The theme of this thesis is concerned with the modelling of the multi-physics interactions that occur in lightning and arc discharge. The main contributions of this research are presented as combining different physical studies namely, electromagnetic (EM) propagation, thermal diffusion and non-linear materials using a numerical algorithm. The algorithm was developed based on the two dimensional (2D) numerical transmission line method (TLM). The algorithm was applied to several practical examples namely, to model the electro-thermal analysis and the temperature development in a plasmonic nano-heat sources for terahertz applications; to predict the shape and the location of an arc discharge channel caused by a lightning strike using electro-thermal analysis, and to model diverter strips for lightning protection on aeroplanes. Different electro-thermal coupling approaches, such as fully and partially coupled methods were used to investigate the efficiency and accuracy of the model. In the fully coupled method the thermal model was allowed to change the electrical properties of materials in the electromagnetic model. On the other hand partial coupling did not consider the temperature dependency of the electrical properties in the electromagnetics model. Both of the models used the dissipated power from the electromagnetic model as a source signal to evaluate the temperature profile in the thermal model. Also different coupling interval timesteps were investigated to minimize the computational power needed without affecting the model accuracy.

Une décennie après la découverte du graphème par A.K. Geim et K.S. Novoselov ,beaucoup de ses propriétés fondamentales ont été intensément étudiées. En effet, lespromesses du graphème a été etenues et ont conduit a une recherche fructueuse dansdes domaines aussi varies que l'optique, la mécanique, la chimie ou l'électronique. Legraphème mérite ainsi d'être appelée le matériau miracle puisque c'est un très conducteurde la chaleur et de l'électricité, il est l'un des matériau les plus solides tout en étantléger et optiquement transparent. Son succès est en partie dû à la technique de micro clivage,ou exfoliation qui est facile et accessible à tout laboratoire sans équipementlourd. Cela a permis d'étudier les propriétés du graphème avec un large éventail de techniquesexpérimentales. Après l'immense succès du graphème, d'autres matériaux bidimensionnels(2D) ont été obtenus avec la même technique, conduisant à une physiqueparticulièrement riche. / A decade after the discovery of grapheme by A.K. Geim and K.S. Novoselov , manyof its fundamental properties have been intensely studied. Indeed, the early promise ofgrapheme has been kept, leading to a fruitful research in many felds as diverse as optics,mechanics, chemistry or electronics, and grapheme still deserves the name of wondermaterial as among its attributes there is an exceptionally good conduction of heat andelectricity, it is one of the strongest known material while being light and opticallytransparent. Its success was partly due to the easy micromechanical cleavage or scotchtape exfoliation technique accessible to any laboratory without heavy equipment, thatallowed to study the properties of grapheme with a wide range of experimental techniques.Following the success of grapheme, other two-dimensional (2D) materials were obtainedwith the same technique, leading to a particularly rich physics.

