This dissertation is a study of error in long haul optical fiber systems and how to coupe with them. First we characterize error events occurring during transmission, then we determine lower bounds on information capacity (achievable information rates) and at the end we propose coding schemes for these systems.Existing approaches for obtaining probability density functions (PDFs) for pulse energy in long-haul optical fiber transmission systems rely on numerical simulations or analytical approximations. Numerical simulations make far tails of the PDFs difficult to obtain, while existing analytic approximations are often inaccurate, as they neglect nonlinear interaction between pulses and noise.Our approach combines the instanton method from statistical mechanics to model far tails of the PDFs, with numerical simulations to refine the middle part of the PDFs. We combine the two methods by using an orthogonal polynomial expansion constructed specifically for this problem. We demonstrate the approach on an example of a specific submarine transmission system.Once the channel is characterized estimating achievable information rates is done by a modification of a method originally proposed by Arnold and Pfitser. We give numerical results for the same optical transmission system (submarine system at transmission rate 40Gb/s).The achievable information rate varies with noise and length of the bit patterns considered (among other parameters). We report achievable numerical rates for systems with different noise levels, propagation distances and length of the bit patterns considered.We also propose two iterative decoding schemes suitable for high-speed long-haul optical transmission. One scheme is a modification of a method, originally proposed in the context of magnetic media, which incorporates the BCJR algorithm (to overcomeintersymbol interference) and Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes for additional error resilience. This is a ``soft decision scheme" -meaning that the decoding algorithm operates with probabilities(instead of binary values). The second scheme is ``hard decision" -it operates with binary values. This scheme is based on the maximum likelihood sequence detection-Viterbi algorithm and a hard decision"Gallager B" decoding algorithm for LDPC codes.

N2O chemisorption technique for copper dispersion determination was developed and optimized for accurate and reproducible results. With this technique, the bulk oxidation of pre-reduced catalyst can be prevented by N2O decomposition at low temperature (30oC). Only surface copper atoms are oxidized. The amount of freshly oxidized surface coppers is determined from H2-back-titration of fixed oxygen.The impact of temperature and time of exposure during oxidation was studied. Measurements made at higher temperature (60oC) resulted in overestimation of copper dispersion due to oxygen diffusion into the bulk and sub-layers. Much longer exposure time may also have an impact on copper dispersion estimation.For accurate results and good precision, it is recommended to work under mild conditions (isothermal oxidation at 30oC for 45 min.The developed method was successfully applied to fresh and spent catalyst. As expected, the copper dispersion for fresh catalyst was significantly higher than copper dispersion for spent catalyst.

Nowadays the rapid developments of wireless communication technologies there are more and more ways to look into the RF measurements and designs in detail such as Universal Software Radio Peripheral(USRP) from LabVIEW, Advance Design System(ADS),etc.Moreover a lack of measurements what compared with different digital modulation schemes is becoming a problem. In this thesis by building the simulations of communication system in NI-USRP system and measuring the results then compare with the different PSK system in order to give a deeper insight of this new software of USRP from LabVIEW. and in the end analyze bit error rate varus signal to noise ratio from the PSK system. To get the characterizations of NI-USRP system the first step is to build multiple simulations such as FM receiver, PSK wireless communication systems. By performing the FM receiver is to analyze the quality of the receiving and baseband FM signal. And from the simulation of different PSK communications through the analysis of the performance of BPSK,QPSK,OQPSK and compared with bit error rate it could give an insight of characterization of NI-USRP system and in the end the conclusions give in which kind of prototype or simulation that suit the best of NI-USRP system.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Physics / Chii-Dong Lin / Isolated attosecond pulse (IAP) is a tool of probing electronic dynamics occurring in atoms, molecules, clusters and solids, since the time scale of electronic motion is on the order of attoseconds. The generation, characterization and applications of IAPs has become one of the fast frontiers of laser experiments. This dissertation focuses on several aspects of attosecond physics. First, we study the driving wavelength scaling of the yield of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) by applying the quantum orbit theory. The unfavorable scaling law especially for the short quantum orbit is of great importance to attoseond pulse generation toward hundreds of eVs or keV photon energy region by mid-infrared (mid-IR) lasers. Second, we investigate the accuracy of the current frequency-resolved optical gating for complete reconstruction of attosecond bursts (FROG-CRAB) and phase retrieval by omega oscillation filtering (PROOF) methods for IAP characterization by simulating the experimental data by theoretical calculation. This calibration is critical but has not been carefully carried out before. We also present an improved method, namely the swPROOF which is more universal and robust than the original PROOF method. Third, we investigate the controversial topic of photoionization time delay. We find the limitation of the FROG-CRAB method which has been used to extract the photoionization time delay between the 2s and 2p channels in neon. The time delay retrieval is sensitive to the attochirp of the XUV pulse, which may lead to discrepancies between experiment and theory. A new fitting method is proposed in order to overcome the limitations of FROG-CRAB. Finally, IAPs are used to probe the dynamic of electron correlation in helium atom by means of attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The agreement between the measurement and our analytical model verifies the observation of time-dependent build up of the 2s2p Fano resonance.

