Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Mass absorption coefficients'

Accurate dosimetry is a fundamental requirement for the safe and efficient use of radiation in medical applications. International Codes of Practice, such as IAEA TRS-398 (2000) for radiotherapy beams and IAEA TRS-457 (2007) for diagnostic radiology beams, provide the necessary formulation for reference and relative dosimetry and the data required for their implementation. Research in recent years has highlighted the shortage of such data for radiotherapy small photon beams and for surface dose estimations in diagnostic and interventional radiology, leading to significant dosimetric errors that in some instances have jeopardized patient’s safety and treatment efficiency. The aim of this thesis is to investigate and determine key data for the reference and relative dosimetry of radiotherapy and radiodiagnostics beams. For that purpose the Monte Carlo system PENELOPE has been used to simulate the transport of radiation in different media and a number of experimental determinations have also been made. A review of the key data for radiotherapy beams published after the release of IAEA TRS-398 was conducted, and in some cases the considerable differences found were questioned under the criterion of data consistency throughout the dosimetry chain (from standards laboratories to the user). A modified concept of output factor, defined in a new international formalism for the dosimetry of small photon beams, requires corrections to dosimeter readings for the dose determination in small beams used clinically. In this work, output correction factors were determined, for Varian Clinac 6 MV photon beams and Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion 60Co gamma-ray beams, for a large number of small field detectors, including air and liquid ionization chambers, shielded and unshielded silicon diodes and diamond detectors, all of which were simulated by Monte Carlo with great detail. Backscatter factors and ratios of mass energy-absorption coefficients required for surface (skin) determinations in diagnostic and interventional radiology applications were also determined, as well as their extension to account for non-standard phantom thicknesses and materials. A database of these quantities was created for a broad range of monoenergetic photon beams and computer codes developed to convolve the data with clinical spectra, thus enabling the determination of key data for arbitrary beam qualities. Data presented in this thesis has been contributed to the IAEA international dosimetry recommendations for small radiotherapy beams and for diagnostic radiology in paediatric patients.

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 6: Manuscript.

L'analyse quantitative du lithium est aujourd'hui possible, mais repose sur l'usage de techniques destructives. Une analyse quantitative locale non-destructive est encore difficile à mettre en œuvre par les méthodes spectroscopiques classiques de laboratoire. Cette thèse vise à développer un dispositif innovant de quantification du lithium par microsonde électronique. L'implémentation d'une multicouche périodique et de fenêtres de séparation ultra fines dans un spectromètre de la microsonde de Castaing a permis la spectrométrie dans la gamme des très faibles énergies de photons X et ainsi la mesure du lithium. Malgré les difficultés qui compliquent fortement l'analyse, principalement liées aux spécificités de l'instrumentation et aux divers phénomènes physiques tels que le faible rendement de fluorescence du lithium et la forte absorption des photons caractéristiques dans l'échantillon, des premiers résultats quantitatifs ont pu être obtenus pour différents matériaux avec des fractions massiques en lithium comprises entre 4 % et 9 %. Ces résultats conduisent à des limites de détection inférieures à un pourcent. Différentes approches de quantification basées sur une mesure avec des témoins réels et sur des simulations Monte Carlo pour créer des témoins virtuels ont été mises en place. De plus, la mesure expérimentale des coefficients d'atténuation des photons dans la gamme des très faibles énergies a permis d'apporter des précisions aux bases de données existantes pour différents éléments, contribuant ainsi à l'amélioration de la précision des résultats. Malgré les défis persistants, ces travaux ouvrent la voie à de nouvelles avancées dans la quantification du lithium par microsonde électronique et constituent une première étape importante pour un futur développement de cette technique
Quantitative analysis of lithium is feasible today, but relies on the use of destructive techniques. Local non-destructive quantitative analysis remains challenging using traditional laboratory spectroscopic methods. The aim of this thesis is to develop an innovative device for lithium quantification using electron probe microanalysis. By implementing a periodic multilayer and ultra-thin separation windows into the spectrometer of a Castaing microprobe, spectroscopy in the extreme low photon energy range, including Li K measurement was possible. Despite the significant analytical challenges, mainly linked to the specificities of the instrumentation and to various physical phenomena such as low lithium fluorescence yield and strong absorption of the characteristic photons in the sample, quantitative results were obtained for different materials with lithium mass fractions ranging from 4 % to 9 % and detection limits lower than one percent. Two different quantification approaches based on measurement with real standards and Monte Carlo simulations to create virtual standards were employed. In addition, experimental measurement of photon attenuation coefficients in the ultra-soft X-ray range provided precision to existing databases for different elements, helping to improve the accuracy of results. Despite persistent challenges, this work paves the way for further advances in lithium quantification by electron probe microanalysis and represents an important first step towards future development of this technique