Materials have always had a large impact on society over the different ages. Piezoelectric materials are the often ‘invisible’ materials which find widespread use, unknown to the general public by large. Mobile electronics, automotive systems, medical and industrial systems are few of the key areas where ‘piezoelectricity’ is indispensable. The parking sensor of our car uses the effect and even the echo to image an unborn baby in a womb requires the exploitation of the piezoelectric effect. The work presented in this thesis investigates the piezoelectric effect in semiconductors, namely in III V, III N and II VI materials to have a better understanding and design potential applications in light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other electronic devices. The current work focuses on the non-linear behaviour in the strain of the piezo effect, which is manifested by the generation of electric field under crystal deformation. Previous works have already confirmed the reports of the existence of non-linear piezoelectric effects in zincblende III V semiconductors. Here, the same semiempirical approach using Density Functional Theory has been utilized to investigate the strain dependent elastic and dielectric properties of wurtzite III N materials. While we report the strong non-linear strain induced piezoelectric behaviour with second order coefficients, all spontaneous polarization terms are substantially smaller than the previously proposed values. We show that, unlike existing models, our calculated piezoelectric coefficients and nonlinear model provide a close match to the internal piezoelectric fields of quantum well and superlattice structures. Also, pressure dependence of the piezoelectric field in InGaN based LEDs predicts a significant improvement of the spontaneous emission rate can be achieved as a result of a reduction of the internal field. The LED devices using the proposed structures including a metamorphic layer under the active region of the device are expected to increase their light output power by up to 10%. We also explored the impact of the non-linear piezo effect in nanowires and present a further theoretical computational study of single photon sources optimization in InGaN based wurtzite single quantum dots. We observed the light emission can be made by those single photon sources covering the entire visible spectrum through suitable change in the alloy composition.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden die elektronischen Eigenschaften von Graphen auf Metalloberflächen mittels Rastertunnelmikroskopie und Quasiteilcheninterferenz (englisch quasiparticle interference, QPI)-Messungen untersucht. Durch das Verwenden schwerer Substrate sollte die Spin-Bahn-Wechselwirkung des Graphen verstärkt werden und damit eine Bandlücke am K-Punkt der Bandstruktur mittels QPI beobachtet werden. Um das Messen von QPI auf Graphen zu testen, wurde auf der Oberfläche eines SiC(0001)-Kristalls durch Erhitzen Graphen erzeugt und mit dem Rastertunnelmikroskop untersucht. Dieses System wurde schon ausführlich in der Literatur beschrieben und bereits bekannte QPI-Messungen von Streuringen, die auf den Dirac-Kegeln des Graphen am K-Punkt basieren, konnte ich auf gr/SiC(0001) in guter Qualität erfolgreich reproduzieren. Anschließend wurde Graphen nach einem wohlbekannten Verfahren durch Aufbringen von Ethylen auf ein erhitztes Ir(111)-Substrat erzeugt. Dieses gr/Ir(111)-System diente auch als Grundlage für Interkalationsversuche von Bismut (gr/Bi/Ir(111)) und Gadolinium (gr/Gd/Ir(111)) zwischen das Graphen und das Substrat. Auf gr/Bi/Ir(111) wurde ein schon aus der Literatur bekanntes Netzwerk aus Versetzungslinien beobachtet, dem zusätzlich eine Temperaturabhängigkeit nachgewiesen werden konnte. Beim Versuch, Gadolinium zu interkalieren, wurden zwei verschieden Oberflächenstrukturen beobachtet, die auf eine unterschiedlich Anordnung bzw. Menge des interkalierten Gadoliniums zurückzuführen sein könnten. Auf keinem dieser drei Systeme konnten allerdings Streuringe mittels QPI beobachtet werden. Als Vorbereitung der Interkalation von Gadolinium wurden dessen Wachstum und magnetische Eigenschaften auf einem W(110)-Kristall untersucht. Dabei konnte eine aus der Literatur bekannte temperaturabhängige Austauschaufspaltung reproduziert werden. Darüber hinaus konnten sechs verschieden magnetische Domänen beobachtet werden. Zusätzlich sind auf der Oberfläche magnetische Streifen auszumachen, die möglicherweise auf einer Spinspirale basieren. Als Grundlage für die mögliche zukünftige Erzeugung Graphen-artiger Molekülgitter wurde das Wachstum von H-TBTQ und Me-TBTQ auf Ag(111) untersucht. Die Moleküle richten sich dabei nach der Oberflächenstruktur des Silber aus und bilden längliche Inseln, deren Kanten in drei Vorzugsrichtungen verlaufen. Auf H-TBTQ wurde zudem eine zweite, Windmühlen-artige Ausrichtung der Moleküle auf der Oberfläche beobachtet. Auf den mit den Molekülen bedeckten Stellen der Oberfläche wurde eine Verschiebung des Ag-Oberflächenzustands beobachtet, die mit einem Ladungstransfer vom Ag(111)-Substrat auf die TBTQ-Moleküle zu erklären sein könnte. / In this thesis, the electronic properties of graphene on metal surfaces were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and quasiparticle interference (QPI) measurements. In order to enhance the spin orbital interaction of the graphene and possibly observe a band gap at the K-point of the band structure via QPI, substrates with heavy atoms were used. To test the ability to measure QPI on graphene, graphene was produced on the surface of a SiC(0001) crystal by heating and examined with a scanning tunneling microscope. This system has already been described in detail in the literature and I was able to successfully reproduce QPI measurements of clearly recognizable scattering rings, which are due to the Dirac cones of the graphene at the K-point Afterwards, graphene was produced by a well-known process by applying ethylene to a heated Ir(111) substrate. This gr/Ir(111) system also served as a basis for intercalation experiments of bismuth (gr/Bi/Ir(111)) and gadolinium (gr/Gd/Ir(111)) between the graphene and the substrate. On gr/Bi/Ir(111), a network of dislocation lines known from literature was observed, which also showed a temperature dependence. In the attempt to intercalate gadolinium, two different surface structures were observed which could be due to a different arrangement or quantity of the intercalated gadolinium. However, on none of these three systems scattering rings were observed by QPI. In preparation for the intercalation of gadolinium, its growth and magnetic properties were investigated on a W(110) substrate. A temperature-dependent exchange splitting of the surface density of states known from the literature could be reproduced. In addition, six different magnetic domains and magnetic stripes were observed on the surface, which may be based on a spin spiral. The growth of H-TBTQ and Me-TBTQ on Ag(111) was investigated as a basis for a possible subsequent generation of graphene-like molecular lattices in the future. The molecules are aligned to the surface structure of the silver and form elongated islands with edges in three preferred directions. H-TBTQ also appeared in a second, windmilllike orientation of the molecules on the surface. A shift of the Ag surface state was observed on the surface areas covered by the molecules, which might be explained by a charge transfer from the Ag(111) substrate to the TBTQ molecules.

This work revealed spin states that are involved in the light generation of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that are based on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). First, several donor:acceptor-based TADF systems forming exciplex states were investigated. Afterwards, a TADF emitter that shows intramolecular charge transfer states but also forms exciplex states with a proper donor molecule was studied. The primary experimental technique was electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), in particular the advanced methods electroluminescence detected magnetic resonance (ELDMR), photoluminescence detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR) and electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR). Additional information was gathered from time-resolved and continuous wave photoluminescence measurements. / In dieser Arbeit wurden Spinzustände identifiziert, die an der Lichterzeugung von organischen Leuchtdioden beteiligt sind, welche auf thermisch aktivierter verzögerter Fluoreszenz (engl. TADF) basieren. Zuerst wurden mehrere Donor:Akzeptor basierte TADF Systeme untersucht. Danach wurde ein TADF Emitter studiert, welcher intramolekulare Ladungstransfer Zustände (engl. CT states) zeigt, aber auch Exziplex Zustände mit einem geeigneten Donor Molekül bildet. In erster Linie wurde die experimentelle Methode der Elektronenspinresonanz (ESR) genutzt, insbesondere die erweiterten Techniken Elektrolumineszenz detektierte Magnetresonanz (ELDMR), Photolumineszenz detektierte Magnetresonanz (PLDMR) und elektrisch detektierte Magnetresonanz (EDMR). Zusätzliche Informationen wurden aus zeitaufgelösten und dauerstrich Photolumineszenz Messungen gewonnen.

