The design and performance of an instrument is presented whose purpose is the extraction of samples highly enriched in one species of single-walled carbon nanotubes from density gradient ultracentrifugation. This instrument extracts high purity samples which are characterized by various optical studies. The samples are found to be enriched in just a few species of nanotubes, with the major limitation to enrichment being the separation, rather than extraction. The samples are then used in optical and microscopic studies which attempt to determine the first absorption coefficient (S1) of the (6,5) species of nanotube. Initial experiments give a value of 9.2 ± 2.6 cm2 C atom-1. Future work is proposed to improve upon the experiment in an attempt to reduce possible errors

The photoabsorption cross sections of NO have been measured in the wavelength range 150~200nm, and the cross sections deviation from Beer-Lambert law due to the insufficient resolution of light source is discussed qualitatively. From the steady state approximation of quenching reactions, the pressure dependence of foreign gas on the ratio of absorption intensity to the fluorescence intensity is derived. Furthermore, the non-Stern-Volmer behaviors of the C2£S(n=0) state of NO were discussed by assuming the non-predissociated (J<9/2) and the predissociated (J>9/2) rotational levels following different quenching mechanisms.

The kinetics of the pressure dependent O + SO2 + Ar reaction have been investigated using laser photolysis resonance fluorescence at temperatures of 289 K, 399 K, 581 K, 699 K, 842 K and 1040 K and at pressures from 30-665 torr. Falloff was observed for the first time in the pressure dependence. Application of Lindemann theory yielded an Arrhenius expression of k(T) = 3.3 x 10-32exp(-992/T) cm6 molecule-1 s-1 for the low pressure limit and k(T) = 8.47 x 10-14exp(-468/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for the high pressure limit at temperatures between 289 and 842 K. The reaction is unusual as it possesses a positive activation energy at low temperature, yet at higher temperatures the activation energy is negative, illustrating a reaction barrier.

In the absorption spectra, photoabsorption cross sections and oscillator strengths were measured. Quantum defects were calculated to identify the assignments of absorption features. The measured quantities were also compared with previous results. In fluorescence excitation spectra, ultraviolet and visible emissions were observed, and fluorescence cross sections were measured in the excitation region between 140 and 170 nm. The ultraviolet emission is due to the transition B¡¦2£G¡÷X2£S and the visible emission is associated with B¡¦2£G¡÷B2£S and E2£U+¡÷A2£U+ transitions. In the presence of foreign gas, the collisional quenching effect plays an important role on the fluorescence intensity of C(0) and D(0).We measure the quenching half pressure P1/2 of D(0) respectively. The potential well depth of van der Walls molecule NO-M can be derived from the measured quenching half pressure. In contrast to quenching, the fluorescence intensity of C(1), B(9), B(10) and B(11) are enhanced as the pressure of foreign gas is increased. The enchancement of the fluorescence intensity is attributed to the collisional removal of predissociation.

In the fluorescence excitation spectra, fluorescence cross sections can be measured by the normalization of absorption cross section of A(0) or D(0) states. In the presence of foreign gases, the self-quenching rate constants, the half-quenching pressures and the quenching rate constants of D(0) and D(1) states are measured and the results are compared with the previous works. In the additional of foreign gases, the enhancement of global fluorescence of the strong predissociation states of C(1) and B(9) is due to the collision-induced transition. In the case of N2, the enhancement of fluorescence of £^band is owing to the resonance transfer. Finally, the well depth of the van der Walls molecules which are formed by the excited state of NO with quenching gas can be derived from the measured quenching cross sections.