Soot particles are a major absorber of shortwave radiation in the atmosphere. They exert a rather uncertain direct and semi-direct radiative effect, which causes a heating or in some cases a cooling of the atmosphere. The mass absorption coefficient is an essential quantity to describe this light absorption process. This work presents new experimental data on the mass absorption coefficient of soot particles in the troposphere over Central Europe. Mass absorption coefficients were derived as the ratio between the light absorption coefficient determined by multi angle absorption photometry (MAAP), and the soot mass concentration determined by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman method is sensitive to graphitic structures present in the particle samples, and was calibrated in the laboratory using Printex90 model particles. The mass absorption coefficients were determined for a number of seven observation sites, ranging between 3.9 and 7.4 m²/g depending on measurement site and observational period. The highest values were found in an continentally aged air mass in winter, where we presumed soot particles to be present mainly in internal mixture. The regional model WRF-Chem was used in conjunction with a high resolution soot emission inventory to simulate soot mass concentrations and absorption coefficients for the Central European Troposphere. The model was validated using soot mass concentrations from Raman measurements and absorption coefficients. Simulated soot mass concentrations were found to be too low by around 50 %, which could be improved by scaling the emissions by a factor of two. In contrast, the absorption coefficient was positively biased by around 20%. Adjusting the modeled mass absorption coefficient to measurements, the simulation of soot light absorption was improved. Finally, the positive direct radiative forcing at top of the atmosphere was found to be lowered by up to 70% for the model run with adjusted soot absorption behaviour, , indicating a decreased heating effect on the atmosphere.

Dans le cadre d'un programme B. R. I. T. E. De la C. C. E. , nous étudions un procédé de traitement d'effluents gazeux contenant du dioxyde de soufre et/ou des oxydes d'azote, par absorption suivie de l'oxydation de ces espèces. Dans une première phase, nous avons utilisé un contacteur gaz-liquide ayant des caractéristiques de transfert de matière élevées: le réacteur à film centrifuge. La caractérisation hydrodynamique du contacteur a permis de mettre en évidence les régimes de fonctionnement, le comportement, du réacteur piston au réacteur parfaitement agité, ainsi que les paramètres essentiels: la vitesse de rotation et la contre-pression. Nous avons ensuite déterminé les caractéristiques de transfert de matière de l'absorbeur par la mesure des coefficients volumiques de transfert de matière cote gaz et liquide. La dernière étape de cette étude a été une application du réacteur à film centrifuge à l'absorption d'un mélange dilué d'oxyde et de dioxyde d'azote dans une solution aqueuse d'urée. Il s'avère que les temps de séjour rencontrés dans le contacteur sont trop faibles pour que certaines réactions d'élimination de ces polluants puissent avoir lieu. La seconde partie a consisté à concevoir et à mettre en œuvre un réacteur à film tombant laminaire cylindrique, destiné à déterminer la cinétique de la réaction chimique suivant l'absorption du dioxyde de soufre dans une solution aqueuse acide de cérium quatre. Seules, quelques expériences ont pu être réalisées montrant que la réaction est probablement intermédiaire. D’autres expériences doivent également être menées afin de mieux caractériser ce réacteur

Le transfert radiatif dû aux gaz joue un rôle important dans les applications industrielles comme les chambres de combustion, les sciences atmosphériques, etc. Plusieurs modèles ont été proposées pour estimer les propriétés radiatives des gaz. Le plus précis est l'approche dite Raie Par Raie (RPR). Cependant, cette méthode implique un coût de calcul excessif qui la rend inappropriée pour la plupart des applications. Néanmoins, elle reste la méthode de référence que nous utiliserons pour l'évaluation d’autres modèles approchés. Le modèle de coefficient d’absorption corrélé (Ck) est généralement suffisant pour de nombreuses applications. Cette méthode est réputée précise lorsque petits gradients de température sont rencontrés au sein du gaz. Toutefois, si le milieu gazeux est soumis à d'importants gradients de température, la méthode Ck peut conduire à des erreurs qui peuvent atteindre 50% en termes de flux radiatifs par rapport à des simulations de RPR. Le but de cette thèse est de proposer une version améliorée de la méthode Ck, appelée l'approche de coefficient d’absorption corrélé en multi spectral (MSCk). La principale différence entre les modèles Ck et MSCk est que, dans l'approche Ck les intervalles spectraux sur lesquels les propriétés radiatives des gaz sont moyennées sont choisis contiguës alors que, dans l’approche MSCk, ces intervalles sont construits afin d'assurer que le coefficient d'absorption soit corrélé sur ces intervalles. Par conséquent, l'hypothèse de corrélation dans l’approche MSCk est mieux adaptée que dans l’approche Ck. La construction de ces intervalles spectraux (en utilisant la méthode de classification automatique de données fonctionnelles) est détaillée. Cette approche est évaluée par rapport à la référence RPR dans plusieurs cas test. Ces cas traitent de mélanges de gaz (H2O-N2 et H2O-CO2-N2) dans l’intervalle de température [300-3000K]. Les résultats montrent que la méthode MSCk permet d'obtenir de meilleures précisions que les méthodes Ck tout en restant acceptable en termes de coût de calcul
Radiative heat transfer of gas plays an important role in industrial applications such as in combustion chambers, atmospheric sciences, etc. Several models [11] have been proposed to estimate the radiative properties of gases. The most accurate one is the Line-By-Line (LBL) approach. However, this technique involves excessive computation cost which makes it inappropriate for most applications. Nevertheless, it remains the reference approach for the assessment of other approximate models. The Correlated k-distribution method (Ck) [11] was shown to be a relevant choice for many applications. This method performs usually well, when only small temperature gradients are involved [21]. However, if the gaseous medium is subject to large temperature gradients, it may lead to errors that can reach 50% in terms of radiative heat fluxes when compared to LBL simulations [21]. The aim of the present paper is to propose an enhanced version of the Ck method, called the Multi-Spectral Correlated k-distribution approach (MSCk). The main difference between Ck and MSCk models is that in the Ck approach spectral intervals over which the radiative properties of the gas are averaged are chosen contiguous whereas, in the MSCk technique, those intervals are built in order to ensure that the absorption coefficient are scaled over them [27]. Accordingly, the usual assumption of correlated spectrum used in k-distribution approaches for the treatment of non uniformities is more acceptable in the MSCk case than in the Ck one. The building of those spectral intervals (using Functional Data Clustering, [52]) is detailed and the approach is assessed against LBL reference data in several test cases. These cases involve H2O-N2 and H2O-CO2-N2 mixtures in the [300-3000K] temperature range. Results show that the MSCk method enables to achieve better accuracies than Ck methods while remaining acceptable in terms of computational cost