L'objectif de cette thèse a été l'optimisation de la synthèse et des performances catalytiques des matériaux lamellaires au W et Mo dans les réactions d'oxydation de plusieurs composés organiques en présence d'H2O2. Le travail réalisé au cours de cette thèse est le développement de nouveaux catalyseurs hétérogènes pour la réaction d'oxydation qui est réalisée sélectivement en systèmes catalytiques homogènes, mais pour un développement durable, la catalyse hétérogène demeure beaucoup plus porteuse d'avenir au niveau industriel. La réaction d'oxydation de composés soufrés a un grand intérêt, en particulier dans l'élimination des composés organiques soufrés (thiophènes, sulfures) contenus dans les carburants et les coupes pétrolières, réalisée dans des conditions douces de température et pression, en présence de l'eau oxygénée. Les objectifs principaux de cette étude ont été les suivants: 1. élaboration des matériaux catalytiques : a) préparation des précurseurs de type hydrotalcites (HDL) à base de Mg-Al-NO3, Mg-Al-terephthalate et Ni-Mg-Al-NO3. b) préparation des matériaux hybrides par intercalation des espèces de Mo et W par deux voies de synthèse : réaction d'échange anionique et synthèse hydrothermale. 2. caractérisation de la structure, la texture et la nature des sites catalytique par différentes techniques : DRX, adsorption d'azote, ATG, spectroscopie Raman et UV-Vis, MEB etc. 3. applications de ces catalyseurs à la réaction d'oxydation des composes soufrés (sulfures, thiophènes, sulfoxydes), epoxydation de cyclooctene et oxydation d'anthracène. Les catalyseurs ont été stables au recyclage et aucun phénomène de leaching n'a été observé. / The objective of this thesis was the optimization of the synthesis and catalytic performances of nanocomposites materials containing W and Mo in the oxidation with H2O2 of a wide range of model organic compounds. The work achieved during this thesis is the development of new heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation reaction who is carried out selectively in homogeneous catalytic systems, heterogeneous catalysis is still much more promising in future. The oxidation reaction of sulfur compounds has great interest, especially in the removal of organic sulfur compounds (thiophene, sulfide) contained in fuels and petroleum fractions, performed in mild conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of H2O2. In this study were as follows : 1. elaboration of materials : a) preparation of precursors of type hydrotalcites (HDL) based on Mg-Al-NO3, Mg-Al-Ni-terephthalate and Mg-Al-NO3. b) preparation of hybrid materials by intercalation species of Mo and W by two synthetic routes : reaction of anion-exchange and hydrothermal synthesis. 2. characterization of the structure, texture and nature of catalytic sites by different techniques : XRD, nitrogen adsorption, TGA, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis, SEM, etc. 3. application of these catalysts in the reaction of oxidation of sulfur compounds (sulfides, thiophenes, sulfoxides), epoxidation of cyclooctene and oxidation of anthracene. The catalysts were stable under operating conditions.

Cell-to-cell communication is one of the fundamental requisites of making multicellular organisms. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most abundant receptor-types within vertebrates. They canonically mediate their signal via hetrotrimeric G proteins, and G protein signaling is regulated by regulators of G protein-signaling (RGS). One of these RGS proteins, RGS4, is preferentially expressed in the central nervous system of humans and has been strongly connected to dopaminergic signaling, along with a number of severe neuronal diseases. rgs4 is not well studied in the model organism Danio rerio, the zebrafish, with only two publications. In this project, a newly constructed transgenic line, tg(rgs4:mCherry), with the fluorophore mCherry regulated by the promoter element of rgs4 was characterized in order to investigate fidelity to endogenous rgs4 expression and the utility of the transgenic line. The mCherry expression is apparent by 48 hours post fertilization, and expression is found mainly in neuronal tissue. Cell bodies are visible only in some labeled areas, while other areas show a more diffuse signal indicative of projections. There is only one transgenically labeled area that also unambiguously expresses rgs4; the pronephric tubule. This line is therefore not particularly well suited for rgs4-specifc studies, but this does not discredit the fidelity of the construct. A transgenic line made with a site-directed technique would most likely confer the fidelity of the promoter to the expression of the fluorophore. A way of increasing the labeling resolution includes exchanging the mCherry fluorophore for one with stronger signal and a lower tendency to aggregate, e.g. eGFP. Increasing the resolution of the characterization, e.g. to the level of sub-nuclei or neuronal types, would serve to enhance the utility of the line. As it is, the tg(rgs4:mCherry) zebrafish line has limited uses, and yet it is not without them.

