électriques faibles, notamment pour la détermination des paramètres du moment dipolaire induit par la vibration et par la rotation de la molécule, nous présentons un modèle plus général adapté à des études en champs plus forts et incluant dans l'hamiltonien Stark aussi bien le moment dipolaire que la polarisabilité de la molécule. Nous avons également mis au point un modèle pour calculer les intensités des transitions infrarouges et Raman entre les niveaux d'énergie Stark. Avec ces modèles nous avons déterminé quelques paramètres du moment dipolaire induit des molécules SiF4 et SnH4. Nous avons également effectué des prédictions de spectres d'effet Stark linéaire et non linéaire, en fréquences et en intensités de la molécule SiF4. Ces prédictions sont comparées à des spectres expérimentaux. Enfin, nous avons procédé à une étude approfondie du modèle de l'hamiltonien Stark effectif, et montré que plusieurs jeux de paramètres cohérents du moment dipolaire et de la polarisabilité conduisent aux mêmes valeurs propres. Ceci met en évidence l'ambiguïté de l'hamiltonien Stark effectif. Par ailleurs, nous discutons la contribution de la polarisabilité dans l'effet Stark et des limites du modèle en champs forts

Modern observations provide evidences that the ‘standard’ stellar evolution model is incomplete and should take into account ‘extra’-mixing processes. This dissertation is dedicated to an observational study of the Galactic red clump as well as to investigations of evolutionary effects in atmospheres of low-mass helium-core burning stars and evaluation of theoretical models of extra-mixing processes in interiors of stars. For this purpose, the high-resolution spectra of 62 Galactic red clump stars and 9 evolved stars of the old open cluster NGC 7789 have been analysed and the main atmospheric parameters and chemical compositions were determined. The investigation confirmed the hypothesis that clump stars of the Galaxy are relatively young objects, reflecting mainly the near–solar metallicities developed in the local disk during the last few billion years of its history. Mixing induced carbon and nitrogen abundance modifications in the Galactic clump stars were investigated. The clump stars can be divided into distinct evolutionary groups using the 12C/13C criterion. The carbon isotope ratios of the Galactic clump stars are consistent with the Cool Bottom Processing (CBP) extra-mixing model; the Thermohaline extra-mixing model needs to be complemented in order to agree with observational data. The carbon isotope ratios in the NGC 7789 stars indicate a larger extra–mixing than it is foreseen by theoretical models.
Šiuolaikiniai astronominiai stebėjimai leidžia įtarti, kad „standartinis“ žvaigždžių evoliucijos modelis yra nepilnas ir turi būti patikslintas, įvedant „papildomą“ maišymąsi. Disertacija yra skirta Galaktikos raudonosios sankaupos žvaigždžių cheminės sudėties tyrimui ir maišymosi procesų sukeltų cheminės sudėties pokyčių mažos masės žvaigždžių atmosferose tyrimui bei papildomo maišymosi teorinių modelių įvertinimui. Tam tikslui buvo gauti ir ištirti 62-jų Galaktikos raudonosios sankaupos žvaigždžių ir 9 padrikojo spiečiaus NGC 7789 žvaigždžių didelės skiriamosios gebos spektrai, nustatyti žvaigždžių pagrindiniai parametrai ir cheminė sudėtis. Tyrimas patvirtino hipotezę, kad Galaktikos sankaupos žvaigždės yra santykinai jauni Saulės metalingumo objektai, susiformavę per pastaruosius keletą milijardų metų. Tirtose žvaigždėse buvo įvertintos maišymosi procesų pasekmėje pasikeitusių anglies ir azoto gausų vertės. Pademonstruota, kad sankaupos žvaigždės gali būti išskirtos į skirtingas evoliucines grupes pagal 12C/13C kriterijų. Nustatyta, kad anglies izotopų santykių vertes Galaktikos sankaupos žvaigždžių atmosferose gerai aprašo šaltojo žemutinių sluoksnių papildomo maišymosi modelis, tuo tarpu termohalinio papildomo maišymosi modelis turi būti papildytas, kad sutaptų su visais stebėjimų rezultatais. Nustatyta, kad anglies izotopų santykiai spiečiaus žvaigždėse yra labiau paveikti maišymosi procesų nei numato dabartiniai teoriniai žvaigždžių evoliucijos modeliai.

Paper discusses the expected uncertainty of orbital parameters of binary stars as measured by the space-based gravitational wave observatory LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) and how the inclusion of spin in the model of the binary stars affects the uncertainty. The uncertainties are found by calculating the received gravitational wave from a binary pair and then performing a linear least-squares parameter estimation. The case of a 1500 solar mass black hole that is 20 years from coalescing with a 1000 solar mass black hole--both of which are 50 x 10^6 light years away--is analyzed, and the results show that the inclusion of spin has a negligible effect upon the angular resolution of LISA but can increase the accuracy in mass and distance measurements by factors of 15 and 65, respectively.

Etude expérimentale et théorique de l'élargissement par effet Stark de raies d'argon ionisé. Etude expérimentale des différents paramètres physiques de l'arc TIG utilisé. Mesure des largeurs de raies. Calcul numérique des largeurs en théorie semi-classique à l'aide de l'approximation impact. Comparaison critique des différents résultats

