This thesis is devoted to the investigation of ion generation and fluxes from cathodic arc spots for a better understanding of energetic deposition of thin film. The ion generation is related to the arc spot properties, and ion fluxes influence the film deposition. Significantly, the cathodic arc has the explosion characteristic for the ignition process, which is the generation process of ions. Thus, it is not easy to observe the spot characteristics, and some fundamental questions related to cathodic arc spot motion are still open. The multiply charged ions produced from the arc spot ignition process have a higher ion potential energy than ions of other deposition techniques; therefore, consideration of the effect of ion potential energy on film growth is required for the cathodic arc technique. The first part of this thesis deals with fundamental arc spot characteristics, especially the trend of spot motion in a magnetically steered arc source placed in vacuum or in a reactive gas atmosphere. This is investigated with a streak camera having high spatial and temporal resolutions. To answer the fundamental question of whether the spots have characteristic times, such as a 'periodic spot lifetime' or a 'the periodic characteristic time between spot ignitions”, the streak images were analyzed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT). It was found that the power spectrum of the arc spot fluctuations does not show any specific frequencies, which means the arc spot ignition process can be described by a fractal model, and the spectral slope in the log-log power-frequency diagram has a tendency to be reduced in the presence of a compound (for example oxide or nitride) layer on the cathode surface. Through the fractal analysis and measurements of optical emission spectroscopy, the fundamental limitation of the temporal resolution for the optical emission method is determined and considered. The second part of this thesis considers cathodic arc’s application aspects: the energetic deposition of thin films and coatings. Most studies related to energetic deposition have previously investigated the effects of ion kinetic energy on film deposition; however, this thesis focuses on the effects of ion potential energy on film growth. To investigate the effect of ion potential energy on film growth, plasma diagnostic by energy-resolved mass spectrometry and deposited film characterization by XRD, XRR, AFM, profilometry and SEM were carried out. The ion potential energy influences the preferential direction of film growth or a polycrystalline growth in the case of aluminum deposition. This result could be a starting point for further research into the effect of ion potential energy on film deposition.

The overall focus of this research project was to develop an in vitro tissue-engineered system that accurately reproduced the physiology of the sensory elements of the stretch reflex arc as well as engineer the myelination of neurons in the systems. In order to achieve this goal we hypothesized that myelinating culture systems, intrafusal muscle fibers and the sensory circuit of the stretch reflex arc could be bioengineered using serum-free medium formulations, growth substrate interface design and microfabrication technology. The monosynaptic stretch reflex arc is formed by a direct synapse between motoneurons and sensory neurons and is one of the fundamental circuits involved in motor control. The circuit serves as a proprioceptive feedback system, relaying information about muscle length and stretch to the central nervous system (CNS). It is composed of four elements, which are split into two circuits. The efferent or motor circuit is composed of an [alpha]-motoneuron and the extrafusal skeletal muscle fibers it innervates, while the afferent or sensory circuit is composed of a Ia sensory neuron and a muscle spindle. Structurally, the two muscular units are aligned in parallel, which plays a critical role modulating the system's performance. Functionally, the circuit acts to maintain appropriate muscle length during activities as diverse as eye movement, respiration, locomotion, fine motor control and posture maintenance. Myelination of the axons of the neuronal system is a vertebrate adaptation that enables rapid conduction of action potentials without a commensurate increase in axon diameter. In vitro neuronal systems that reproduce these effects would provide a unique modality to study factors influencing sensory neuronal deficits, neuropathic pain, myelination and diseases associated with myelination. In this dissertation, results for defined in vitro culture conditions resulting in myelination of motoneurons by Schwann cells, pattern controlled myelination of sensory neurons, intrafusal fiber formation, patterned assembly of the mechanosensory complex and integration of the complex on bio-MEMS cantilever devices. Using these systems the stretch sensitive sodium channel BNaC1 and the structural protein PICK1 localized at the sensory neuron terminals associated with the intrafusal fibers was identified as well as the Ca2+ waves associated with sensory neuron electrical activity upon intrafusal fiber stretch on MEMS cantilevers. The knowledge gained through these multi-disciplinary approaches could lead to insights for spasticity inducing diseases like Parkinson's, demyelinating diseases and spinal cord injury repair. These engineered systems also have application in high-throughput drug discovery. Furthermore, the use of biomechanical systems could lead to improved fine motor control for tissue-engineered prosthetic devices.

