This thesis focuses on the investigation and development of an integrated optical biosensor based on enhanced Raman techniques that will provide label-free detection of biomolecules. This is achieved by using hollow core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCF), nanoparticles, or both. HC-PCF is a unique type of optical fiber, with continuous ‘channels’ of air (typically) running the entire length. The channels serve to confine electromagnetic waves in the core of the fiber, and tailor its transmission properties. Using HC-PCF as a biosensor requires development of a robust technique to fill hollow-core photonic crystal fibers. Though several groups have reported selective filling of HC-PCF’s core, the processes are cumbersome and limit the choice of liquid to avoid multimode behavior. In my Master’s thesis, I presented a simple technique to non-selectively fill all the HC-PCF channels with samples. The non-selective filling preserves the photonic bandgap property of the fiber, and yields an extremely strong interaction of light and the sample that produces considerable enhancement of the Raman signal from the analyte. Up to now, non-selective filling was accomplished through capillary action and it delivered a Raman signal enhancement of approximately 30-fold, which is not sensitive enough to detect biomolecules at the clinical level. Moreover, there were issues of reliability and reproducibility, due to evaporation, filling and coupling light into the fiber. The objective of this PhD research was to overcome these problems by developing a robust optical fiber platform based on Raman spectroscopy that can be used in a clinical setting. I initially focused on heparin, an important blood anti-coagulant that requires precise monitoring and control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or dialysis. Since the Raman spectra of heparin-serum mixtures exhibits Raman peaks of heparin with poor signal-to-noise ratios, I concentrated on enhancing the heparin Raman signal and filtering out the spectral background of the serum to improve detection sensitivity. Reaching maximum enhancement of the Raman signal required a strong interaction of light and analyte, which can be achieved by using hollow core photonic crystal fiber as I had used in my Master’s research. Using a small piece of HC-PCF I was able to reach an enhancement in the heparin Raman signal of greater than 90-fold. With this degree of enhancement, I was able to successfully detect and monitor heparin in serum at clinical levels, something that had never been accomplished previously. After developing HC-PCF as a Raman signal enhancer, I focused on making the HC-PCF sensor robust, reliable and reusable. This was achieved by integrating the HC-PCF with a differential pressure system that allowed effective filling, draining and refilling of the samples in an HC-PCF, under identical optical conditions. To demonstrate the device’s detection capabilities, various concentrations of aqueous ethanol and isopropanol, followed by different concentrations of heparin and adenosine in serum, were successfully monitored. To further improve the sensitivity of the HC-PCF based Raman sensor, I incorporated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), by introducing nanoparticles into the HC-PCF fibers. The research focused on determining the optimal volume and size of silver nanoparticles to achieve maximum enhancement of the Raman signal in the HC-PCF. The HC-PCF enhanced the Raman signal of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) approximately 90-fold. In addition, the optimal size and volume of AgNP enhanced the Raman signal of R6G approximately 40-fold, leading to a total enhancement of approximately 4,000 in HC-PCF. This was then used to demonstrate the application of a SERS based HC-PCF sensing platform in monitoring adenosine (a clinically important molecule), as well as malignant cells such as leukemia. Finally, I used hollow core crystal fibers to significantly enhance the efficiency of two-photon photochemistry. Although two-photon photochemical reactions are difficult to achieve with a small volume, I accomplished it by using a novel platform of HC-PCF to efficiently execute the two-photon induced photodecarbonylation reaction of cyclopropenone 1, and its conversion to the corresponding acetylene. The simple optical design configuration involved coupling an 800-nm tsunami laser to a short piece of HC-PCF filled with the sample. This allowed me to increase the efficiency of two-photon induced photochemistry by 80-fold, compared to a conventional spectrophotometer cuvette. Thus, this work leads to the use of HC-PCFs to more effectively study two-photon induced photochemistry processes, which was limited due to the difficulty of detecting photochemical events with a small excitation volume.

