Background: Investing internationally is easier than ever before, with the rise of the internet, unification of accounting standards, and faster flow of information. Yet, many argue that due to increasing global equity market correlations, it is getting increasingly hard to attain benefits from international diversification. Therefore, it is important to know if there are any benefits attainable from international diversification for Swedish investors. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate if there are any benefits achievable from international diversification for Swedish investors, if those benefits have changed from before and after the financial crisis in 2007/2008, as well as where Swedish investors might attain the greatest benefits from diversification; namely in developed- or emerging markets. Method: Correlations are measured over the time periods before and after the financial crisis, using both a 61-month correlation window (the entire periods) as well as a 12-month rolling correlation window.  To test diversification benefits, different portfolios are created using the Markowitz Portfolio Optimizer, such as a Maximum Sharpe portfolio and an Equal Weighted portfolio. Conclusion: Correlations have increased from before and after the financial crisis, both for developed- and emerging markets. Diversification benefits exist for Swedish investors, but they have decreased from before and after the financial crisis, and they appear slightly greater in emerging markets than in developed markets.

Thesis advisor: Michael J. Graf / In this work I present a characterization of spin dynamics in LiY1-xHoxF4 over a wide region of frequency - temperature - magnetic field - concentration phase space to probe the onset of magnetic correlations. Specifically, measurements were made of the T = 1.8 K magnetic field and frequency dependence of AC susceptibility, and temperature and field dependence of the longitudinal field positive muon spin relaxation (μSR) for LiY1-xHoxF4 with x = 0.0017, 0.0085, 0.0408, and 0.0855. To determine the concentration range over which the spin dynamics are determined primarily by the Ho3+-μ interaction rather than by the F-μ interaction I characterize the dynamics associated with the formation of the (F-μ-F)−complex by comparing data with Monte Carlo simulations. Numerical simulations of the susceptibility for the x = 0.0017 and 0.0085 are fit to my data and show that Ho-Ho cross-relaxation processes become important at higher concentration, signaling the crossover from single-ion to correlated behavior. The muon spin depolarization is simulated using the parameters extracted from the susceptibility, and the simulations agree well with data for these two samples. It is found that the susceptibility and μSR data for samples with x = 0.0408 and 0.0855 cannot be described within a single-ion picture, possibly due to the onset of collective phenomena. An unusual peak is also discovered in the magnetic field dependence of the muon relaxation rate in the temperature interval 10 – 20 K, and ascribed to a modification of the Ho3+ fluctuation rate due to a field induced shift of the energy splitting between the ground and first excited doublet crystal field states relative to a peak in the phonon density of states centered near 63 cm-1. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Physics.

A plasmônica tem chamado atenção nos últimos anos como um candidato viável para substituir a indústria eletrônica, assim como interação dos plásmons com a matéria devido a suas propriedades exóticas. O confinamento destes plásmons de superfície em nanoestruturas metálicas fabricadas com técnicas de litografia óptica, eletrônica e de íons cada vez mais avançadas, abriu a possibilidade de desenvolver vários modelos de dispositivos ópticos que trabalham na região do visível. Além disso, o estudo da interação de plásmons poláritons de superfície com emissores quânticos nas proximidades de nanoestruturas metálicas permite manipular as propriedades tanto dos plásmons como dos emissores quânticos. Tanto a preparação como a análise de amostras em plasmônica necessitam de técnicas capazes de investigar sistemas em nanoescala. Neste trabalho, investigamos a interação de plásmon poláritons confinados numa superfície de ouro com átomos artificiais, i.e. os emissores quânticos são pontos quânticos numa matriz de InAs/GaAs. Para isso, empregamos a análise da interação dos plásmons confinados numa grade metálica, com dimensões características abaixo do comprimento de onda da luz utilizada, assim como um sistema simples composto por uma na camada de ouro capaz de confinar plásmons em duas dimensões. A análise da interação com os estados de energia dos éxcitons nos pontos quânticos foi feita empregando medidas de micro-fotoluminescência a 77K e medidas de tempo de vida. Nos sistemas compostos pelas grades metálicas, observamos que é possível manipular a relação do espectro de luminescência correspondente a cada estado de energia do éxciton. Já no sistema composto pelo filme metálico simples, foi possível modificar o tempo de vida do estado fundamental do éxciton apenas modificando o cap layer da camada de pontos quânticos. / Plasmonics has drawn attention in recent years as a viable candidate to replace the electronics industry, as well as the interaction of plasmons with matter due to its exotic properties. The confinement of these surface plasmons in metal nanostructures made of increasingly advanced optical, electronic and ionic lithography techniques, opened the possibility of developing various models of optical devices working in the visible spectrum. Moreover, the study of interaction of surface plasmon polaritons with quantum emitters nearby metallic nanostructures opens a path to manipulate the properties of both plasmons and the quantum emitters. Both the preparation and analysis of samples in plasmonics require techniques capable of investigating nanoscale systems. In this thesis, we investigate the interaction of plasmon polaritons confined to a golden metallic surface with artificial atoms, i.e. quantum emitters consisting of quantum dots in a matrix of InAs/GaAs. For this, we used the analysis of the interaction of plasmons confined in a metallic grating with characteristic dimensions below the wavelength of light used, as well as a simple system composed of a thin gold layer which can confine plasmons in two dimensions. The analysis of the interaction with the exciton energy states in quantum dots was made using micro-photoluminescence measurements at 77 K and lifetime measurements. In systems composed by metal gratings, we note that it is possible to manipulate the relationship of the corresponding luminescence spectrum for each exciton energy state. In the system composed of the simple metal lm, it was possible to modify the ground state lifetime of the exciton only modifying the cap layer of the quantum dot layer.