Due to the ever increasing concerns about pollutants and contaminants found in water, new treatment technologies have been developed. Ozonation is one of such technologies. It has been widely applied in the treatment of pollutants in water and wastewater treatment processes. Ozone has many applications such as oxidation of organic components, mineral matter, inactivation of viruses, cysts, bacteria, removal of trace pollutants like pesticides and solvents, and removal of tastes and odours. Ozone is the strongest conventional oxidant that can result in complete mineralisation of the organic pollutants to carbon dioxide and water. Because ozone is unstable, it is generally produced onsite in gas mixtures and is immediately introduced to water using gas/liquid type reactors (e.g. bubble columns). The ozone reactions are hence of the type gas liquid reactions, which are complex to model since they involve both chemical reactions, which occur in the liquid phase, and mass transfer from the gas to the liquid phase. This study focuses on two aspects: mass transfer and chemical reactions in multicomponent systems. The mass transfer parameters were determined by experiments under different conditions and the chemical reactions were studied using single component and multicomponent systems. Two models obtained from the literature were adapted to the systems used in this study. Mass transfer parameters in the semi-batch reactor were determined using oxygen and ozone at different flow rates in the presence and absence of t-butanol. t-Butanol is used as a radical scavenger in ozonation studies and it has been found to affect the gas¿liquid mass transfer rates. An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of t-butanol concentrations on the physical properties of aqueous solutions, including surface tension and viscosity. It was found that t-butanol reduced both properties by 4% for surface tension and by a surprising 30% for viscosity. These reductions in the solution physical properties were correlated to enhancement in the mass transfer coefficient, kL. The mass transfer coefficient increased by about 60% for oxygen and by almost 50% for ozone. The hydrodynamic behaviour of the system used in this work was characterised by a homogeneous bubbling regime. It was also found that the gas holdup was significantly enhanced by the addition of t-butanol. Moreover, the addition of t-butanol was found to significantly reduce the size of gas bubbles, leading to enhancement in the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, kLa. The multicomponent ozonation was studied with two systems, slow reactions when alcohols were used and fast reactions when endocrine disrupting compounds were used. ii These experiments were simulated by mathematical models. The alcohols were selected depending on their volatilization at different initial concentrations and different gas flow rates. The degradation of n-propanol as a single compound was studied at the lowest flow rate of 200 mL/min. It was found that the degradation of n-propanol reached almost 60% within 4 hours. The degradation of the mixture was enhanced with an increase in the number of components in the mixture. It was found that the degradation of the mixture as three compounds reached almost 80% within four hours while the mixture as two compounds reached almost 70%. The effect of pH was studied and it was found that an increase in pH showed slight increase in the reaction. Fast reactions were also investigated by reacting endocrine disrupting chemicals with ozone. The ozone reactions with the endocrine disrupters were studied at different gas flow rates, initial concentrations, ozone concentrations and pH. The degradation of 17¿-estradiol (E2) as a single compound was the fastest, reaching about 90% removal in almost 5 minutes. However estrone (E1) degradation was the lowest reaching about 70% removal at the same time. The degradation of mixtures of the endocrine disruptors was found to proceed to lower percentages than individual components under the same conditions. During the multicomponent ozonation of the endocrine disruptors, it was found that 17¿-estradiol (E2) converted to estrone (E1) at the beginning of the reaction. A MATLAB code was developed to predict the ozone water reactions for single component and multicomponent systems. Two models were used to simulate the experimental results for single component and multicomponent systems. In the case of single component system, good simulation of both reactions (slow and fast) by model 1 was obtained. However, model 2 gave good agreement with experimental results only in the case of fast reactions. In addition, model 1 was applied for multicomponent reactions (both cases of slow and fast reaction). In the multicomponent reactions by model 1, good agreement with the experimental results was also obtained for both cases of slow and fast reactions.
Ministry of Higher Education in Libya and the Libyan Cultural Centre and Educational Bureau in London.