Two related bodies of work are presented, both of which aim to further the rapid development of next generation concentrating photovoltaic systems using high efficiency multi junction solar cells. They are complementary since the characterization of commercial devices and the systematic application of design principles for future designs must progress in parallel in order to accelerate iterative improvements. First addressed, is the field characterization of state of the art concentrating photovoltaic systems. Performance modeling and root cause analysis of deviations from the modeling results are critical for bringing reliable high value products to the market. Two complementary tools are presented that facilitate acceleration of the development cycle. The “Dynamic real-time I V Curve Measurement System…” provides a live picture of the current-voltage characteristics of a CPV module. This provides the user with an intuitive understanding of how module performance responds under perturbation. The “Shutter technique for noninvasive individual cell characterization in sealed concentrating photovoltaic modules,” allows the user to probe individual cell characteristics within a sealed module. This facilitates non-invasive characterization of modules that are in situ. Together, these tools were used to diagnose the wide spread failure of epoxy connections between the carrier and the emitter of bypass diodes installed in sealed commercial modules. Next, the optimization principals that are used to choose energy yield maximizing bandgap combinations for multi-junction solar cells are investigated. It is well understood that, due to differences in the solar resource in different geographical locations, this is fundamentally a local optimization problem. However, until now, a robust methodology for determining the influences of geography and atmospheric content on the ideal design point has not been developed. This analysis is presented and the influence of changing environment on the representative spectra that are used to optimize bandgap combinations is demonstrated. Calculations are confirmed with ground measurements in Ottawa, Canada and the global trends are refined for this particular location. Further, as cell designers begin to take advantage of more flexible manufacturing processes, it is critical to know if and how optimization criteria must change for solar cells with more junctions. This analysis is expanded to account for the differences between cells with up to 8 subcell bandgaps. A number of software tools were also developed for the Sunlab during this work. A multi-junction solar cell model calibration tool was developed to determine the parameters that describe each subcell. The tool fits a two diode model to temperature dependent measurements of each subcell and provides the fitting parameters so that the performance of multi-junction solar cells composed of those subcells can be modeled for real world conditions before they are put on-sun. A multi-junction bandgap optimization tool was developed to more quickly and robustly determine the ideal bandgap combinations for a set of input spectra. The optimization process outputs the current results during iteration so that they may be visualized. Finally, software tools that compute annual energy yield for input multi-junction cell parameters were developed. Both a brute force tool that computes energy harvested at each time step, and an accelerated tool that first bins time steps into discrete bins were developed. These tools will continue to be used by members of the Sunlab.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt den Verlauf der Forschung von der Entwicklung einer neuartigen Methode der gepulsten Laser-Plasmaabscheidung (PLD) über die Untersuchung der ternären In- und Al-Legierungssysteme von metastabilem orthorhombischen κ-Ga2O3 auf der Basis dieser Methode hin zu Multi-Quantengraben (QW) Supergitter (SL) Heterostrukturen für transparente Quantengrabeninfrarotphotodetektoren (QWIPs). Im ersten Teil wird die Methode, welche vertical continuous composition spread (VCCS) PLD genannt wird, eingeführt und am MgxZn1−xO Legierungssystem erprobt. Die Methode erlaubt die Kontrolle der Komposition von Dünnfilmen über die radiale Position des PLD Laserspots auf der Targetoberfläche. Das ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung für die Bestimmung der kompositionsabhängigen Eigenschaften der Legierungssysteme und für präzise Profile der physikalischen Eigenschaften in Wachstumsrichtung für das Design von Bauelementen. Die Dünnfilme mit 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 zeigen die gleichen Eigenschaften wie solche, die mit Standard-PLD abgeschieden wurden. Numerische Modelle werden präsentiert, welche die Dünnfilmkomposition exakt vorhersagen. Im zweiten Teil werden κ-Ga2O3 Dünnfilme durch die Beigabe von Zinn während des PLD Prozesses stabilisiert. Die Dünnfilme weisen hohe kristalline Qualität, glatte Oberflächen und große Bandlücken (Eg ≈ 4.9 eV) auf. Ein Wachstumsmodell wird präsentiert, welches Zinn als Oberflächenschicht beschreibt. Im dritten Teil werden die In- und Al-Legierungssysteme von κ-Ga2O3 mittels VCCS PLD untersucht. Die Löslichkeitsgrenzen xIn <~ 0.35 und xAl <~ 0.65 sind die höchsten bislang berichteten. In- und out-of-plane Gitterkonstanten wurden in Abhängigkeit der Zusammensetzung bestimmt und Eg konnte von 4.1 eV bis 6.4 eV variiert werden. Die Position des Valenzbandmaximums wird als unabhängig von der Komposition gezeigt, womit die Variation in Eg den Leitungsbandunterschieden gleicht und Detektionsbereiche vom fernen IR bis in das Sichtbare für QWIP-Anwendungen bedeutet. Berechnungen anhand dieser Ergebnisse ergeben Polarisationsladungsdichten an Grenzflächen von Heterostrukturen gleich oder höher derer im etablierten AlGaN/GaN System, welche wichtig zur Polarisationsdotierung zur Besetzung des Grundzustandes in QWIPs sind. Dies bestätigt das große Potential der κ-Phase. Im letzten Teil werden erste kohärent gewachsene κ-(AlxGa1−x)2O3/Ga2O3 SL Strukturen untersucht. Glatte Grenzflächen im Bereich weniger Monolagen werden gezeigt und es konnten kritische Dicken für die κ-Ga2O3 QW Schichten bestimmt werden, die für QWIP-Anwendungen genügen. / The presented thesis describes the research path from the development of a novel pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique over the exploration of the ternary In- and Al-alloy systems of metastable orthorhombic κ-Ga2O3 employing this technique towards multi-quantum well (QW) superlattice (SL) heterostructures for solar-blind quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) applications. In the first part, the PLD technique called vertical continuous composition spread (VCCS) PLD employing radially-segmented targets is established and tested on the well-known MgxZn1−xO alloy system. The technique enables direct control of the chemical composition of thin films by a variation of the radial position of the PLD laser spot on the target surface. This is a prerequisite for a discrete compositional screening of alloy properties and the exact tailoring of physical parameters in growth direction for heterostructure device design. The resulting thin films with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 exhibit the same quality as thin films deposited by standard PLD and numerical models are presented that precisely predict the thin film composition. In the second part, κ-Ga2O3 thin films are stabilized by the addition of tin in the PLD process. The thin films show a high crystalline quality, smooth surfaces and large bandgaps (Eg ≈ 4.9 eV). A growth model is proposed based on tin acting as surfactant. In the third part, the In- and Al-alloy systems of κ-Ga2O3 are explored by VCCS PLD. Solubility limits of xIn <~ 0.35 and xAl <~ 0.65 are the highest reported to date. In- and out-of-plane lattice constants were determined as function of alloy composition and bandgap engineering from 4.1 eV to 6.4 eV is feasible within these limits. The energetic position of the valence band maximum was found independent on chemical composition such that the change in bandgap equals the conduction band offset rendering wavelength ranges from far IR to the visible spectral range in QWIP applications possible. Calculations based on these results found polarization charge densities at the interfaces of corresponding heterostructures on par or larger than for the established AlGaN/GaN system important for polarization doping to populate the ground state in QWIPs. This corroborates the high potential of the κ-phase. In the last part, first coherently grown κ-(AlxGa1−x)2O3/Ga2O3 SL heterostructures are presented. Smooth interfaces of the order of a few monolayers are confirmed and critical thicknesses for coherent growth of the Ga2O3 QW layer are found to be sufficient for QWIP applications.