Les paires d'ions sont omniprésentes dans la nature, depuis l'eau de mer, les aérosols, jusqu'aux organismes vivants. Elles influencent les propriétés des solutions concentrées en ions, et jouent ainsi un rôle majeur dans divers réactions chimiques et processus biologiques. Cependant, la caractérisation des paires d’ions se heurte à une double difficulté : d'une part, plusieurs types de paires coexistent, et d'autre part, ce sont des espèces transitoires en solution. Dans ce contexte, ce travail présente plusieurs études menées selon trois axes de recherche principaux grâce à une approche originale en phase gazeuse, puis en solution. Le premier axe consiste à étudier les effets du champ électrique produit par la paire d’ions sur la spectroscopie d’un chromophore UV en phase gazeuse (effets Stark). Les groupes ioniques sont capables de produire un champ électrique suffisamment élevé pour induire des effets Stark électroniques significatifs sur un chromophore UV situé à proximité. Cette étude est menée sur des systèmes modèles de formule générale (C₆H₅-(CH₂)n₋COO⁻,M⁺) avec M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs et n = 1-3, permettant de faire varier le champ électrique ressenti par le chromophore UV. Ces différents systèmes sont étudiés en phase gazeuse par spectroscopie UV combinée à des calculs de chimie quantique, ainsi que par des expériences de spectroscopie IR sélective en conformation. Grâce à cette approche, des attributions conformationnelles précises peuvent être proposées pour des transitions électroniques séparées de quelques cm-1, sur la base de l’analyse des effets Stark observés sur le spectre UV, sans recourir à la spectroscopie IR, ni aux calculs de fréquences. Il s’agit ensuite de comprendre les effets d’environnement sur les paires d’ions par des expériences de microsolvatation en phase gazeuse. La paire d’ions d’acétate de sodium [CH₃-COO⁻,Na⁺] est étudiée pour la première fois dans un complexe trimère avec le p-xylène par spectroscopie IR. Des expériences de microhydratation sont ensuite réalisées sur des paires d’ions chargées ([CH₃-COO⁻,M²⁺] ; M = Ca, Ba), mettant en évidence deux comportements différents en fonction de la nature du dication. Les différentes expériences montrent que la signature IR du groupement carboxylate est sensible à son environnement proche, mais également à l’environnement du cation qui lui est apparié. Le dernier axe consiste à détecter et identifier les structures formées par les ions dans les solutions électrolytiques par spectroscopies IR et RX. Une première analyse est effectuée sur des solutions électrolytiques ([CH₃-COO⁻,M⁺] ; M = Li, Na et K) par spectroscopie IR-TF en variant la concentration en ions. Une étude théorique est ensuite réalisée dans l’objectif de proposer un spectre théorique pour chaque type de paires, et de les confronter aux spectres expérimentaux en solution. L’approche repose sur le calcul de la signature IR de paires ([CH₃-COO⁻,M⁺] ; M = Li, Na, K, Rb et Cs) et de l’anion libre, entourés successivement de molécules d’eau explicites décrites au niveau chimie quantique, puis au niveau champ de force et enfin par un modèle de solvant continu. Pour chaque type de paires, des familles spectroscopiques compatibles avec les données expérimentales sont identifiées. Cette approche originale ouvre la voie vers l’identification des structures supramoléculaires dans les solutions électrolytiques. Enfin, la première expérience FZRET en micro-jet liquide est réalisée sur une solution d’acétate de potassium, donnant accès à une mesure de la distribution des distances entre cations et anions appariés. Au cours de ces études, différentes méthodes sont employées allant de l’expérience à la théorie, de la phase gazeuse à la solution. Cette thèse illustre la nécessité de combiner plusieurs méthodes afin d’obtenir des données complémentaires permettant une meilleure caractérisation de l’organisation supramoléculaire des ions et de leur environnement
Ion pairs are ubiquitous in nature, from sea water, aerosols, to living organisms. They influence the properties of concentrated ion solutions, and thus play a crucial role in various chemical reactions and biological processes. However, the characterization of ion pairs faces some difficulties: on one hand, several types of pairs coexist, and on the other hand, they are transient species in solution. In this context, this work presents several studies carried out according to three main research studies, backed by an original approach in the gas phase, and then in solution. Firstly, the effects of the electric field produced by the ion pair on the UV spectroscopy of a chromophore in gas phase (Stark effects) are studied. The ion groups can produce an electric field high enough to induce significant electronic Stark effects on a nearby UV chromophore. This study is conducted on model systems (C₆H₅-(CH₂)n-COO⁻,M⁺) with M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and n = 1-3, allowing to vary the electric field experienced by the UV chromophore. These different systems are studied in the gas phase by UV spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry calculations, as well as by conformation selective IR spectroscopy. Based on the analysis of the electronic Stark effects, precise conformational assignments can be proposed for electronic transitions separated by a few cm-1, without resorting to IR spectroscopy, or frequency calculations. The next study is focused mainly on understanding the environmental effects on ion pairs by microsolvation experiments in gas phase. The pair of sodium acetate ions [CH₃-COO⁻,Na⁺] is studied for the first time in a trimer complex with p-xylene by IR spectroscopy. Microhydration experiments are then carried out on charged ion pairs ([CH₃-COO⁻,M²⁺]; M = Ca, Ba), highlighting two different behaviours depending on the nature of the cation. The final research is to detect and identify the structures formed by the ions in electrolytic solutions by IR and RX spectroscopy. The first experiment is carried out on electrolytic solutions ([CH₃-COO⁻,M⁺]; M = Li, Na and K) by TF-IR spectroscopy by varying the ion concentration. A theoretical study is then carried out in order to propose a theoretical spectrum for each type of pair, and to confront them with experimental spectra in solution. The approach is based on the calculation of the IR signature of pairs ([CH₃-COO⁻,M⁺]; M = Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) and free anion in solution, where the first solvation layer were described at the quantum level, followed by a solvent continuum. For each type of pair, spectroscopic families, consistent with the experimental data, are identified. This original approach paves way to the identification of supramolecular structures in electrolytic solutions. Finally, the first FZRET experiment in liquid micro-jet is carried out on a potassium acetate solution, providing access to a measurement of the distance distribution between cations and paired anions.In these studies, different methods are used ranging from experiment to theory, from the gas phase to solution. This work illustrates the need to combine several methods in order to obtain additional data and allow a better characterization of the supramolecular organisation of ions and their environment

Bibliography: leaves 174-192. This research aims to obtain detailed knowledge on the effects of a period of high temperature on the accumulation of grain dry matter and endosperm starch, protein and B-glucan in the developing grain of the malting barley variety Schooner. Bbarley plants are exposed to high temperatures during mid grain filling for 5 days. Grain growth characteristics are measured prior to, during and following the high temperature period, with the aim of characterising the high temperature response in developing grain. The activities of several enzymes and metabolities of the pathway of starch synthesis are monitored and compared to those in grains maintained at a lower temperature. In addition, grain structure is also compared between control and heat treated grain during development, at maturity and following malting.

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Dissertacao (Mestrado)
IPEN/D
Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Measurements of neutron-star properties provide a natural way to test models of cold dense matter and theories of gravity. In order to correctly interpret these measurements, accurate models taking into account the special and general relativistic effects arising from the strong gravity and fast spin of these sources are necessary. Moreover, for some observables the effects of the rapid spin can dominate the measurement. In this thesis, I develop a ray-tracing algorithm using the Hartle-Thorne metric that allows me to determine the effects of gravity on several observables. I use this algorithm to calculate the bias introduced when observations are interpreted under the common assumption that the source is slowly spinning or not spinning at all. I show that this assumption can lead to errors in mass and radius measurements that are larger than the accuracy needed to distinguish between different models for the equation of state.