This work investigates the correlations between spin states and the light emission properties of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are based on the principle of thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The spin-spin interactions responsible for this mechanism are investigated in this work using methods based on spin-sensitive electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In particular, this method has been applied to electrically driven OLEDs. The magnetic resonance has been detected by electroluminescence, giving this method its name: electroluminescence detected magnetic resonance (ELDMR). Initial investigations on a novel deep blue TADF emitter were performed. Furthermore, the ELDMR method was used in this work to directly detect the spin states in the OLED. These measurements were further underlined by time-resolved experiments such as transient electro- and photoluminescence. / Diese Arbeit untersucht die Zusammenhänge zwischen Spinzuständen und den Lichtemissions Eigenschaften von Organischen Leuchtdioden (OLEDs), welche auf dem Prinzip der thermisch aktivierten verzögerten Fluoreszenz basieren. Die für diesen Mechanismus verantwortlichen Spin-Spin-Wechselwirkungen werden im Rahmen der Arbeit mit Methoden untersucht, die auf der spinsensitiven Elektron Paramagnetische Resonanz (EPR) basieren. Insbesondere wurde diese Methode auf elektrisch betriebene OLEDs angewendet und die magnetische Resonanz durch Elektrolumineszenz nachgewiesen, was dieser Methode ihren Namen verleiht: Elektrolumineszenz detektierte magnetische Resonanz (ELDMR). Erste Untersuchungen an einem neuartigen tiefblauen TADF-Emitters wurden durchgeführt. Ebenfalls konnte in dieser Arbeit mit Hilfe der ELDMR-Methode direkt die Spinzustände in der OLED detektiert werden. Unterstützt wurden diese Messungen von Zeit-aufgelösten Experimenten wie transiente Elektro- und Photolumineszenz.

Σημαντικό ρόλο στις βιομηχανικές εφαρμογές πλάσματος παίζει η ροή των ιόντων. Ωστόσο, συχνά συναντάται το πρόβλημα της εναπόθεσης μονωτικών υμενίων καθιστώντας τους ηλεκτροστατικούς καθετήρες μη λειτουργικούς για τη μέτρηση της ροής αυτής. Ένας εναλλακτικός καθετήρας, ικανός να λειτουργήσει σε αυτές τις συνθήκες, προτάθηκε από τους N. S. J. Braithwaite et al. [1]. Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζονται, πρώτον, η θεωρία λειτουργίας του καθετήρα αυτού, δεύτερον η κατασκευή του και τρίτον η ανάπτυξη τού συστήματος για την οδήγησή του καθώς και την καταγραφή και την επεξεργασία των σημάτων του. Τέλος, γίνεται πειραματική εξακρίβωση της σωστής λειτουργίας της συσκευής, σε διάταξη επαγωγικού πλάσματος ραδιοσυχνοτήτων (13.56 MHz). / The ion flux holds a major role in the industrial applications of plasma. Often, though, the problem of insulative film deposition is encountered, making the electrostatic probes non functional for the measurement of the ion flux. An alternative probe, capable of functioning under these circumstances has been proposed by N. S. J. Braithwaite et al. [1]. In this paper there are presented, firstly, the theory under which this probe functions, secondly the implementation and thirdly the development of a system for biasing and also data acquisition and processing the signals obtained by the probe. Finally, an experimental identification of the good operation of the device is done, in RF inductively couple plasma (13.56 MHz).

En base als reptes sorgits a conseqüència de l'escalat de la tecnologia, la present tesis desenvolupa i analitza un conjunt d'eines orientades a avaluar la sensibilitat a la propagació d'esdeveniments SET en circuits microelectrònics. S'han proposant varies mètriques de propagació de SETs considerant l'impacto dels emmascaraments lògic, elèctric i combinat lògic-elèctric. Aquestes mètriques proporcionen una via d'anàlisi per quantificar tant les regions més susceptibles a propagar SETs com les sortides més susceptibles de rebre'ls. S'ha desenvolupat un conjunt d'algorismes de cerca de camins sensibilitzables altament adaptables a múltiples aplicacions, un sistema lògic especific i diverses tècniques de simplificació de circuits. S'ha demostrat que el retard d'un camí donat depèn dels vectors de sensibilització aplicats a les portes que formen part del mateix, essent aquesta variació de retard comparable a la atribuïble a les variacions paramètriques del proces. / En base a los desafíos surgidos a consecuencia del escalado de la tecnología, la presente tesis desarrolla y analiza un conjunto de herramientas orientadas a evaluar la sensibilidad a la propagación de eventos SET en circuitos microelectrónicos. Se han propuesto varias métricas de propagación de SETs considerando el impacto de los enmascaramientos lógico, eléctrico y combinado lógico-eléctrico. Estas métricas proporcionan una vía de análisis para cuantificar tanto las regiones más susceptibles a propagar eventos SET como las salidas más susceptibles a recibirlos. Ha sido desarrollado un conjunto de algoritmos de búsqueda de caminos sensibilizables altamente adaptables a múltiples aplicaciones, un sistema lógico especifico y diversas técnicas de simplificación de circuitos. Se ha demostrado que el retardo de un camino dado depende de los vectores de sensibilización aplicados a las puertas que forman parte del mismo, siendo esta variación de retardo comparable a la atribuible a las variaciones paramétricas del proceso. / Based on the challenges arising as a result of technology scaling, this thesis develops and evaluates a complete framework for SET propagation sensitivity. The framework comprises a number of processing tools capable of handling circuits with high complexity in an efficient way. Various SET propagation metrics have been proposed considering the impact of logic, electric and combined logic-electric masking. Such metrics provide a valuable vehicle to grade either in-circuit regions being more susceptible of propagating SETs toward the circuit outputs or circuit outputs more susceptible to produce SET. A quite efficient and customizable true path finding algorithm with a specific logic system has been constructed and its efficacy demonstrated on large benchmark circuits. It has been shown that the delay of a path depends on the sensitization vectors applied to the gates within the path. In some cases, this variation is comparable to the one caused by process parameters variations.