Laser diagnostics are fast-response, non-intrusive and species-specific tools perfectly applicable for studying combustion processes. Quantitative measurements of species concentration and temperature require spectroscopic data to be well-known at combustion-relevant conditions. Absorption cross-section is an important spectroscopic quantity and has direct relation to the species concentration. In this work, the absorption cross-sections of basic hydrocarbons are measured using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, tunable Difference Frequency Generation laser and fixed wavelength helium-neon laser. The studied species are methane, methanol, acetylene, ethylene, ethane, ethanol, propylene, propane, 1-butene, n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-heptane. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer is used for the measurements of the absorption cross-sections and the integrated band intensities of the 13 hydrocarbons. The spectral region of the spectra is 2800 – 3400 cm-1 (2.9 – 3.6 μm) and the temperature range is 673 – 1100 K. These valuable data provide huge opportunities to select interference-free wavelengths for measuring time-histories of a specific species in a shock tube or other combustion systems. Such measurements can allow developing/improving chemical kinetics mechanisms by experimentally determining reaction rates. The Difference Frequency Generation (DFG) laser is a narrow line-width, tunable laser in the 3.35 – 3.53 μm wavelength region which contains strong absorption features for most hydrocarbons due to the fundamental C-H vibrating stretch. The absorption cross-sections of propylene are measured at seven different wavelengths using the DFG laser. The temperature range is 296 – 460 K which is reached using a Reflex Cell. The DFG laser is very attractive for kinetic studies in the shock tube because of its fast time response and the potential possibility of making species-specific measurements. The Fixed wavelength helium-neon (HeNe) laser at 3.39 μm is used to measure the absorption cross-section of the fuels mentioned above. The dependence on temperature, pressure and bath gas (helium, argon and nitrogen) is also examined. The temperature and pressure ranges of this study are 296 – 800 K and 250 – 1000 Torr, respectively. These are the first measured cross-sections at HeNe laser wavelength that are applicable at combustion-relevant conditions.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to study the optical properties of new -conjugated molecules based on 1,4-di(4'-N, N-diphenylaminostyryl)benzene and their potential application in advanced imaging techniques of biological specimens, the so-called multiphoton microscopy. The thesis focuses mainly on the characterization of their optical properties and the determination of their two-photon absorption cross-section using a unique laser equipment. Furthermore, a suitable methodology for the preparation of nanoparticles from these molecules, their characterization and stability are also developed. The thesis also investigates the influence of structure on the optical properties of these molecules. The relation between the length of the conjugated system and the presence of substituents on the backbone has been shown for the optical properties of the molecules in the solvent, the position and shape of the two-photon absorption spectrum and the value of two-photon absorption cross-section. It has been shown that this substance retains its unique fluorescent properties even in the form of nanoparticles and therefore appears to be a suitable candidate for the observation of biological specimens using multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. The work contributes to the knowledge base for the design of the chemical structure of molecules with desired properties.

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L'anomalie isotopique de l'ozone observée au début des années 1980 a été la première manifestation de fractionnement isotopique indépendant de la masse d'origine chimique. Attribuée au départ, essentiellement au processus de formation de l'ozone, les travaux récents mettent en évidence d'autres contributions telles que la photodissociation. Cette thèse utilise une approche théorique basée sur des calculs ab initio de chimie et dynamique quantique pour déterminer les sections efficaces d'absorption et leurs variations isotopiques. Ces sections efficaces permettent d'étudier la photodissociation de l'ozone par irradiation du soleil (flux actinique) ; ce qui permet une évaluation précise du processus de photodissociation à l'enrichissement isotopique de l'ozone. Ces résultats pourront être intégrés dans un modèle global prenant en compte à la fois les processus de formation et de destruction de l'ozone. / The ozone isotopic anomaly observed in early 1980s has been the first occurance of mass independent fractionation of chemical origin. Assigned first, essentially to the ozone formation process, recent works show additional contributions such as the photolysis process. This thesis uses a theoretical approach based on ab initio quantum chemistry and dynamics computations to obtain the absorption cross sections and their isotopic variations. The absorption cross sections allow to study ozone's photodissociation by solar irradiation (actinic flux) ; which enables an accurate evaluation of the photodissociation process in ozone's isotopic enrichment. Obtained results could be integrated in a global model that takes into account both ozone's formation and destruction processes.