This thesis on William Faulkner's concept of knowledge beyond reason includes a study of style and characterization and a study of possible sources.

This thesis is concerned with extending properties of regular word languages to richer structures. We consider intricate properties like the relationship between one-way and two-way temporal logics, minimization of automata, and the ability to effectively characterize logics. We investigate whether these properties can be extended to tree languages or word languages over an infinite alphabet. It is known that linear temporal logic (LTL) is as expressive as first-order logic over finite words [Kam68, GPSS80]. LTL is a unidirectional logic, that can only navigate forwards in a word, hence it is quite surprising that it can capture all of first-order logic. In fact, one of the main ideas of the proof of [GPSS80] is to show that the expressiveness of LTL is not increased if modalities for navigating backwards are added. It is also known that an extension of bidirectional LTL to ordered trees, called Conditional XPath, is first-order complete [Mar04]. We investigate whether the unidirectional fragment of Conditional XPath is also first-order complete. We show that this is not the case. In fact we show that there is a strict hierarchy of expressiveness consisting of languages that are all weaker than first-order logic. Unidirectional Conditional XPath is contained in the lowest level of this hierarchy. In the second part of the thesis we consider data word languages. That is, word languages over an infinite alphabet. We extend the theorem of Myhill and Nerode to a class of automata for data word languages, called deterministic finite memory automata (DMA). We give a characterization of the languages that are accepted by DMA, and also provide an algorithm for minimizing DMA. Finally we extend theorems of Büchi, Schützenberger, McNaughton, and Papert to data word languages. A theorem of Büchi states that a language is regular iff it can be defined in monadic second-order logic. Schützenberger, McNaughton, and Papert have provided an effective characterization of first-order logic, that is, an algorithm for deciding whether a regular language can be defined in first-order logic. We provide a counterpart of Büchi's theorem for data languages. More precisely we define a new logic and we show that it has the same expressiveness as non-deterministic finite memory automata. We then turn to a smaller class of data languages, those that are recognized by algebraic objects called orbit finite data monoids. We define a second new logic and show that it can define precisely the languages accepted by orbit finite data monoids. We provide an effective characterization of a first-order variant of this second logic, as well as of restrictions of first-order logic, such as its two variable fragment and local variants.

<p>This thesis focuses on the development of reduced pressure testing capabilities at Zucrow Laboratories. A two-stage ejector on loan from NASA Marshall is used in series with a supersonic diffuser to allow for the testing of up to100 lb_f rocket engines at equivalent altitudes of up to 100,000 ft. The objective of this research is to implement a one-dimensional (1-D) model which accurately predicts the performance of the two-stage ejector in real time, informing the maximum thrust and simulated altitude capabilities within the altitude chamber located in room 134A of ZL3 during experimental testing.</p>