Due to the ever increasing concerns about pollutants and contaminants found in water, new treatment technologies have been developed. Ozonation is one of such technologies. It has been widely applied in the treatment of pollutants in water and wastewater treatment processes. Ozone has many applications such as oxidation of organic components, mineral matter, inactivation of viruses, cysts, bacteria, removal of trace pollutants like pesticides and solvents, and removal of tastes and odours. Ozone is the strongest conventional oxidant that can result in complete mineralisation of the organic pollutants to carbon dioxide and water. Because ozone is unstable, it is generally produced onsite in gas mixtures and is immediately introduced to water using gas/liquid type reactors (e.g. bubble columns). The ozone reactions are hence of the type gas liquid reactions, which are complex to model since they involve both chemical reactions, which occur in the liquid phase, and mass transfer from the gas to the liquid phase. This study focuses on two aspects: mass transfer and chemical reactions in multicomponent systems. The mass transfer parameters were determined by experiments under different conditions and the chemical reactions were studied using single component and multicomponent systems. Two models obtained from the literature were adapted to the systems used in this study. Mass transfer parameters in the semi-batch reactor were determined using oxygen and ozone at different flow rates in the presence and absence of t-butanol. t-Butanol is used as a radical scavenger in ozonation studies and it has been found to affect the gas-liquid mass transfer rates. An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of t-butanol concentrations on the physical properties of aqueous solutions, including surface tension and viscosity. It was found that t-butanol reduced both properties by 4% for surface tension and by a surprising 30% for viscosity. These reductions in the solution physical properties were correlated to enhancement in the mass transfer coefficient, kL. The mass transfer coefficient increased by about 60% for oxygen and by almost 50% for ozone. The hydrodynamic behaviour of the system used in this work was characterised by a homogeneous bubbling regime. It was also found that the gas holdup was significantly enhanced by the addition of t-butanol. Moreover, the addition of t-butanol was found to significantly reduce the size of gas bubbles, leading to enhancement in the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, kLa. The multicomponent ozonation was studied with two systems, slow reactions when alcohols were used and fast reactions when endocrine disrupting compounds were used. ii These experiments were simulated by mathematical models. The alcohols were selected depending on their volatilization at different initial concentrations and different gas flow rates. The degradation of n-propanol as a single compound was studied at the lowest flow rate of 200 mL/min. It was found that the degradation of n-propanol reached almost 60% within 4 hours. The degradation of the mixture was enhanced with an increase in the number of components in the mixture. It was found that the degradation of the mixture as three compounds reached almost 80% within four hours while the mixture as two compounds reached almost 70%. The effect of pH was studied and it was found that an increase in pH showed slight increase in the reaction. Fast reactions were also investigated by reacting endocrine disrupting chemicals with ozone. The ozone reactions with the endocrine disrupters were studied at different gas flow rates, initial concentrations, ozone concentrations and pH. The degradation of 17β-estradiol (E2) as a single compound was the fastest, reaching about 90% removal in almost 5 minutes. However estrone (E1) degradation was the lowest reaching about 70% removal at the same time. The degradation of mixtures of the endocrine disruptors was found to proceed to lower percentages than individual components under the same conditions. During the multicomponent ozonation of the endocrine disruptors, it was found that 17β-estradiol (E2) converted to estrone (E1) at the beginning of the reaction. A MATLAB code was developed to predict the ozone water reactions for single component and multicomponent systems. Two models were used to simulate the experimental results for single component and multicomponent systems. In the case of single component system, good simulation of both reactions (slow and fast) by model 1 was obtained. However, model 2 gave good agreement with experimental results only in the case of fast reactions. In addition, model 1 was applied for multicomponent reactions (both cases of slow and fast reaction). In the multicomponent reactions by model 1, good agreement with the experimental results was also obtained for both cases of slow and fast reactions.