In this paper we investigate a manufacturer's sustainable sourcing strategy that includes recycled materials. To produce a short life-cycle electronic good, strategic raw materials can be bought from virgin material suppliers in advance of the season and via emergency shipments, as well as from a recycler. Hence, we take into account virgin and recycled materials from different sources simultaneously. Recycling makes it possible to integrate raw materials out of steadily increasing waste streams back into production processes. Considering stochastic prices for recycled materials, stochastic supply quantities from the recycler and stochastic demand as well as their potential dependencies, we develop a single-period inventory model to derive the order quantities for virgin and recycled raw materials to determine the related costs and to evaluate the effectiveness of the sourcing strategy. We provide managerial insights into the benefits of such a green sourcing approach with recycling and compare this strategy to standard sourcing without recycling. We conduct a full factorial design and a detailed numerical sensitivity analysis on the key input parameters to evaluate the cost savings potential. Furthermore, we consider the effects of correlations between the stochastic parameters. Green sourcing is especially beneficial in terms of cost savings for high demand variability, high prices of virgin raw material and low expected recycling prices as well as for increasing standard deviation of the recycling price. Besides these advantages it also contributes to environmental sustainability as, compared to sourcing without recycling, it reduces the total quantity ordered and, hence, emissions are reduced.

Covariate adjustment is common in the analysis of randomised trials, and can increase statistical power without increasing sample size. Published research on covariate adjustment, and guidance for choosing covariates, focusses on trials where individuals are randomised to treatments. In cluster randomised trials (CRTs) clusters of individuals are randomised. Valid analyses of CRTs account for the structure imposed by cluster randomisation. There is limited published research on the e ects of covariate adjustment, or guidance for choosing covariates, in analyses of CRTs. I summarise existing guidance for choosing covariates in individually randomised trials and CRTs, and review the methods used to investigate the e ects of covariate adjustment. I review the use of adjusted analyses in published CRTs. I use simulation, analytic methods, and analyses of trial data to investigate the e ects of covariate adjustment in mixed models. I use these results to form guidance for choosing covariates in analyses of CRTs. Guidance to choose covariates a priori and adjust for covariates used to stratify randomisation is also applicable to CRTs. I provide guidance speci c to CRTs using linear and logistic mixed models. Cluster size, the intra-cluster correlations (ICCs) of the outcome and covariate, and the strength of the relationship between the outcome and covariate in uence the power of adjusted analyses and the precision of treatment e ect estimates. An a priori estimate of the product of cluster size and the ICC of the outcome can be used to assist choosing covariates. When this product is close to one, adjusting for a cluster level covariate or a covariate with a negligible ICC provide similar increases in power. For smaller values of this product, adjusting for a cluster level covariate gives minimal increases in power. The use of separate withincluster and contextual covariate e ect parameters may increase power further in some circumstances.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