L'effet stark, du a la presence de particules chargees dans un plasma, modifie l'allure des profils spectraux. Cette these presente des modeles de profils stark d'ions multicharges permettant le diagnostic des plasmas chauds. Dans le cadre de l'approximation quasi-statique pour les ions un modele de calcul de profils de raies est developpe. Des comparaisons avec des spectres d'experience de developpement de laser x et xuv donnent de bons accords. Afin de tenir compte de la fluctuation du microchamp des ions nous avons developpe un modele de simulation numerique d'un plasma par la dynamique moleculaire. Ce modele calcule les proprietes statistiques statiques et dynamiques d'un plasma et donne un microchamp ionique fluctuant. Un modele de simulation utilisant ce microchamp est developpe pour le calcul de profil stark. Ce modele montre des effets de dynamique des ions sur des profils de raies d'ions hydrogenoides et heliumoides dans des conditions de plasma de confinement inertiel

The effects of an applied bias in the longitudinal or growth direction on four In$\sb{\rm x}$Ga$\sb{\rm 1-x}$As-GaAs strained single quantum wells and three strained layer superlattices have been studied using photocurrent and electroreflectance spectroscopy at liquid helium temperature. Weak applied electric fields on the quantum well samples gives rise to a red quadratic shift to the lowest interband transition between the first confined electron (E1) and heavy-hole (H1) levels, the quantum confined Stark effect (QCSE). The magnitude of the QCSE increases with well width. This field dependence becomes subquadratic at high applied fields due to carrier accumulation on the low energy side of the wells. Superlattices with relatively small periods, i.e. 10 nm, exhibit interwell coupling giving rise to a miniband structure under flatband conditions. The application of an electric field removes the interwell coupling giving rise to a ladder like progression in energy for the interband transition energies, called Wannier Stark ladders. The measured exciton transition energies follow a linear field dependence given by the product of the Stark ladder index, the superlattice period, and the electric field. The low field behaviour is more complex due to the Coulomb interaction between the electrons and heavy-holes. The measured field dependent exciton transition energies for the quantum wells agree well with single particle model calculations, while for the superlattice samples the exciton Stark ladder calculations of Dignam and Sipe have yielded good agreement with the measured data.

L'objectif de ce mémoire est de présenter une étude aussi complète que possible de l'effet Stark dans les toupies asymétriques de type X2Y4 possédant le groupe de symétrie D2h et de l'appliquer au problème de la spectroscopie de l'éthylène piégé dans une zéolithe. Pour la première fois, un formalisme tensoriel adapté à l'étude de l'effet Stark pour la chaine de groupes O(3) D2h a été développé. Parallèlement au développement du modèle théorique, des programmes informatiques ont été mis au point sous la forme d'une nouvelle génération de logiciel appelé D2hTDS-ST utilisant une base plus simple, permettant une économie en temps de calcul. Sur la base des outils théoriques et informatiques ainsi qu'à partir des spectres expérimentaux enregistrés au laboratoire, nous avons fait une première estimation de la valeur du champ électrique effectif moyen produit par la silicalite-1. Les valeurs du champ électrique obtenues avec notre méthode sont cohérentes avec les valeurs obtenues par les calculs ab initio PBE1PBE6-31++G(2d,2p).

Cette thèse est consacrée à la spectroscopie de l'éthylène en vue de l'étude de cette molécule piégée dans des zéolithes. La première partie expose le modèle tensoriel adapté à la symétrie de la molécule isolée : formalisme, hamiltonien et moments de transition. Afin de prendre en compte les champs électriques intenses présents dans les zéolithes, nous proposons dans la deuxième partie une extension du modèle à l'effet Stark. La troisième partie décrit les programmes du logiciel D2hTDS qui ont été construits pour calculer et analyser les spectres des molécules de type X2Y4. La quatrième partie présente les applications au calcul et à l'analyse de spectres de l'éthylène à champ nul et sous effet Stark. En particulier, le modèle a été testé sur l'analyse à champ nul de l'état de base et des bandes nu2 et nu12. Un calcul à champ faible de la bande nu7 et une simulation à champ fort de la bande nu12 ont été effectués, ainsi qu'une étude d'alignement de la molécule en fonction du champ
This thesis is devoted to the spectroscopy of ethylene in the aim of studying the molecule trapped in zeolites. The first part deals with the tensorial model adapted to the symmetry of the isolated molecule: formalism, Hamiltonian and transition moments. To take the strong electric fields existing into zeolites into account, an extension of the model to the Stark effect is proposed in the second part. The third part describes the programs of the D2hTDS software which have been built for the calculation and analysis of X2Y4-type molecule spectra. The fourth part presents applications to the calculation and analysis of zero-field and Stark ethylene spectra. In particular, the model has been tested on the zero-field analysis of the ground state, the nu2 and nu12 bands. A weak field calculation of the nu7 band and a strong field simulation of the nu12 band have been performed, as well as a study of the alignment of the molecule as a function of the field

La photo-isomérisation par ouverture de cycle du benzopyrane a été étudiée à l'aide de la méthode MCTDH (Multi-Configuration Time-Dependent Hartree). Nous avons introduit différentes stratégies pour contrôler la conversion du benzopyrane en mérocyanine à l'aide d'impulsions laser. Nous avons utilisé un modèle pour le potentiel électronique à six dimensions développé dans le cadre d'un travail antérieur. Le modèle repose sur une généralisation des Hamiltoniens modèles standards pour les couplages vibroniques et utilise les six coordonnées les plus importantes pour le processus. Le principal objectif est de fournir des stratégies de contrôle qui pourront être utilisées par les expérimentateurs par la suite. Plus précisément, nous avons proposé: (i) une technique de type pompe-sonde pour contrôler la photostabilité, (ii) une stratégie en deux étape avec une préexcitation vibrationnel du système,(iii) une stratégie reposant sur un contrôle par effet Stark induit par un laser non-résonant
The ring-opening photoisomerization of benzopyran, which occurs via a photochemical route involving a conical intersection,has been studied with quantum dynamics calculations using the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree method (MCTDH). We introduce a mechanistic strategy to control the conversion of benzopyran to merocyanine with laser pulses. We use asix-dimensional model developed in a previous work for the potential energy surfaces (PES) based on an extension of thevibronic-coupling Hamiltonian model (diabatization method by ansatz), which depends on the most active degrees of freedom. The main objective of these quantum dynamics simulations is to provide a set of strategies that could help experimentalists tocontrol the photoreactivity vs. photostability ratio (selectivity). In this work we present:(i) a pump-dump technique used tocontrol the photostability, (ii) a two-step strategy to enhance the reactivity of the system: first, a pure vibrational excitation inthe electronic ground state that prepares the system and, second, an ultraviolet excitation that brings the system to the firstadiabatic electronic state; (iii) finally the effect of a non-resonant pulse (Stark effect) on the dynamics