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The durability of reinforced concrete structures is damaged by the degrading action of the penetration of substances in the form of gases, vapors and liquids through the pores and cracks. It is known that water both in its pure form or containing dissolved ions such as chloride, sulphate, carbon dioxide or oxygen ions, can compromise the durability of concrete structures. In reinforced concrete structures at the marine environment, for example, the towers of wind power plants, this degradation can be more intense and accelerated. Thus, in the present study were analyzed concretes with different mineral additions (silica fume, blast furnace slag) and water / binder ratios (0.35, 0.45 and 0.55), with the objective to verify if the inside and cover thickness of concrete have some effect on the mechanisms of transport and also the effect of carbonation (only for concrete with w/b equal to 0.55) in the surface layer of concrete is important enough to make dificult the entry of aggressive agents in concrete. For this, the following tests to evaluate the mass transport in concrete were performed: capillary water absorption (NBR 9779:1995), water penetration under pressure (NBR 10787:1994), air permeability (method Figg), penetrability of chloride ion (ASTM C 1202: 2009), non-steadystate migration test (NT BUILD 492:1999). As a result, it was found that the mineral addition used generally provided an improvement in front of the concrete mechanisms of mass transport. In one of the properties, namely the diffusion coefficient (non-steady-state migration) of concrete with the use of silica fume and blast furnace slag, this has been reduced dramatically, around 11 times for the concrete with w/b equal to 0.55, when it is compared with concrete without mineral addition. It was observed that the inner region of concrete behaved better, in an unexpected way, than concrete cover region for some properties (capillary absorption, water penetration under pressure, penetration of chloride ions). From this conclusion, it can be said that the inner part of concrete is composed of transition zones (aggregated interface / mortar) exposed to facilitate the entry of fluids, gases and ions. About the effect of carbonation, this affected the capillary absorption and air permeability. The results led to explain that the clogging of the pores resulting from the product of carbonation (CaCO3), promoted the refinement of the pores, thus increasing capillary force and, consequently, increasing the capillary absorption. However, for air permeability this effect has damaged the passage of air through the surface layer. Finally, it is important noting that significant correlations were found among tests that evaluated the mechanisms of mass transport, namely, penetration of chloride ions and capillary absorption, diffusion coefficient (non-steady-state migration) and capillary absorption, permeability air and water penetration under pressure, penetration of chloride ions and the diffusion coefficient.
A durabilidade das estruturas de concreto armado é prejudicada pela ação deteriorante da penetração de substâncias na forma de gases, vapores e líquidos através de poros e fissuras. Sabe-se que a água, tanto no seu estado puro ou com íons dissolvidos, como os cloretos, sulfato, dióxido de carbono ou oxigênio, pode comprometer a durabilidade das estruturas de concreto. Em estruturas de concreto armado localizadas em ambiente marítimo como, por exemplo, as torres de energia eólica, essa deterioração pode ser mais intensa e acelerada. Diante disso, no presente trabalho foram analisados concretos com diferentes adições minerais (sílica ativa e escória de alto-forno) e relações água/aglomerante (0,35; 0,45 e 0,55), tendo como objetivo principal verificar se a parte interna e o cobrimento do concreto exercem algum efeito nos mecanismos de transporte e, se o efeito da carbonatação (somente para concretos de relação a/g igual a 0,55) na camada superficial do concreto é relevante a ponto de dificultar a entrada de agentes agressivos no concreto. Para isso, foram realizados os seguintes ensaios para avaliar o transporte de massa no concreto: absorção de água por capilaridade (NBR 9779:1995), penetração de água sob pressão (NBR 10787:1994), permeabilidade ao ar (método de Figg), penetrabilidade de cloretos (ASTM C 1202: 2009), ensaio de migração em regime não estacionário (NT BUILD 492:1999). Como resultado constatou-se que as adições minerais empregadas propiciaram de maneira geral uma melhoria dos concretos frente aos mecanismos de transporte de massa. Em uma das propriedades avaliadas, a saber, o coeficiente de difusão (migração regime não estacionário) dos concretos com o emprego de sílica ativa e escória de alto-forno, esse foi reduzido drasticamente, em torno de 11 vezes para os concretos com relação a/ag igual a 0,55, quando comparado com os concretos sem adição mineral. Quanto à região do concreto, notou-se para algumas propriedades (absorção capilar, penetração de água sob pressão, penetrabilidade de cloretos) que a região interna comportou-se melhor, de maneira inesperada, que a região do cobrimento. Diante dessa conclusão, criou-se uma hipótese para tal comportamento que consistiu em afirmar que a parte interna é composta por zonas de transição (interface agregado/pasta) expostas que facilitam a entrada de fluidos, gases e íons. Já com relação ao efeito da carbonatação, esta afetou a absorção capilar e a permeabilidade ao ar. Os resultados levaram a explicar que a colmatação dos poros, advindos do produto (CaCO3) da carbonatação promoveu o refinamento dos poros, aumentando, assim, a força capilar e, conseqüentemente, o aumento da absorção capilar. No entanto, para permeabilidade ao ar esse efeito dificultou a passagem de ar através da camada superficial. Por último, cabe destacar, que correlações importantes foram obtidas entre os ensaios que avaliaram os mecanismos de transporte de massa, a saber, penetrabilidade de cloretos e absorção capilar, coeficiente de difusão (migração regime não estacionário) e absorção capilar, permeabilidade ao ar e penetração de água sob pressão, penetrabilidade de cloreto e coeficiente de difusão.