[pt] Neste trabalho foram preparadas multi-camadas supercondutor(SC)/ ferromagneto(FM) Nb/Co via pulverização catódica (Magnetron Sputtering). O principal objetivo é estudar o efeito de diferentes espessuras da camada ferromagnética (Co) nas propriedades supercondutoras do Nb. Era esperado que, após tratamentos térmicos, as camadas de Co formassem um plano de nanopartículas magnéticas ordenadas, cujo efeito deve ser muito diferente das nanopartículas aleatoriamente orientadas e camadas magnéticas continuas. As microestruturas foram investigadas por Difração de Raios-X em baixos ângulos (LAXRD), Microscopia de Força Atômica (AFM) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (TEM). Propriedades magnéticas e de transporte tem sido estudadas com o Sistema de Medição de Propriedade Físicas (PPMS), da empresa Quantum Design. As medidas magnéticas e de transporte mostram que, com o aumento da espessura das camadas de Co, a temperatura de transição supercondutora (Tc) aumenta significativamente para as amostras como preparadas. Foi relatado na literatura que quando a espessura das camadas magnéticas da ordem de alguns nanômetros, a Tc aumenta e diminui periodicamente com o aumento da espessura das camadas magnéticas. No entanto, nesta pesquisa, a espessura das camadas magnéticas é de dezenas de nanômetros, sendo muito maior do que este alcance e portanto, não pode ser explicado baseando-se no mesmo modelo. Propusemos que a rugosidade da interface entre as camadas de Co e Nb desempenha um papel importante para este comportamento. Os resultados de AFM e XRD mostram que a rugosidade máxima da interface é da ordem de 7 a 10 nm, o que é comparável à espessura de camadas de Co (de 5 a 20 nm). Introduzimos um parâmetro R igual a d, onde R é a rugosidade da interface e d é a espessura da camada magnética, para discutir o efeito da interface sobre as propriedades supercondutoras da nossa amostra. Quando delta maior que 1, a camada magnética pode ser considerada uma forma não-continua e somente quando delta menor que 1, as camadas magnéticas continuas podem ser formadas. Com base em observações de topografia de interfaces na nano-escala , podemos compreender que primeiro a rugosidade aumenta a área da interface, resultando em um efeito de proximidade mais forte, além de aumentar o efeito do campo de dispersão na Tc. Este efeito depende não somente da rugosidade, mas também da espessura da camada magnética. Verificou-se que o parâmetro determina o efeito das camadas magnéticas. As diferentes propriedades magnéticas abaixo da Tc para diferentes amostras também pode ser explicada por este modelo. Após o tratamento térmico, a Tc das amostras diminuiu e as propriedades magnéticas também se tornam piores do que as amostras como preparadas. Os resultados de TEM mostram que as camadas de Co estam interconectadas e depois do recozimento não há indícios de interdifusão entre as camadas Nb e Co. Mais medidas são necessárias para verificar se as camadas magnéticas podem induzir vórtices espontâneos, assim como para explicar a diferença entre as amostras com nanopartículas magnéticas ordenadas comparadas com aquelas orientadas aleatoriamente. / [en] In this work we prepared Superconductor(SC)/ferromagnet(FM) Nb/Co multi-layers with magnetron-sputtering. The main purpose of this work is to study the effect of different shape of ferromagnetic layers on the superconducting properties of Nb. We expected that after annealing the Co layers can form in-plane ordered magnetic nanoparticles and the effect of ordered magnetic nanoparticles should be very different from randomly oriented nanoparticles and continues magnetic layers. The microstructures have been investigated by means of Low Angle X-ray Diffraction (LAXRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Magnetic and transport properties have been studied with Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) from Quantum Design. The magnetic and transport measurements show that with increase of the thickness of Co layers the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) signifficantly increases for the as-prepared samples. It was reported in the literature that when the thickness of the magnetic layers is in the range of several nanometers, Tc increases and decreases periodically with the increase of the thickness of the magnetic layers. In our samples, however, the thickness of the magnetic layers (several tens nanometers) is much larger than that range and therefore, cannot be explained within the same model. We proposed that the roughness of the interface between Co and Nb layers plays an important role for this behavior. The AFM and LAXRD results show that the maxim roughness of the interface is in the range of 7 until 10 nm, which is comparable to the thickness of Co layers (5 until 20 nm). We introduced one parameter R equal d, where R is the roughness of the interface and d is the thickness of the magnetic layer, to discuss the effect of the interface on the superconducting properties of our sample. When delta more 1, the magnetic layer may be in a non-continues form and only when delta less1 continues magnetic layers can be formed. Based upon nano-scale observations of interfaces topography we can understand that the roughness first increases the area of the interface, which gives stronger proximity effect and, second, enhances the effect of the stray eld on Tc. This effect depends not only the roughness but also the thickness of the magnetic layer. It was found out that the parameter determines the effect of the magnetic layers. The different magnetic properties below Tc for different samples can also be explained by this model. After annealing, Tc of the samples decreased and magnetic properties also became worse than the as-prepared samples. The TEM results show that the Co layers is interconnected and after annealing there is no indication of interdiffusion between Nb and Co layers. More measurements are needed to see if the magnetic layers can induce spontaneous vortices and what the difference is between samples with ordered and randomly oriented magnetic nano-particles.