This thesis provides an extensive study of the first molecular hyperpolarizability b of charge-transfer chromophores using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS). The charge-transfer chromophores used in present work involve the tricyanohydrofuran¡]TCF¡^group as an electron acceptor, and/or thiophene in the pi-electron bridge. TCF is a very strong electron acceptor and thiophene greatly lowers the resonance energy. Their presence significantly increases the beta value of the chromophore, therefore enhancing potentials in applications. In hyper-Rayleigh scattering experiments, the laser radiation with tunable wavelengths is used as an excitation source for measuring the frequency dependence of beta. The experiment shows beta exhibiting a significant dispersion in the two-photon resonance region. Using the linear absorption spectrum in coordination with theory, we show that it is possible to use Kramers-Kronig (K-K) transform to reproduce the experimental beta value in the two-photon resonance region. The K-K approach provides an extension to the conventional Oudar-Chemla equation, which is invalid in the spectral region in which two-photon resonance occurs. Using the new approach, it is shown that reliable values of intrinsic hyperpolarizabilities beta_zero of charge-transfer chromophores can be extracted. The coordination of beta_zero with molecular structure provides one with an insight for the origin of the enhancement of the first molecular hyperpolarizability of charge-transfer chromophores. This thesis examines the variation of beta_zero with molecular structure. The same technique is also applied to a dendrimer that has charge-transfer nonlinear optical chromophores incorporated in the dendritic structure. The measured frequency dependent hyperpolarizability of the dendrimer is compared with that calculated from the linear absorption spectrum by the KK transform technique. The intrinsic hyperpolarizability beta_zero of the dendrimer obtained is compared with that of the single chromophore having a structure similar to that incorporated in the dendrimer. The comparison shows that the 3D dendritic structure is effective in reducing the interaction between chromophores by providing sufficient space between them, hence avoiding the possibility of aggregation formation due to attractive interactions between chromophores. The topic of two-photon fluorescence (TPF), which is related to HRS, is also investigated. The intensity of TPF is generally proportional to the square of the incident excitation intensity. Careful measurements of the TPF intensity of a nonlinear optical chromophore in conjunction with required auxiliary parameters have been used as a technique for determining the two-photon absorption cross-section. The TPF intensity measurement carried out in this thesis uses a variety of intensities. At low intensity excitation, the TPF intensity follows the usual quadratic intensity law (QIL), whereas deviations from the QIL are observed at higher incident intensities. The observation of similar lineshape associated with one- and two-photon fluorescence spectra suggests a 3-level model for the description of TPF excited by the incident intensity at various strengths. It is shown that by fitting the observed TPF intensity to an equation developed from the three-level model, it is possible to deduce the two-photon absorption cross section of the nonlinear optical chromophore in solution. The new technique developed using the three-level model is tested on a Rhodamine B/Chloroform solution. The two-photon absorption cross-section obtained by using the new technique is found in agreement with that reported in the literature. Having demonstrated the suitability of the new technique, it is used to determine the two-photon absorption cross-section of a novel nonlinear optical chromophore. The two-photon absorption cross-section using the new technique is then compared with that obtained by the nonlinear transmittance method. The two results are in good agreement, indicating the applicability of the new technique. The new technique is more convenient than the conventional low excitation TPF method as it does not require various auxiliary parameters, some of them are difficult to obtain. The second harmonic generation (SHG) of a chromophore/polymer film which is optically poled by using a coherent superposition of a fundamental and its second harmonic beams. The growth rate of the SHG intensity is found to be proportional to the fourth power of the incident intensity of the fundamental beam, and the plateau intensity SHG is proportional to the square of the incident intensity. These observations are not in agreement with the published theory. While the reason for disagreement is yet to be clarified, the information obtained is useful for the development of nonlinear optical devices.