Ce travail concerne la modélisation, à l’échelle moléculaire, de l’interaction entre des nanoparticules carbonées et le rayonnement électromagnétique. Le but est d’aider à la compréhension des propriétés optiques des particules de suie afin de mieux quantifier l’influence des suies sur l’atmosphère et le climat. L’étude de l’interaction rayonnement/particules de suie fraîche a été effectuée par la méthode PDI ; il a été montré que : i) le coefficient d’absorption massique (MAC) des particules de suie dépend de la répartition des atomes dans la particule et de leurs liaisons, en particulier entre 200 et 350 nm ; ii) le MAC diffère selon que le cœur de la particule carbonée est occupé ou non par des plans graphitiques ; iii) un modèle analytique n’est pas adapté pour calculer le MAC d’une nanoparticule carbonée présentant des défauts structuraux. De plus, des méthodes de chimie quantique ont été utilisées pour caractériser le vieillissement des suies. Les résultats montrent que : i) NO, Cl, et HCl sont physisorbées sur une surface carbonée parfaite alors que sur une surface défective, ces espèces sont chimisorbées et conduisent à une modification de la surface ; ii) la présence de Cl conduit à un piégeage fort des molécules d’eau supérieur à celui obtenu lorsqu’un site oxygéné est présent sur la surface carbonée, expliquant ainsi le caractère hydrophile des suies émises lors d’incendies dans des milieux industriels. Enfin, la méthode PDI a été appliquée au calcul de la polarisabilité de HAP afin d’interpréter des spectres d’absorption des grains carbonés du milieu interstellaire, en incluant des molécules pour lesquelles aucune donnée n’était actuellement disponible
This work concerns the modeling, at the molecular level, of the interaction between carbonaceous particles of nanometric size and the electromagnetic radiation. The goal is to improve our understanding of the optical properties of soot particles, to better quantify the influence of soot on the atmosphere and on climate change. The study of the interaction between radiation and fresh soot particles was carried out using the point dipole interaction method; it has been shown that: i) the mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of these soot nanoparticles may significantly depend on their atomistic details, especially between 200 and 350 nm; ii) the MAC depends on whether the heart of the carbonaceous particle is occupied or not by graphite planes; iii) an analytical model is not suitable for calculating the MAC of carbonaceous nanoparticles having structural defects. In addition, quantum chemical methods have been used to characterize the ageing of soot. The results obtained are i) NO, Cl, and HCl are physisorbed on a perfect carbonaceous surface whereas on a defective surface, these species are chemisorbed and lead to a modification of the surface; ii) on a carbonaceous surface, the presence of adsorbed Cl atoms leads to a strong trapping of the surrounding water molecules. This may be related to the highly hydrophilic nature of soot emitted during fires in industrial environments. Finally, the PDI method was applied to calculate the polarizability of PAHs to help at interpreting the absorption spectra of carbonaceous grains in the interstellar medium, including molecules for which no data was currently available

Main goal of this work is familiarization with basic features of absorption heat pumps and it’s growing importance on the market. In the first part of the work there is a research for clarifying facts associated with such pumps. In the introduction there are descriptions of basic information from the field of heating industry and its connections to our systems. Next there is a brief analysis of price changes in electricity and heat in the last five years. Main part of the analytical section is a description of the used absorption system. Second part of the work is focused on the calculation of the absorption system itself. First there is calculated internal and external part of the device according to the parameters from GE Power s.r.o. After this step there are parametric studies based on changes of key parameters of the default device for a demonstration of the behavior of a heating pump. In the end of the work there is a integration of the unit into the heating cycle for variations including flue gas condenser and using a cooling water from the turbine condenser.

The objective of this study is to examine core-shell type plasmonic metamaterials aimed at the development of materials with unique electromagnetic properties. The building blocks of metamaterials under study consist of gold as a metal component, and silica and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) as the dielectric media. The results of this study demonstrate important applications of the core-shells including scattering suppression, airborne obscurants made of fractal gold shells, photomodification of the fractal structure providing windows of transparency, and plasmonics core-shell with a gain shell as an active device. Plasmonic resonances of the metallic shells depend on their nanostructure and geometry of the core, which can be optimized for the broadband extinction. Significant extinction from the visible to mid-infrared makes fractal shells very attractive as bandpass filters and aerosolized obscurants. In contrast to the planar fractal films, where the absorption and reflection equally contribute to the extinction, the shells' extinction is caused mainly by the absorption. This work shows that the Mie scattering resonance of a silica core with 780 nm diameter at 560 nm is suppressed by 75% and only partially substituted by the absorption in the shell so that the total transmission is noticeably increased. Effective medium theory supports our experiments and indicates that light goes mostly through the epsilon-near-zero shell with approximately wavelength independent absorption rate. Broadband extinction in fractal shells allows as well for a laser photoburning of holes in the extinction spectra and consequently windows of transparency in a controlled manner. Au fractal nanostructures grown on PCC flakes provide the highest mass normalized extinction, up to 3 m^2/g, which has been demonstrated in the broad spectral range. In the nanoplasmonic field active devices consist of a Au nanoparticle that acts as a cavity and the dye molecules attached to it via thin silica shell as the active medium. Such kind of devices is considered as a nano-laser or nano-amplifier. The fabricated nanolasers were studied for their photoluminescence kinetic properties. It is shown that the cooperative effects due to the coupling of dye molecules via Au nanoparticle plasmons result in bi-exponential emission decay characteristics in accord with theory predictions. These bi-exponential decays involve a fast superradiant decay, which is followed by a slow subradiant decay. To summarize, this work shows new attractive properties of core-shell nanoparticles. Fractal Au shells on silica cores prove to be a good scattering suppressor and a band pass filter in a broadband spectral range. They can also be used as an obscurant when PCC is used as the core material. Finally, gold nanoparticles coated with silica with dye results in bi-exponential decays.