Non-classical correlations, usually referred as entanglement, are ones of the most studied and discussed features of Quantum Mechanics, since the initial introduction of the concept in the decade of 1930s. Even nowadays, a lot of efforts, both theoretical and experimental, are devoted in this topic, that covers many distinct areas of physics, such as a quantum computing, quantum measurement, quantum communications, solid state physics, chemistry and even biology. The fundamental tasks that one should consider related to the entanglement are: -How to create quantum entangled states. -How to maintain entanglement during propagation against sources of decoherence. -How to effectively detect it. -How to employ the benefits that entanglement offers. This thesis, divided into four chapters, concentrates on the first and last tasks considered above. In Chapter 1, a brief introduction and overview of what it is entanglement is given, starting with the famous paper of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen, and continuing with John Bell's formulation of the so-called Bell's inequalities. We define here general concepts about entangled quantum states and introduce important entanglement measures, that are later used all over the thesis. In this chapter, sources of entangled particles (namely photons) are also mentioned. The importance is put on sources based on the nonlinear process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The last part of this chapter is then dedicated to a list of applications that benefit from the use of engangled states. Chapter 2 is devoted to the systematic study of the generation of entangled and non-entangled photon pairs in semiconductor Bragg reflection waveguides. Firstly, we present a source of photon pairs with a spectrally uncorrelated two-photon amplitude, achieved by a proper tailoring of the geometrical and material dispersions via structural design of waveguides. Secondly, Bragg reflection waveguides are designed in a scuh way, that results in the generation of spectrally broadband paired photons entangled in the polarization degree of freedom. Finally, we present experimental results of entangled photon pairs generation in this type of structures. In Chapter 3, we explore the feasibility of the generation of photon pairs entangled in the spatial degree of freedom, i.e. in the orbital angular momentum (OAM). Firstly, we examine how to create a highly multidimensional Hilbert space using OAM modes obtained in a chipred-poled nonlinear bulk crystals. Here, we show, how an increase of the chirp of the poling can effectively increase the Schmidt number by several orders of magnitude. Secondly, we investigate periodically poled silica glass fibres with a ring-shpaed core, that are capable to support the generation of simple OAM modes. The final Chapter 4 is dedicated to the Anderson localization and quantum random walks. At the beginning of this chapter, we present an experimental proposal for the realization of a discrete quantum random walks using the multi-path Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a spatial light modulator, that allows us to introduce different types of statistical or dynamical disorders. And secondly, we show how the transverse Anderson localization of partially coherent light, with a variable first-order degree of coherence, can be studied making use of entangled photon pairs. / Las correlaciones cuánticas, normalmente conocidas como entanglement, son uno de los temas más estudiados y discutidos de la Mecánica Cuántica, desde la introducción del concepto en la década de 1930. Incluso hoy en día, una gran cantidad de esfuerzos, tanto teóricos como experimentales, se dedican en este tema, que cubre muchas áreas distintas de la física, tales como medición cuántica (quantum metrology), computación cuántica (quantum computing), comunicaciones cuánticas (quantum communications), física de estado sólido, química e incluso biología. Las tareas fundamentales de investigación que uno debe considerar en relación con entrelazamiento son: -Cómo crear estados cuánticos