A plasmônica tem chamado atenção nos últimos anos como um candidato viável para substituir a indústria eletrônica, assim como interação dos plásmons com a matéria devido a suas propriedades exóticas. O confinamento destes plásmons de superfície em nanoestruturas metálicas fabricadas com técnicas de litografia óptica, eletrônica e de íons cada vez mais avançadas, abriu a possibilidade de desenvolver vários modelos de dispositivos ópticos que trabalham na região do visível. Além disso, o estudo da interação de plásmons poláritons de superfície com emissores quânticos nas proximidades de nanoestruturas metálicas permite manipular as propriedades tanto dos plásmons como dos emissores quânticos. Tanto a preparação como a análise de amostras em plasmônica necessitam de técnicas capazes de investigar sistemas em nanoescala. Neste trabalho, investigamos a interação de plásmon poláritons confinados numa superfície de ouro com átomos artificiais, i.e. os emissores quânticos são pontos quânticos numa matriz de InAs/GaAs. Para isso, empregamos a análise da interação dos plásmons confinados numa grade metálica, com dimensões características abaixo do comprimento de onda da luz utilizada, assim como um sistema simples composto por uma na camada de ouro capaz de confinar plásmons em duas dimensões. A análise da interação com os estados de energia dos éxcitons nos pontos quânticos foi feita empregando medidas de micro-fotoluminescência a 77K e medidas de tempo de vida. Nos sistemas compostos pelas grades metálicas, observamos que é possível manipular a relação do espectro de luminescência correspondente a cada estado de energia do éxciton. Já no sistema composto pelo filme metálico simples, foi possível modificar o tempo de vida do estado fundamental do éxciton apenas modificando o cap layer da camada de pontos quânticos. / Plasmonics has drawn attention in recent years as a viable candidate to replace the electronics industry, as well as the interaction of plasmons with matter due to its exotic properties. The confinement of these surface plasmons in metal nanostructures made of increasingly advanced optical, electronic and ionic lithography techniques, opened the possibility of developing various models of optical devices working in the visible spectrum. Moreover, the study of interaction of surface plasmon polaritons with quantum emitters nearby metallic nanostructures opens a path to manipulate the properties of both plasmons and the quantum emitters. Both the preparation and analysis of samples in plasmonics require techniques capable of investigating nanoscale systems. In this thesis, we investigate the interaction of plasmon polaritons confined to a golden metallic surface with artificial atoms, i.e. quantum emitters consisting of quantum dots in a matrix of InAs/GaAs. For this, we used the analysis of the interaction of plasmons confined in a metallic grating with characteristic dimensions below the wavelength of light used, as well as a simple system composed of a thin gold layer which can confine plasmons in two dimensions. The analysis of the interaction with the exciton energy states in quantum dots was made using micro-photoluminescence measurements at 77 K and lifetime measurements. In systems composed by metal gratings, we note that it is possible to manipulate the relationship of the corresponding luminescence spectrum for each exciton energy state. In the system composed of the simple metal lm, it was possible to modify the ground state lifetime of the exciton only modifying the cap layer of the quantum dot layer.

A central concern within the field of molecular magnetism has been the elucidation of magneto-structural correlations. This thesis describes a variety of systems and endeavours to study the relationship between structure and magnetic properties in these systems. The first body of work (chapters 2 and 3) studies CrIII dimers, with the metal centres displaying a dialkoxo bridging moiety and latterly an additional carboxylate bridge to direct the synthesis of ferromagnetic analogues. The second section of work (chapters 4‐6) moves forward to the study of larger, heterometallic 3d‐3d compounds, through the synthesis of a large family of Anderson type MIII 2MII 5 wheels and a subsequent family of (VIVO)2MII 5 wheels. Chapter 2 describes a series of di‐alkoxo bridged Cr(III) dimers, synthesised using the pyridine alcohol ligands 2‐pyridinemethanol (hmpH) and 2‐pyridineethanol (hepH) as well as 2‐picolinic acid (picH). The structures fall into four general categories and are of formula: [Cr2(OMe)2(pic)4], [Cr2(hmp)2(pic)2X2] (where X = Cl, Br), [Cr2(L)2Cl4(A)2] (where L = hmp, A = H2O; L = hmp, A = pyridine; L = hmp, A = 4‐picoline; L = hep, A = H2O), and [Cr(hmp)(hmpH)Cl2. Magnetic studies show relatively weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the Cr(III) centres and DFT calculations are used to develop magneto‐structural correlations, showing that the magnitude and sign of the J value is strongly dependent upon the orientation of the dihedral angle formed between the bridging Cr2O2 plane and the O-R vector of the bridging group, and the Cr-O-Cr-O dihedral angle. Chapter 3 builds on the work from the previous chapter with discussion of a large family of chromium(III) dimers, synthesised using a combination of carboxylate and diethanolamine type ligands. The compounds have the general formula [Cr2(R1‐deaH)2(O2CR2)Cl2]Cl where R1 = Me and R2 = H, Me, CMe3, Ph, 3,5‐(Cl)2Ph, (Me)5Ph, R1 = Et and R2 = H, Ph. The compound [Cr2(Me‐deaH)2Cl4] was also synthesised in order to study the effect of removing/adding the carboxylate bridge to the observed magnetic behaviour. Magnetic studies reveal ferromagnetic exchange interactions between the Cr(III) centres in the carboxylate bridged family with coupling constants in the range +0.37 < J < +8.02 cm‐1. Removal of the carboxylate to produce the dialkoxide‐bridged compound results in antiferromagnetic exchange between the Cr(III) ions. DFT calculations to further develop the magneto-structural correlations reveal the ferromagnetic exchange is the result of an orbital counter-complementarity effect occurring upon introduction of the bridging carboxylate. Chapter 4 reports a family of heterometallic Anderson‐type 'wheels' of general formula [MIII 2MII 5(hmp)12](ClO4)4 (where MIII = Cr or Al and MII = Ni or Zn giving [Cr2Ni5], [Cr2Zn5], [Al2Ni5] and [Al2Zn5]; hmpH = 2‐pyridinemethanol) synthesised solvothermally. The metallic skeleton describes a centred hexagon with the MIII sites disordered around the outer wheel. The structural disorder is characterised via single crystal X‐ray crystallography, 1‐3D 1H and 13C solution‐state NMR spectroscopy of the diamagnetic analogue, and solid‐state 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopy of the Al containing analogues. Alongside ESI mass spectrometry, these techniques show that structure is retained in solution, and that the disorder is present in both the solution and solid‐state. Solid‐state dc susceptibility and magnetisation measurements on [Cr2Zn5] and [Al2Ni5] reveal the Cr‐Cr and Ni‐Ni exchange interactions to be JCr‐Cr = ‐1 cm‐1 and JNi‐Ni,r = ‐5 cm‐1, JNi‐Ni,c = 10 cm‐1. Fixing these values allows us to extract JCr‐Ni,r = ‐1.2 cm‐1, JCr‐Ni,c = 2.6 cm‐1, the exchange between adjacent Ni and Cr ions on the ring is antiferromagnetic and between Cr ions on the ring and the central Ni ion is ferromagnetic. Chapter 5 focusses on planar molecules, espanding the family of heterometallic Anderson‐type 'wheels' discussed in chapter 4 to include MIII = Cr, Al and MII = Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, affording five new species of formulae [Cr2Co5(hmp)12](ClO4)4, [Cr2Fe5(hmp)12](ClO4)4, [Cr2Mn5(hmp)12](ClO4)4, [Cr2Cu5(hmp)12](ClO4)2(NO3)2 and [Al2Co5(hmp)12](ClO4)4. As per previous family members, the two MIII sites are disordered around the outer wheel, with the exception of [Cr2Cu5] where the the CuII sites are localised. A structurally related, but enlarged planar disc possessing a [MIII 6MII] hexagon capped on each edge by a CuII ion is also reported, which is formed only when MIII = Al and MII = Cu. In [AlIII 6CuII 7(OH)12(hmp)12](ClO4)6(NO3)2 the Anderson moiety contains a central, (symmetry‐imposed) octahedral CuII ion surrounded by a wheel of AlIII ions. Solid‐state dc susceptibility and magnetisation measurements reveal the presence of competing exchange interactions in the Anderson wheels family, and weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the CuII ions in [Al6Cu7]. Chapter 6 describes two heterometallic wheels of formula [(VIVO)2MII 5(hmp)10Cl2](ClO4)2∙2MeOH (where MII = Ni or Co) displaying the same Anderson‐type structure as seen in chapters 4 and 5, however the use of the vanadyl moiety has the effect of removing the disorder, with the two vanadyl ions sitting on opposing sides of the ring. The magnetic properties of both show competing antiferroand ferromagnetic interactions.