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Grain Science and Industry
Yong Cheng Shi
This study focused on in-vitro digestibility and pasting properties of cross-linked (CL) starch with different amylose contents and different cross-linking levels, as well as physicochemical properties of extruded wheat flours with different amylose contents and functionality of amylopectin and cross-linking in improving the textural and physical properties of oat flour extrudates. Starch was CL by phosphorylation using a mixture of sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate at the ratio of 99:1 under alkaline condition. The digestibility of highly CL maize starches with different amylose contents was determined by Englyst, Available Carbohydrate Dietary Fiber and Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Method 991.43 methods. CL waxy and normal maize starch granules swelled much more at higher temperatures, resulting in significantly lower total dietary fiber content than high-amylose maize starch. The alkali treatment study on low levels of cross-linking in starch affected the ratios of total bound phosphate esters which changed the degree of starch swelling, crytallinity and pasting properties of the CL starch. The study on the mechanism of the digestive enzymes and the extent of digestion during the incubation of CL wheat starch in AOAC Method 2009.01 showed progressive digestion after 16 h of incubation, which may not reflect in-vivo response in human. Extrusion of normal and waxy wheat flours resulted in the breakdown of starch and an increase in the insoluble protein, which affected the textural and structural properties of extrudate. High energy input played a major role in radial expansion of normal hard wheat extrudate, whereas higher amylopectin in soft waxy wheat flour was a dominant factor in determining the radial expansion when compared to normal soft wheat. Inclusion of soft waxy wheat in the oat flour formulations at 18% moisture content improved the textural and structural properties of extrudates. Low cross-linking level of CL waxy maize starch in oat flour formulation increased the void fraction and reduced the breaking strength of extrudates, whereas higher cross-linking levels of CL starches improved the resistant starch level on oat flour formulation but had very poor structural and textural properties.The study offers a good insight on the properties and digestibility of CL starch, as well as using low levels of CL starch to improve textural properties of nutritional extruded products. In addition, study on the extrusion of wheat flours with different amylose and protein contents provides knowledge on the influence of chemical compositions and energy input on the physico-chemical properties of extrudates.

With growing environmental concerns, efforts are made to replace petroleum based products with renewable alternatives. This is particularly evident in the packaging industry, where replacing synthetic polymers with renewable materials is of considerable interest. Materials for food packaging need to give protection, acting as a barrier against substances that can adversely affect the food quality such as water and oxygen. In this work, barrier dispersion coatings based on starch were used to produce coated papers which act as barrier against water and oxygen. However, since starch is both a hydrophilic and hygroscopic material, this barrier material becomes problematic to use at high relative humidity. In order to reduce this problem and improve the barrier properties enabling starch based barrier materials to be used in food packaging applications, two approaches were studied. Citric acid was utilized as a cross-linker of the starch and it was found to reduce the moisture sorption, the molecular movement and swelling at high relative humidity. It was seen that cross-linking and hydrolysis due to the low pH both affected the barrier properties significantly, but in opposing directions. By controlling these two reactions it was seen that this could lead to reduced gas permeability. It was also seen that cross-linking of starch by citric acid occurs at low temperatures, 70 °C at pH as high as 6.5. Starch nano-composites were produced by incorporating montmorillonite, to the barrier dispersion to improve the barrier properties. It was seen that the suspension viscosity was reduced by poly(ethylene glycol) and citric acid adsorption on the montmorillonite particles. Also, a tendency for improved barrier properties with reduced aggregate volume fraction and reduced swelling was observed. It was also seen that up scaling this formulation to pilot scale was possible and that promising results were achieved.
Baksidestext With growing environmental concerns, efforts are made to replace petroleum based materials with renewable alternatives such as starch. In this work, dispersions based on starch were used to produce coated papers which act as barrier against substances that can adversely affect the food quality such as water and oxygen. However, since starch is both a hydrophilic and hygroscopic material, this barrier material becomes problematic to use at high relative humidity. Citric acid was utilized as cross-linker for starch and it was found to reduce the moisture sorption, diffusion and swelling at high relative humidity. Both cross-linking and hydrolysis due to the low pH affected the barrier properties significantly, but in opposing directions. By controlling these two reactions it was possible to achieve reduced gas permeability. Starch nano-composites were produced by incorporating montmorillonite clay, to the barrier dispersion. It was seen that the suspension viscosity was reduced by poly(ethylene glycol) and citric acid adsorption on the clay. Also, a tendency for improved barrier properties with reduced aggregate volume fraction and reduced swelling was observed. It was also seen that up scaling this formulation to pilot scale was possible and promising results were achieved.
Renewable Functional Barriers

The aim of this thesis is to research the value and influence of digital marketing on the competitive establishment of start-up companies. The research would further explore whether digital marketing can have a substantial effect on the growth of start-ups, enhance brand recognition, gain consumer loyalty, and strengthen customer relationships. This concept has not been previously researched and the only related study we find was the correlation between social media and innovation in start-ups, which indicates that social media has a positive effect on innovation in start-up companies.    The research used a qualitative research approach in which 5 start-up firms were interviewed using a semi-structured interview as the primary data collection method. The research also used secondary data collected through peer-reviewed articles, journals, and websites.   The study concludes that digital marketing is recognized as a creative and efficient way of obtaining, sustaining, and establishing customer relationships. Online channels and platforms, such as websites, industry-specific outlets, and forums, have been identified to be the most beneficial for start-ups. It also suggests that a fresh start-up can develop substantially through digital marketing by creating brand awareness, building trust, and building consumer awareness. However, most of the start-up companies hesitate implementing digital marketing strategies at the beginning of the company’s establishment.   Our findings will assist other start-ups to consider digital marketing for their marketing strategies. Recommendations for further studies are a related but perhaps more detailed study in Sweden and UAE, together with a study in a country other than Sweden and UAE.