Dans ce manuscrit, nous rapportons les développements, théoriques et expérimentaux, en cours à TRT ainsi qu’à TAV et au LAC, visant la réalisation d’un gyromètre résonant passif en fibre optique à cœur creux atteignant des performances permettant la navigation inertielle. Nous y décrivons mathématiquement l’effet Sagnac, effet relativiste à la base des mesures optiques dans les gyromètres. Ensuite, nous exposons en détail les méthodes utilisées à ce jour pour mesurer des rotations avec des gyromètres passifs par les différentes équipes de recherches. Nous explicitons les limitations de ces méthodes, et en quoi la fibre optique à cœur creux semble être la solution la plus prometteuse pour pallier les défauts des gyromètres passifs résonants actuels. Une partie de cette thèse est alors consacrée à l’étude des propriétés physiques des fibres à cœur creux (Kagomé et bande interdite photonique), telles que leur atténuation, leur capacité à maintenir la polarisation, et leur rétrodiffusion. Nous présentons la première mesure de zone aveugle (plage de faibles vitesses de rotations non mesurables par un gyromètre) dans un gyromètre résonant passif en fibre à cœur creux. Un modèle mathématique est posé pour expliquer le lien entre cette zone aveugle et la rétrodiffusion au sein de la cavité résonante. Nous décrivons ensuite un protocole expérimental permettant de s’affranchir de cette limitation dans notre gyromètre. Nous détaillons enfin la mise en œuvre de ce protocole et caractérisons les performances ainsi atteintes par notre gyromètre / In this manuscript, we report the theoretical and experimental developments at TRT, TAV and LAC, aiming the realization of a hollow-core passive resonant fiber optical gyroscope that can achieve navigation grade performances. We mathematically describe the Sagnac effect, which is a relativistic effect used to optically probe mechanical rotations. Then, we detail the state of the art in passive resonant fiber optical gyroscope development. We identify their limitations, and explain why the hollow core fiber seems to be the best solution to cope with the actual limitations of such gyroscopes. We then focus on two different types of hollow core fibers: Kagome and photonic bandgap. We evaluate their performances in terms of transmission, polarization holding and backscattering. We describe the first measurement of a lock in region in a hollow core fiber passive optical gyroscope, i.e the range of rotation rates that cannot be measured because of backscattering. A mathematical model is propounded to link the lock in to the backscattering of the cavity. We then discuss the experimental protocol that we implemented to circumvent this limitation. Finally, we characterize the performances of our gyroscope based on these features