Chung, Chun Kit = 超低溫相互作用費米原子中配對的探究 / 鍾俊傑. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-88). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chung, Chun Kit = Chao di wen xiang hu zuo yong fei mi yuan zi zhong pei dui de tan jiu / Zhong Junjie. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Review on BCS theory --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- BCS theory in uniform systems --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Hamiltonian and ground state solutions --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Choice of interaction potential --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Uniform atomic gas at T = 0 --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Self-consistent field method --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Population imbalanced systems --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Description of BCS states at finite temperatures --- p.22 / Chapter 3 --- Bipartite quantum entanglement in BCS states --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Mixed state bipartite quantum entanglement --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- PPT criterion --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Negativity of p --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Entanglement witness --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Two-particle density matrix and two-body negativity --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Opposite spin states as subsystems --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Structure of and the negativity --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Relationship between the negativity and the order pa- rameter --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Distribution of negative eigenvalues of --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Constructing entanglement witness operator --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Remark: Same spin state as subsystems --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3 --- Momentum states as subsystems --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- A and B as opposite momentum states --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- A and B as different momentum states k and k' with k≠± k' --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- A and B as the same momentum state --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.45 / Chapter 4 --- Radio-frequency spectroscopy --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1 --- The model Hamiltonian and dynamical equations --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Time-dependent variational method --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2 --- Short-time dynamics --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues of C --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Build up of particle number density n3 and order param- eter Δ23 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.3 --- Summary --- p.61 / Chapter 5 --- Pairing in three-component systems --- p.63 / Chapter 5.1 --- The mean-field Hamiltonian --- p.64 / Chapter 5.2 --- Symmetric systems --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Quasiparticle spectra --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- "Occupation number, condensation amplitude, and co- herence amplitude" --- p.70 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Strengths of Ω --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3 --- Pairing in asymmetric systems --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Quasiparticle spectra and mean-field solutions --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Effects of Ωij --- p.74 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.76 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusion and outlook --- p.79 / Bibliography --- p.81 / Chapter A --- Regularization techniques --- p.89 / Chapter B --- Wick's theorem --- p.91 / Chapter C --- Analytic solutions to three-component symmetric systems --- p.94

L’objectif des travaux présentés dans cette thèse est d’étudier la propagation de la lumière dans les milieux inhomogènes afin de repousser les limites actuelles de l’imagerie : les aberrations et la diffusion multiple. Dans une première partie, nous avons associé les outils et le formalisme initialement développés pour les ondes ultrasonores aux techniques propres à l’optique. Grâce à un dispositif expérimental innovant, nous avons enregistré les réponses d’un milieu complexe pour une collection de champs incidents, formant ainsi une matrice de réflexion. Une étude des corrélations spatiales de cette matrice permet alors de séparer les contributions de diffusion simple et multiple. Alors que la première permet de former une image seulement limitée par la diffraction d’un objet enfoui au sein du milieu, la seconde permet de caractériser les paramètres de transport de la lumière dans le milieu.La seconde partie de ma thèse s’est intéressée à la possibilité d’extraire une information cohérente à partir d’un champ aléatoire. Il a été démontré, en acoustique et en sismologie notamment, que la corrélation d’un champ incohérent mesuré en deux points permettait d’estimer la réponse impulsionnelle entre ces deux mêmes points. Dans ma thèse, nous avons étendu cette approche aux ondes optiques. En particulier nous avons démontré la mesure de réponses impulsionnelles entre des diffuseurs individuels à l’aide d’une simple lampe halogène et d’un montage interférométrique. A la suite de cette preuve de principe, nous avons réalisé des estimations de paramètres de transport pour des milieux fortement diffusants. / My thesis was devoted to the study of the propagation of optical waves in inhomogeneous media in an attempt to push back the fundamental limits of optical imaging: multiple scattering and aberrations. In a first part, we combined the tools and the formalism developed initially for acoustic waves with techniques peculiar to the field of optics. Thanks to a system that allows to both control and measure the optical field, we record the output responses of a scattering medium for a given set of input fields. This collection of input-output responses forms a matrix called the reflection matrix. We then exploit the spatial and temporal contents of this matrix to discriminate the ballistic and the multiple scattered light. The first contribution provides an image with a diffraction limited resolution of an object placed behind or embedded in a turbid medium, while the second contribution offers information on the transport of light in the diffusive regime.The second study was dedicated to the measurement of a coherent information from a totally incoherent source. It has been shown in acoustics and seismology that correlations of an In my thesis, we extended this property to optical waves. In particular, we demonstrated the measurement of an impulse response between individual scatterers with a femtosecond resolution using a simple halogen white light source. Following this proof of principle, the characterization of the transport properties of a medium was performed from a collection of impulse responses in the diffusive regime.