Nous presentons le developpement et l'etude d'un dispositif photorefractif a puits quantiques ainsi que les mecanismes physiques fondamentaux associes a ce type de composants. La structure de bande de type i pour les trous lourds et de type ii pour les trous legers permet une mesure precise du decalage de bande de valence de cdte/cd#. #7#2zn#0#. #3#8te egal a +11% 2%. Cette situation particuliere produit une degenerescence entre niveaux de trous lourds et trous legers. Dans les puits peu profonds, l'exciton leger est de type i grace au potentiel coulombien exerce par l'electron sur le trou leger. Sous champ electrique, nous mettons en evidence une transition type i-type ii de l'exciton leger. Lorsque l'energie de liaison de l'exciton augmente, la constante dielectrique et l'interaction des excitons avec le reseau diminuent. L'observation de complexes exciton-phonon a basse temperature et leur disparition progressive lorsque l'energie de liaison augmente est favorable a cette interpretation. Une absorption excitonique intense a temperature ambiante est cependant observee lorsque l'energie de liaison est proche ou superieure a l'energie des phonons optiques longitudinaux. En nous fondant sur ces resultats, nous avons developpe un dispositif photorefractif a partir d'une diode schottky et nous avons mesure un rendement de diffraction proche de la valeur theorique. Un maintien du reseau de diffraction inscrit de quelques microsecondes necessite un blocage des porteurs qui ecrantent localement le champ applique. L'introduction de barrieres de potentiel en cdmgznte bloquent efficacement le mouvement perpendiculaire des electrons. Un modele qualitatif et des simulations numeriques permettent de cerner le comportement dynamique du dispositif. La diffusion laterale a l'interface est acceleree par le gradient de potentiel entre zones eclairees et sombres et limite le temps de maintien du reseau. Par des mesures de type pompe-sonde, nous avons determine la diffusion laterale et sa dependance avec le champ applique

Cette thèse concerne l'étude de la désexcitation d'agrégats et d'atomes par imagerie de photoélectrons. La première partie s'intéresse à l'émission thermoi͏̈onique d'un système de taille finie. Un dispositif d'imagerie 3D nous permet de mesurer l'évolution temporelle du spectre d'énergie des électrons émis par différents agrégats (Wn-, Cn-, C60). Nous avons alors un accès direct aux quantités fondamentales qui caractérisent cette émission statistique : la température du bain thermique fini et le taux de déclin. La deuxième partie concerne l'ionisation d'états de Rydberg atomiques en présence d'un champ électrique statique. Nous avons réalisé la première expérience de microscopie de photoi͏̈onisation qui permet d'obtenir une image qui est la projection macroscopique de la fonction d'onde électronique. Nous avons ainsi accès au détail de la photoi͏̈onisation et en particulier aux propriétés quantiques de l'électron habituellement confinées à l'échelle atomique
This thesis concerns the study of the desexcitation of clusters and atoms by photoelectron imaging. The first part is interested in thermionic emission of a finite size system. A 3D-imaging set-up allows us to measure the time evolution of the kinetic energy spectrum of electrons emitted from different clusters (Wn-, Cn-, C60). Then we have a direct acces to the fundamental quantities which caracterize this statistical emission : the temperature of the finite heat bath and the decay rate. The second part concerns the ionization of atomic Rydberg states placed in a static electric field. We performed the first experiment of photoionization microscopy which allows to obtain a picture which is the macroscopic projection of the electronic wave function. Then we have acces to the detail of the photoionization and particularly to the quantum properties of the electron usually confined at the atomic scale

Past ultraviolet and optical observations of stars hosting close-in Jupiter-mass planets have shown that some of these stars present an anomalously low chromospheric activity, significantly below the basal level. For the hot Jupiter planet host WASP-13, observations have shown that the apparent lack of activity is possibly caused by absorption from the intervening interstellar medium (ISM). Inspired by this result, we study the effect of ISM absorption on activity measurements (S and log R'(HK) indices) for main-sequence late-type stars. To this end, we employ synthetic stellar photospheric spectra combined with varying amounts of chromospheric emission and ISM absorption. We present the effect of ISM absorption on activity measurements by varying several instrumental (spectral resolution), stellar (projected rotational velocity, effective temperature, and chromospheric emission flux), and ISM parameters (relative velocity between stellar and ISM Ca II lines, broadening b-parameter, and Ca II column density). We find that for relative velocities between the stellar and ISM lines smaller than 30-40 km s(-1) and for ISM Ca II column densities log N-CaII greater than or similar to 12, the ISM absorption has a significant influence on activity measurements. Direct measurements and three dimensional maps of the Galactic ISM absorption indicate that an ISM Ca II column density of log N-CaII = 12 is typically reached by a distance of about 100 pc along most sight lines. In particular, for a Sun-like star lying at a distance greater than 100 pc, we expect a depression (bias) in the log R'(HK) value larger than 0.05-0.1 dex, about the same size as the typical measurement and calibration uncertainties on this parameter. This work shows that the bias introduced by ISM absorption must always be considered when measuring activity for stars lying beyond 100 pc. We also consider the effect of multiple ISM absorption components. We discuss the relevance of this result for exoplanet studies and revise the latest results on stellar activity versus planet surface gravity correlation. We finally describe methods with which it would be possible to account for ISM absorption in activity measurements and provide a code to roughly estimate the magnitude of the bias. Correcting for the ISM absorption bias may allow one to identify the origin of the anomaly in the activity measured for some planet-hosting stars.

Thesis (M.S. in molecular plant science)--Washington State University, December 2008.
Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 10, 2009). "Department of Molecular Plant Sciences." Includes bibliographical references.