Electrical and optical characterizations of heterostructures and thin films based on group III-V compound semiconductors are presented. Optical properties of GaMnN thin films grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) on GaN/Sapphire templates were investigated using IR reflection spectroscopy. Experimental reflection spectra were fitted using a non - linear fitting algorithm, and the high frequency dielectric constant (ε∞), optical phonon frequencies of E1(TO) and E1(LO), and their oscillator strengths (S) and broadening constants (Γ) were obtained for GaMnN thin films with different Mn fraction. The high frequency dielectric constant (ε∞) of InN thin films grown by the high pressure chemical vapor deposition (HPCVD) method was also investigated by IR reflection spectroscopy and the average was found to vary between 7.0 - 8.6. The mobility of free carriers in InN thin films was calculated using the damping constant of the plasma oscillator. The terahertz detection capability of n-type GaAs/AlGaAs Heterojunction Interfacial Workfunction Internal Photoemission (HEIWIP) structures was demonstrated. A threshold frequency of 3.2 THz (93 µm) with a peak responsivity of 6.5 A/W at 7.1 THz was obtained using a 0.7 µm thick 1E18 cm−3 n - type doped GaAs emitter layer and a 1 µm thick undoped Al(0.04)Ga(0.96)As barrier layer. Using n - type doped GaAs emitter layers, the possibility of obtaining small workfunctions (∆) required for terahertz detectors has been successfully demonstrated. In addition, the possibility of using GaN (GaMnN) and InN materials for terahertz detection was investigated and a possible GaN base terahertz detector design is presented. The non - linear behavior of the Inter Pulse Time Intervals (IPTI) of neuron - like electric pulses triggered externally in a GaAs/InGaAs Multi Quantum Well (MQW) structure at low temperature (~10 K) was investigated. It was found that a grouping behavior of IPTIs exists at slow triggering pulse rates. Furthermore, the calculated correlation dimension reveals that the dimensionality of the system is higher than the average dimension found in most of the natural systems. Finally, an investigation of terahertz radiation efect on biological system is reported.

by Wing-keung Mak.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53).
by Wing-keung Mak.
Acknowledgments --- p.i
Abstract --- p.ii
Table of Content --- p.iii
Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter Chapter Two --- Theory
Chapter 2.1 --- Theory of Two-wave Coupling --- p.3
Chapter 2.2 --- Theory of Fanning --- p.8
Chapter 2.3 --- Theory of Time Dependent Absorption Coefficients of Photorefractive Crystals --- p.10
Chapter Chapter Three --- Photorefractive Fabry-Perot Etalon
Chapter 3.1 --- Theory and Numerical Computation --- p.12
Chapter 3.2 --- Summary of Crystal Parameters --- p.15
Chapter 3.3 --- Experimental Studies of Interference Patterns --- p.16
Chapter 3.4 --- Intensity Dependence of Fabry-Perot Etalon Interference Patterns --- p.25
Chapter 3.5 --- Fanning --- p.29
Chapter 3.6 --- Bright Spots on Interference Patterns --- p.31
Chapter Chapter Four --- Time Dependent Absorption Coefficients of Photorefractive Crystals
Chapter 4.1 --- Experiments Using Laser Light --- p.34
Chapter 4.2 --- Experiments Using White Light --- p.44
Chapter Chapter Five --- Conclusion and Future Outlook --- p.49
References --- p.51