entangled. -Cómo mantener el entanglement durante la propagación, en contra de las fuentes que pueden crear de-coherencia. -Cómo emplear los beneficios que el entanglement ofrece. Esta tesis, dividida en cuatro capítulos, se centra en la primera y últimas tareas consideradas. En el capítulo 1, se da una breve introducción y una visión general de lo que es el entrelazamiento (entanglement), empezando por el famoso artículo de Einstein, Podolosky y Rosen, y continuando con la formulación de John Bell de las llamados desigualdades de Bell. Definimos aquí conceptos generales acerca de los estados cuánticos enrelazados e introducimos algunas medidas de entrelazamiento importantes, que se utilizan posteriormente a lo largo de toda la tesis. En este capítulo, algunas fuentes de partículas entrelazadas (fotones) se mencionan brevemente. La importancia se pone en fuentes basadas en el proceso no lineal de generación paramétrica espontánea (SPDC, Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion). La última parte de este capítulo está dedicado a mencionar algunas aplicaciones que se benefician de la utilización de estados entrelazados. El capítulo 2 se dedica al estudio sistemático de la generación de pares de fotones entrelazados, o no, en guías semiconductores de tipo Bragg. En primer lugar, se presenta una fuente de pares de fotones espectralmente no correlacionados, lo que se puede conseguir utilizando la geometría adecuada y la adecuada dispersión del material, a través del diseño estructural de las guías de onda. En segundo lugar, las guías de onda de Bragg se diseñan de manera que dan como resultado la generación de pares de fotones entrelazados en el grado de libertad de polarización con un ancho de banda grande. Finalmente, se presentan resultados experimentales de pares de fotones generados en este tipo de estructuras. En el capítulo 3, se explora la viabilidad de la generación de pares de fotones entrelazados en el grado espacial de libertad, es decir, en el momento angular orbital (OAM). En primer lugar, se investiga cómo crear un espacio de Hilbert altamente multidimensional utilizando modos OAM Para ello se ahce uso de materiales no lineales con chirped-qausi-phase-matching. Aquí mostramos cómo un aumento del chirp puede aumentar efectivamente el número de Schmidt en varios órdenes de magnitud. En segundo lugar, se investiga como fibras de vidrio con un núcleo en forma de anillo son capaces de generar y propagar los modos con OAM más simples. El Capítulo 4 se dedica a la localización Anderson y a los llamados paseos aleatorios cuánticos (Quantum random walks). En primer lugar se presenta una propuesta experimetnal para la realización de un paseo aleatorio discreto cuántico utilizando un interferómetro MAch-Zehnder con un modulador espacial de luz, que nos permite introducir diferentes tipos de ruido con diferentes tipos de estadística. En segundo lugar, se muestra cómo la localización transveral Anderson de luz parcialmente coherente se puede estudiar haciendo uso de pares de fotones entrelazado

The application of Quasi Optical techniques has been of great benefit to the field of instrumentation for frequencies between 750Hz and several hundred OHz. The application of Quasi Optical techniques to millimetre wave radar, described in this thesis, has produced an FMCW Doppler radar capable of operation at 940Hz and 1400Hz. Total polarization agility and a capability to operate over a very wide bandwidth is demonstrated. Quasi Optical circuits are proposed as solutions for many of the system requirements, and these are fully analyzed. Significant benefits of these techniques are demonstrated, and future improvements are suggested. A new design tool, in the form of a program, for Quasi Optical circuit analysis is presented and is used for the analysis of all the optical circuits in this thesis. The program has speeded up the design process for optical circuits. A new type of feedhorn is described and characterized. Its performance compares well with existing feedhorns, and it provides a low cost alternative to existing antenna requirements.