Neste trabalho determinamos a estrutura dos níveis dos estados quase-ligados e virtuais em sistemas de poços quânticos acoplados de AlGaAs-GaAs na presença de um campo elétrico externo (Voltagem) perpendicular às camadas semicondutoras. As heteroestruturas de AlGaAs-GaAs são modeladas por um conjunto de poços quânticos de potencial unidimensionais. Utilizamos a aproximação de função envelope que reduz o problema à solução usual da Equação de Schroedinger de massa efetiva. Os níveis eletrônicos são então determinados utilizando a solução exata da Eq. de Schroedinger em termos das funções de Airy nos poços e barreiras e um formalismo de Matriz de Iteração com Análise de \"Phase-shift\". Nossos resultados estão em boa concordância com resultados experimentais de transições ópticas. Motivados pelas propriedades singulares dos sistemas de dupla barreira, investigamos o tunelamento ressonante de elétrons através de multi-barreiras e a formação de regiões de resistência negativa na curva característica de corrente X voltagem. Para os processos de tunelamento em multi-barreiras determinamos o Coeficiente de Transmissão, como função da energia do elétron incidente, usando o formalismo de Matriz de Iteração. Este método pode ser bastante útil na interpretação de resultados experimentais nestes dispositivos. Calculamos também a densidade de corrente de tunelamento versus a voltagem aplicada no caso de dupla barreira de modo a interpretar recentes resultados experimentais.
In this work the quasi-bound and virtual levels of both electrons and holes are determined in the case of coupled AlxGa1-xAs-GaAs quantum wells in the presence of an external electric (Voltage) perpendicular to the layers. The heterostructures field of AlxGa1-xAs-GaAs are mimicked by a set of unidimensional quantum well potentials. We employ the envelope function approximation and solve the usual effective mass Schrödinger Equation. The electronic levels are then determined by using the exact solution of Schrödinger Eq. in terms of Airy functions into the wells and barriers and an Iteraction Matrix formalism with the Phase-shift method. Our results are in a good agreement with the experimental results of optical measurements. Motivated by the unusual properties of double-barriers devices we investigated the resonant tunneling of electrons through multi-barriers. The transmission Coefficient as a function of energy of the incident electron is determined by using an Interaction Matrix formalism. This method can be very useful in the interpretation of experimental results in semiconductor devices. We also calculate the tunneling current density as a function of applied voltage in the case of a double-barrier in order to interpret recent experimental results.

Cette these decrit l'etude theorique et experimentale de la spectroscopie de la transition a-x de ici en champ electrique intense. Dans un tel champ, les premiers etats de rotation d'une molecule polaire sont pieges par le potentiel d'interaction champ-dipole et se transforment en etats pendulaires. L'experience utilise la technique de fluorescence induite par laser sur un jet moleculaire: la tres forte sensibilite de cette technique et un montage tres soigne ont permis d'enregistrer des spectres de grande qualite malgre la faiblesse de cette transition, mesuree par la tres longue duree de vie de l'etat a (voisine de 430 microsecondes). Une etude theorique tres detaillee, incluant la structure hyperfine nous a permis de montrer que les moments dipolaires des etats a et x sont de meme signe: ce resultat contredit tous les resultats experimentaux anterieurs mais est bien explique par un argument simple d'electronegativite. D'autre part une mesure systematique et precise du dipole de l'etat en fonction du nombre quantique vibrationnel v' a ete realisee pour 17 niveaux avec v' compris entre 6 et 29. Nous avons alors pu determiner le dipole en fonction de la distance internucleaire, ce qui met directement en evidence le passage d'un etat a caractere ionique assez fort a un etat purement covalent quand la molecule se dissocie en atomes neutres

Pour observer les transitions d'Ar II issues de niveaux de grande énergie d'excitation, et pour obtenir des températures et des densités d'électrons libres les plus importantes possibles, nous avons observé la zone cathodique d'un arc électrique de 200A éclatant à pression atmosphérique dans l'argon pur. Le diagnostic spectroscopique de cette zone [température sur l'axe de l'ordre de T-22000K, densité électronique de Ne-2. 10(?)] a montré qu'elle était caractérisée par d'importantes variations du coefficient maximum d'émission de la raie a=6965A d'Ar I. Cet effet peut être correctement expliqué par l'existence d'un fort gradient de pression au sein même du plasma, ou par une importante dépopulation des niveaux d'Ar I par rapport à l'ETL. Nous avons enregistré plus de 90 raies issues de niveaux et de configurations différentes sur une trentaine de cordes de la colonne de plasma (observations Side-on). Les probabilités de transitions et les élargissements Stark, obtenus souvent pour la première fois, sont tout à fait cohérents avec les résultats déjà publiés, et fournissent en ensemble parmi les plus complets qui existent à ce jour.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 2005.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-271).
A ten channel Motional Stark Effect diagnostic has been installed on Alcator C-Mod to measure the plasma internal magnetic pitch angle profile. The C-Mod MSE measures the local electric field direction by measuring the polarization angle of Balmer-[alpha] n=2) emission from a radially injected hydrogen Diagnostic Neutral Beam (50 keV, 5 A, 50 ms). The Lorentz electric field (EL = v ) and the magnetic field cause the nominally fully degenerate Balmer-[alpha] to split into a partially degenerate multiplet whose components are polarized relative to the local fields. Through careful spectral filtering, MSE measures the polarization angle of select multiplet components using a photoelastic modulator based polarimeter. Investigation of hydrogenic Balmer-[alpha] transitions in crossed E and B fields typical of MSE has led to the discovery of new features of the Stark-Zeeman Balmer-[alpha] multiplet. Three different transitions are found for this EB = ( ... ) configuration. In the regime where the Stark effect dominates over the Zeeman effect, transitions polarize parallel to E, B, or ... with ellipticity a function of the beam velocity. More important for MSE diagnostics is the discovery that multiplet lines (summed over degenerate transitions) will be observed to be orthogonally polarized only for statistical (i.e. equally) upper hybrid state populations.
(cont.) This contradicts the pure Stark case that is typically assumed for MSE, where Stark- lines are always observed to be orthogonal to Stark-[pi] lines. Non-statistical upper hybrid states populations are expected in certain situations including the propagation of beam neutrals through neutral gas, which is often used to calibrate MSE diagnostics in situ. Implementation of MSE on C-Mod required significant optical and optomechanical engineering. Satisfying MSE viewing geometry requirements for a radial beam on C-Mod resulted in an extended periscope inside the vacuum vessel. A successful design with robust performance against disruption accelerations, fatigue, creep, thermal stresses, and impact while being vacuum compatible has been developed for mounting the necessary polarization preserving optics. Full Stokes polarimeter modeling and calibration has been performed for the C-Mod MSE. An invessel apparatus has been constructed that is capable of generating pure, linearly polarized light absolutely aligned (to gravity) at arbitrary angles,circularly polarized light, as well as unpolarized light. This device has been used in situ to measure the MSE response to all possible Stokes vectors. Results have been compared to a Mueller matrix model of MSE including real geometry and one imperfect mirror with an arbitrary s&p phase shift and s&p reflectivity ratio.
(cont.) Geometric and optical properties of MSE have been deduced by matching measured responses with modeled responses. A method for concurrently measuring the PEM retardances has been developed as part of this effort. A complementary calibration technique using DNB injection into a gas-filled torus with known fields capable of measuring in situ optical Faraday rotation was also performed. Results show possible molecular deuterium contamination arising from the fill gas used in the calibration. MSE polarization measurements displayed discrepancies of over 20 with expected values from a vacuum field reconstruction. Motivated by spectral observations, an inclusion of Zeeman polarized D2 molecular emission reconciled measured and modeled values of the linear angle and polarization fraction. Observed on-linearities in angular response and the strong viewing geometry dependency are also reproduced in the model when Zeeman polarized D2 emission is included. Experiments testing this hypothesis are proposed. Pitch angle measurements in plasmas show that MSE has statistical uncertainties of 0.4 for all but the edge channel up to plasma densities of ne = 1.5 x 1020 m-3. This is insufficient to explain remaining discrepancies with magnetic reconstruction results at the plasma edge. While Faraday rotation and PEM retardance changes could play a role, these instrumental effects are also insufficient. Radial electric fields and beam induced charge exchange emission have been suggested as causes for errors in MSE measurements of plasma.
by Howard Yung-Hao Yuh.
Ph.D.