To screen amine solvents for application in CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants, the equilibrium CO2 partial pressure and liquid film mass transfer coefficient were characterized for CO2-loaded and highly concentrated aqueous amines at 40 – 100 °C over a range of CO2 loading with a Wetted Wall Column (WWC). The acyclic amines tested were ethylenediamine, 1,2-diaminopropane, diglycolamine®, methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)/Piperazine (PZ), 3-(methylamino)propylamine, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol/PZ. The cyclic amines tested were piperazine derivatives including proline, 2-piperidineethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, N-methylpiperazine (NMPZ), 2-methylpiperazine (2MPZ), 2,5-trans-dimethylpiperazine, 2MPZ/PZ, and PZ/NMPZ/1,4-dimethylpiperazine (1,4-DMPZ). The cyclic CO2 capacity and heat of CO2 absorption were estimated with a semi-empirical vapor-liquid-equilibrium model. 5 m MDEA/5 m PZ, 8 m 2MPZ, 4 m 2MPZ/4 m PZ and 3.75 m PZ/3.75 m NMPZ/0.5 m 1,4-DMPZ were identified as promising solvent candidates for their large CO2 capacity, fast mass transfer rate and moderately high heat of absorption. The speciation in 8 m 2MPZ and 4 m 2MPZ / 4 m PZ at 40 °C at varied CO2 loading was investigated using quantitative 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In 8 m 2MPZ at 40 °C over the CO2 loading range of 0 – 0.37 mol CO2/mol alkalinity, more than 75% of the dissolved CO2 exists in the form of unhindered 2MPZ monocarbamate, and the rest is in the form of bicarbonate and dicarbamate; 19% - 56% of 2MPZ is converted to 2MPZ carbamate at 0.1 - 0.37 mol CO2/mol alkalinity. A rigorous thermodynamic model was developed for 8 m 2MPZ in the framework of the Electrolyte Nonrandom Two-Liquid (ENRTL) model. At 40 °C, the reaction stoichiometry for 2MPZ and CO2 is around 2 at lean loading but diminishes to 0 at rich loading. Bicarbonate becomes the major product at CO2 loading greater than 0.35 mol/mol alkalinity. The predicted heat of CO2 absorption is 75 kJ/mol at 140 °C and decreases with temperature when CO2 loading is above 0.25. The mass transfer rate data for 8 m 2MPZ was represented with a rate-based WWC model created in Aspen Plus®. The reaction rate was described with termolecular mechanism on an activity basis. With minor CO2 loading adjustment and regression of pre-exponential kinetic constants and diffusion activation energy, a majority of the measured CO2 fluxes in the WWC experiments were fitted by the model within ±20% over 40 – 100 °C and 0.1 – 0.37 mol CO2/mol alkalinity. The diffusion activation energy for 8 m 2MPZ at the rich loading is about 28 kJ/mol. The activity-based reaction rate constant at 40 °C for 2MPZ carbamate formation catalyzed by 2MPZ is 1.94×1010 kmol/m3•s. The calculated liquid film mass transfer coefficients are in close agreement with the experimental values. The liquid film mass transfer rate is dependent on the diffusion coefficients of amine and CO2 to the same extent at lean loading and 40 °C. The sum of the powers for the two diffusivities is approximately equal to 0.5 over the loading range of 0 – 0.4 mol CO2/mol alkalinity. The sum of the powers for the dependence of the liquid film mass transfer coefficient on the carbamate formation rate constants (k2MPZ-2MPZ and k2MPZCOO--2MPZ) approaches 0.5 at very lean loading at low temperature, but it decreases as CO2 loading and temperature is increased. At 100 °C, the physical liquid film mass transfer coefficient is the most important factor that determines the liquid mass transfer rate. The pseudo-first order region shifts to higher range of physical liquid film transfer coefficient as temperature increases.
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Soot particles are a major absorber of shortwave radiation in the atmosphere. They exert a rather uncertain direct and semi-direct radiative effect, which causes a heating or in some cases a cooling of the atmosphere. The mass absorption coefficient is an essential quantity to describe this light absorption process. This work presents new experimental data on the mass absorption coefficient of soot particles in the troposphere over Central Europe. Mass absorption coefficients were derived as the ratio between the light absorption coefficient determined by multi angle absorption photometry (MAAP), and the soot mass concentration determined by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman method is sensitive to graphitic structures present in the particle samples, and was calibrated in the laboratory using Printex90 model particles. The mass absorption coefficients were determined for a number of seven observation sites, ranging between 3.9 and 7.4 m²/g depending on measurement site and observational period. The highest values were found in an continentally aged air mass in winter, where we presumed soot particles to be present mainly in internal mixture. The regional model WRF-Chem was used in conjunction with a high resolution soot emission inventory to simulate soot mass concentrations and absorption coefficients for the Central European Troposphere. The model was validated using soot mass concentrations from Raman measurements and absorption coefficients. Simulated soot mass concentrations were found to be too low by around 50 %, which could be improved by scaling the emissions by a factor of two. In contrast, the absorption coefficient was positively biased by around 20%. Adjusting the modeled mass absorption coefficient to measurements, the simulation of soot light absorption was improved. Finally, the positive direct radiative forcing at top of the atmosphere was found to be lowered by up to 70% for the model run with adjusted soot absorption behaviour, , indicating a decreased heating effect on the atmosphere.