This thesis will focus on the performance of angles only initial orbit determi- nation (IOD) methods on observational data of low Earth orbit (LEO) CubeSats. Using data obtained by Lockheed Martin’s Space Object Tracking (SpOT) facil- ity, four methods: Gauss, Double-R, Gooding and Assumed Circular, will use different amounts of orbital arc to determine which methods perform the best in the short arc regime of less than 10 degrees of orbital arc. Once the best method for estimating the orbit is determined, there will be analysis on whether these IOD methods are accurate enough to predict a secondary observation session. Finally non-linear regression will be performed to determine if the error metrics follow a predictable trend based on how much orbital arc is seen by the observer. It was determined that above a certain amount of orbital arc, angles only IOD methods can reliably predict a secondary observation session to facilitate more observations. Below 4 degrees of orbital arc, which is around 60 seconds of ob- serving time for LEO objects, none of the methods were able to reliably predict a secondary observation session. The Assumed Circular method was the best method for observing LEO CubeSats because it forces the IOD solution to be circular, which limits the error in the shape of the orbit as the amount of orbital arc decreases. Finally, many metrics follow an exponential trend when compared to the orbital arc. Thus, the amount of orbital arc seen is a strong predictor for the accuracy of the angles only IOD solutions.

The main scope of this project was to determine if a plasma torch could operate on pure hydrocarbon feedstocks and, if so, to catalogue the torch operational characteristics. The future goal of the project is to design a plasma torch for supersonic combustion applications that operates off of the vehicle main fuel supply to simplify onboard fuel systems. Experiments were conducted with argon, methane, ethylene and propylene. Spectrographic tests and tests designed to catalogue current/voltage characteristics, plasma jet phenomena, arc stability dependencies, electrode erosion rate and torch body temperature were performed. Spectrographic analysis of the plasma jet exhaust confirmed the presence of combustion-enhancing radicals for each hydrocarbon gas tested. Also, it was discovered that simple hydrocarbon gases, such as methane, produced smooth torch operation, while even slightly more complex gases, ethylene and propylene, caused unsteady performance. Plasma jet oscillation was found to be related to the voltage waveform of the power supplies, indicating that plasma jet length and oscillation rate could be controlled by changing the input voltage. The plasma torch for this study was proven to have the capability of operating with pure hydrocarbon feedstocks and producing radicals that are known to reduce combustion reaction rate times. The torch was demonstrated to have potential for use in supersonic combustion applications. / Master of Science

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Hard coatings deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD) are commonly used to improve the scratch resistance and hardness of objects made of softer materials such as steel, and they can also be used as decorative coatings since they exhibit a wide range of different colours. In this research, stainless steel tableware utensils were coated with multilayer Ti/TiCN thin films to give the tableware a wear-resistant decorative finish. A cathodic arc PVD system was used to deposit the coatings since it has the potential to produce very dense coatings with excellent adhesion and wear-resistance properties in relatively short deposition times. Several system parameters were varied between deposition cycles to create a large set of samples which included: changing the amount of flatware present inside of the chamber during deposition, changing the size of the flatware used, changing the mounting location of the flatware inside of the chamber, and changing the depletion level of the titanium cathode targets used to deposit titanium. It was found that changing these variables had an effect on the deposition rate of the coating and thus had an effect on the thickness of the titanium interlayer, which was found to be an important factor in achieving good adhesion of the TiCN layer. The optimal titanium interlayer thickness was found to be in the range of approximately 120 to 230 nm. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Vacuum arc thrusters offer a relatively simple and cheap form of satellite propulsion, especially suitable for nanosatellites such as CubeSats or even smaller. This thesis focuses on vacuum arc thruster design considering the thruster’s manufacturing, assembly and integration into the spacecraft, and proposes a new anode geometry easing thruster production. Vacuum arc thruster research is traditionally experimental in nature due to a lack of accurate models. This work follows this approach, and studies experimentally the effect of several geometric design parameters on thruster performance. The outcome confrms findings from several papers, and suggests specifc improvements towards existing models for predicting the effect of the thruster’s geometry on its thrust. The chosen experimental approach raised the need for a micro-thrust measurement stand. Two distinct measurement stands have been designed, realized and used to test various thruster prototypes. One test stand is more accurate. However, the other setup allows for considerably faster testing.