Sprinters are always looking for an improvement in their time, from the gun going off until the finish. An effective start can lead to reaching top velocity sooner and a decreased finish time. New developments in starting blocks, more specifically the width of the starting block pedal, has allowed for variation in foot placement in the blocks. With the ability to change how wide an athlete can place their feet in the blocks, this study looked at trying to find an optimum spacing for college level sprinters. Thirteen Male College Sprinters (mean age = 23.08 years) participated in this study. Subjects self selected their longitudinal block spacing with 3 different lateral positions being tested. In position 1, the feet were placed as narrow as was allowed by the starting block, simulating the width of a traditional set of blocks. Position 2 was defined by the hip width of the individual, distance between right ASIS to left ASIS. Position 3 was the preferred foot width of the subject as determined by completing a vertical jump. Measurements of peak force on the blocks at the time of the start as well as time to 10 m were taken. Neither peak force nor time to 10 m were different between conditions (p = .887, p = .135). The normal condition, position 1 (20cm), was measured to be the narrowest width with position 3 (mean = 37.6cm) being the widest in all subjects. The use of wider pedals on starting blocks is a fairly new idea in track and field, and is something that many athletes have not had the chance to practice with. Since the older style of starting blocks only allowed for a narrow stance that is what track athletes have become accustomed to and could possibly explain why there was no significant difference seen between the 3 starting positions. More research should be done after a time of adaptation to the new starting blocks by the athletes.

The dynamic (ac) Stark effect refers to the energy shifting of electronic states induced by an oscillating electric field. Conveniently, the magnitude of the ac Stark shift scales with the square of the electric field amplitude, i.e. with light intensity. Using this fundamental effect to reshape molecular potentials, and steer the course of chemical reactions, is known as dynamic Stark control. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic Stark effect on the photodissociation of molecular oxygen (O2) in the Schumann-Runge continuum, SRC (130–175 nm). Absorption in the SRC leads to dissociation via the so-called B state, yielding O(1D) + O(3P), or the J state, forming O(3P) + O(3P). Both of these dissociative excited states may be well-described in terms of mixed valence and Rydberg state character, in which each of the two states are strongly coupled to a Rydberg state of similar symmetry. Due to the mixed character of the B and J states, simulations predict that dynamic Stark shifting of the coupled Rydberg states leads to a dramatic change in dissociation channel branching ratio, as well as a red-shift of the absorption spectrum. This study aimed at experimentally testing this theoretical prediction. A 400-nm femtosecond laser pulse was employed as a combined pump and control field, simultaneously inducing a three-photon transition into the SRC and ac Stark shifting the potentials. A detection scheme to detect the changes in absorption of the B channel with pump pulse intensity was devised and implemented. The chosen detection scheme, in which emission at 762 nm from the O2(b−X) transition is measured, in principle monitors O(1D) from the B channel via an energy transfer reaction. The experimental results overall show consistency between simulations and experiment. The measured 762-nm emission exhibited a pump pulse intensity-dependence that likely reflects the dynamic Stark reshaping of the excited state potentials. However, saturation is clearly present in the data, complicating data interpretation. Furthermore, deviations between experiment and simulations are large at high pulse intensities, indicating that O(1D) is additionally generated by absorption into higher excited states. Finally, structured features that deviate from the simulations at low pulse intensities may possibly be assigned to vibrational resonances to high-lying Rydberg states by four-photon absorption.
Den dynamiska (ac) Starkeffekten beskriver energiskiftet för elektroniska tillstånd som induceras av ett oscillerande elektriskt fält. Storleken på detta skift ökar med kvadraten av den elektriska fältstyrkan, det vill säga med ljusintensitet. Tillämpningen av denna fundamentala effekt i syfte att omforma molekylära potentialer, och därmed styra kemiska reaktioner, kallas för dynamisk Starkkontroll. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur den dynamiska Starkeffekten påverkar den fotoinducerade dissociationen av molekylärt syre (O2) inom Schumann-Runge kontinuumet, SRC (130–175 nm). Absorption i SRC resulterar i dissociation via det så kallade B-tillståndet, som bildar O  (1D) + O(3P), eller via J-tillståndet, som leder till bildandet av O(3P) + O(3P). Båda dessa dissociativa tillstånd har en karaktär som kan beskrivas som en blandning av ett valenstillstånd och ett Rydbergstillstånd.  Simuleringar antyder att, till följd av valens- och Rydbergskaraktären hos B och J-tillståndet, leder dynamisk Starkskiftning av de kopplade Rydbergstillstånden till en dramatisk ändring i det relativa utbytet för de två dissociationskanalerna, samt till ett röd- skift av absorptionsspektrumet. Denna studie hade som ändamål att experimentellt testa denna teoretiska förutsägelse. En femtosekundslaser vid 400 nm användes som kombinerat excitations- och kontrollfält, vilket parallellt inducerar en trefoton-övergång in i SRC och ac Starkskiftar potentialerna. En detektionsmetod som mäter variationer i absorptionen för B-kanalen som funktion av pulsintensitet designades och implementerades. I den valda metoden detekteras emission vid 762 nm från O2(b − X)-övergången, vilket i sin tur ger en mätning av O(1D) som genereras från B- kanalen via en energiöverföringsreaktion. De experimentella resultaten stämmer relativt väl överens med simuleringarna. Den uppmätta emissionen vid 762 nm uppvisar ett intensitetsberoende som i stora drag reflekterar ac Stark- skiftningen av potentialerna. Utöver detta finns dock ett stort bidrag från mättnad, vilket försvårar tolkningen av datan. Vi-dare avviker den experimentella datan betydligt vid höga pulsintensiteter, vilket sannolikt tyder på att O(1D) även genereras genom absorption till högre exciterade tillstånd. Slutligen ob-serveras mindre, men tydliga avvikelser vid låga pulsintensiteter. Dessa kan möjligen tillordnas vibrationsresonanser med högre Rydbergstillstånd genom fyrfoton-absorption. ​