No description available.

No description available.

This diploma thesis deals with the modeling of planar antennas with special superstrates in the CST Microwave Studio. Attention is given to the electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) substrates. Firstly, the working principle of these special substrates and generally physical phenomena accompanying electromagnetic waves propagation in a periodic medium are analyzed. By modeling of basic EBG structures in CST their dispersion diagrams were obtained and afterwards compared to one another. The object of the second part of this thesis was modeling of a chosen antenna in CST. An Antenna placed first on the conventional and then on the EBG substrate - in both cases with special superstrates - is analyzed and compared to each other. In the third part of this thesis, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique was implemented in CST (VBA language), and was applied to the original design of the chosen antenna. In the final part of this thesis, the optimized antenna was modeled and analyzed in ANSOFT HFSS, and the results from both simulation programs are compared to each other.

<p>Recent developments in semiconductor device technology have seen the advent of wide-bandgap (WBG) based devices that enable operation at high switching frequencies. These devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), are becoming a favored choice in inverters for electric drive systems because of their lower switching losses and higher allowable operating temperature. However, the fast switching of such devices implies increased voltage edge rates (high <i>dv/dt</i>) that give rise to various undesirable effects including large common-mode currents, electromagnetic interference, transient overvoltages, insulation failure due to the overvoltages, and bearing failures due to</p> <p>microarcs. With increased use of these devices in transportation and industrial applications, it is imperative that accurate models and efficient simulation tools, which can predict these high-frequency effects and accompanying system losses, be established. This research initially focuses on establishing an accurate wideband model of a surface-mount permanent-magnet</p> <p>ac machine supplied by a WBG-based inverter. A new multirate simulation framework for predicting the transient behavior and estimating the power losses is then set forth. In this approach,</p> <p>the wideband model is separated into high- and low-frequency models implemented using two different computer programs that are best suited for the respective time scales. Repetitive execution of the high-frequency model yields look-up tables for the switching losses in the semiconductors, electric machine, and interconnecting cable. These look-up tables are then incorporated into the low-frequency model that establishes the conduction</p> <p>losses. This method is applied to a WBG-based electric drive comprised of a SiC inverter and permanent-magnet ac machine. Comparisons of measured and simulated transients are provided.</p>

No description available.

No description available.