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude de l'émissivité et de l'opacité dans les plasmas de fusion inertielle (FCI), et des processus atomiques dans les plasmas de fusion magnétique (FCM).En FCI, nous avons étudié les spectres d'émissivité du hohlraum de l'approche indirecte et d'opacité des dopants de l'ablateur. Leur connaissance permet d'améliorer la compression de la cible de D-T et ainsi favoriser les réactions de fusion. Nous avons caractérisé les spectres lié-lié de l'or, du carbone et du germanium au moyen de méthodes détaillées (code PPP) mais qui s'avèrent coûteuses en temps de calculs et limitées quand le nombre de niveaux/ions augmente. Pour optimiser le temps de calcul sans perdre en précision, une méthode hybride détaillée/statistique (code SCO-RCG) a fait l'objet de comparaison/validation avec le code PPP sur des cas tests. Cette approche a ensuite été appliquée au calcul de l'opacité totale (lié-lié, lié-libre, libre-libre) pour tous les états d'ionisation du germanium et du silicium. Les spectres obtenus sont ensuite comparés dans une large gamme d'énergies en vue d'optimiser la compression de la cible.En FCM, à partir d'expériences effectuées sur les tokamaks Tore Supra (CEA Cadarache) et ASDEX Upgrade (Max Planck Institut, Garching), nous nous proposons de développer une nouvelle base de données de physique atomique (sections efficaces, taux des processus,...) à l'aide du code HULLAC pour analyser des coefficients de transport. Le but de cette étude est la sensibilité aux données atomiques de la reconstruction des coefficients de transport par le code ITC. Pour le cas de l'argon, les sections efficaces de quelques processus sont présentées et les coefficients de taux sont comparés à ceux provenant du consortium ADAS.

Nous avons réalisé une étude de l'effet Stark dynamique sous champ intense. Nous avons élaboré des outils théoriques pour construire le profil d'absorption d'un champ sonde applique à une molécule habillée d'un champ pompe pulsé, intense et non resonant. Ces outils s'appuient sur le formalisme de Floquet pour rendre compte de l'interaction champ/molécule. Nous avons présenté une application sur une molécule tétraédrique, le silane (SiH#4). Nous présentons une expérience de spectroscopie pour tester le modèle théorique et une analyse détaillée des résultats en tenant compte des conditions expérimentales (effet de volume). Nous obtenons un accord satisfaisant entre les profils expérimentaux et profils calculés. Nous avons prédit et observé une dissymétrie du profil d'absorption résultant de l'effet Stark dynamique.

Cette thèse propose une nouvelle théorie de l’effet Blazhko. Elle apporte également une justification théorique à certaines observations encore inexpliquées : la décroissance des harmoniques de la courbe de lumière ; l’asymétrie des enveloppes et des lobes ainsi que la variation des temps de montée et de descente dans le cas de l’effet Blazhko ; la synchronisation des couches et l’existence des trois types d’étoiles RR Lyrae : RRab, RRc et RRd. La première partie présente une étude extensive d’une étoile RR Lyrae avec effet Blazhko : S Arae. Nous débutons par une définition rigoureuse de l’analyse harmonique des courbes de lumière. Cette démarche, encore jamais entreprise en astéroséismologie, permet une meilleure interprétation des habituels résultats des études photométriques. Nous poursuivons avec une présentation du programme d’analyse fréquentielle que nous avons développé : PDM13. Nous établissons ensuite le spectre fréquentiel de la courbe de lumière de S Arae et, à la présentation des résultats de cette étude, nous apportons une démonstration mathématique à deux observations communément effectuées : la décroissance des harmoniques et l’asymétrie de modulation. Dans la deuxième partie, après un rappel des mécanismes d’oscillation, nous présentons une nouvelle modélisation discrète, et non linéaire, des équations de pulsations. Celle-ci nous permettra d’expliquer les phénomènes de synchronisation, mais surtout, conduira à une nouvelle théorie du phénomène Blazhko fondée sur l’existence de solitons, que nous étayerons par des premiers résultats, obtenus grâce à l’utilisation d’un nouvel outil : la transformée en ondelettes
In this thesis we develop a new theory of the Blazhko effect. We also provide a theoretical justification to the following commonly observed facts: the light curve harmonics decrease; the asymetry of envelopes and sidelobes ; the synchronization of layers and the mode selection. The first part of this thesis is dedicated to the extensive study of a RR Lyrae star presenting the Blazhko effect: S Arae. Firstly, a rigorous definition of harmonic analysis applied to light curves is given. This work, which has never been undertaken in the asteroseismology field, up to now, allows a better interpretation of the usual results of photometric studies. We carry on with the presentation of a software that we have developed, dedicated to frequency analysis: PDM13. After that, we perform the usual analysis of the frequency spectrum of the light curve, which we complete we two rigorous demonstrations of commonly observed facts: the harmonics decrease and the asymmetry induced by modulation. We complete it with a study of the parameters which vary during a Blazhko cycle, on which we will capitalize to understand this modulation effect. The second part begins with a reminder of the basic perturbed and linearized equations of stellar pulsation together with the oscillation mechanisms. We pursue this presentation with a non linear and discrete formalism that we have developed for these equations. This formalism will allow us to underline the importance of synchronization in those stars, but, most of all, it will lead us to a new theory of the Blazhko effect, based on solitons, which will be supported by a new results obtained with the wavelet transform method