This thesis presents the synthesis of porphyrin arrays for light-harvesting applications using Wittig chemistry, which allows the construction of covalently bound systems that are conjugated, stable and easy to characterize. This was achieved using a dendrimer strategy utilizing tetraarylporphyrins as building blocks, monofunctionalized with either aldehyde or phosphonium salt groups at the β-pyrrolic position, and benzenes, polyfunctionalized with either aldehyde or phosphonium salt groups; stepwise control of the addition of each porphyrin moiety was thus obtained. In this way, different porphyrins in different metallated states were arranged in a determinate geometrical relationship, which is of great importance in the investigations on electron/energy transfers. Arrays containing up to five metalloporphyrin units (two kinds of porphyrins coordinating two different metals) were synthesized and characterized. The unexpected chromatography behaviour and 1H-NMR spectra of a Zn porphyrin functionalized with a 1,3-bis(methyl(diethylphosphonate) benzene were the reason for an investigation, which uncovered, mainly with the use of NMR spectrometry, the first case of intramolecular coordination between the Zn centre and a phosphonate group of the same porphyrin. The dynamic nature of this coordination was characterized and chemical-physical parameters for Zn porphyrin/phosphonate binding were determined. In order to establish the photophysical properties of our conjugated arrays, we synthesized a series of dyads containing Zn and free-base tetraphenylporphyrins (TPPs) connected through variable length phenylenevinylene-type bridges; along with this series, the preparation of the Zn and free-base homometallic homologue dyads and two series of monomers carrying the conjugated linker were realized. Collaboration with IFOS-CNR in Bologna, Italy was established in order to investigate the intramolecular photophysics of those systems, which involve efficient intramolecular energy transfer from the Zn to the free-base porphyrin. Finally, dyads composed of Fe(III) and Zn porphyrin were prepared as part of a project in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania for the investigation of new artificial photosynthetic systems. Two series of dimers were prepared in order to obtain incorporation in both the classes of hydrophobic and hydrophilic proteins. TPPs were used for the making of the hydrophobic dyads while hydrophilicity was achieved by employing tetraester porphyrin derivatives, which can be quantitatively hydrolyzed to afford the correspondent water soluble acids. A new monosubstituted porphyrin was also synthesized and incorporated in the arrays to minimize steric hindrance inside the protein binding sites.

The successful completion of the Hiten mission in 1991 provided real-world validation of a class of trajectories defined as ballistic lunar capture transfers. This class of transfers is often considered for missions to the Moon and for tours of the moons of other planets. In this study, the dynamics of the three and four body problems are examined to better explain the mechanisms of low energy transfers in the Earth-Moon system, and to determine their optimality. Families of periodic orbits in the restricted Earth-Sun-spacecraft three body problem are shown to be generating families for low energy transfers between orbits of the Earth. The low energy orbit-to-orbit transfers are shown to require less fuel than optimal direct transfers between the same orbits in the Earth-Sun-spacecraft circular restricted three body problem. The low energy transfers are categorized based on their generating family and the number of flybys in the reference three body trajectory. The practical application of these generating families to spacecraft mission design is demonstrated through a robust nonlinear targeting algorithm for finding Sun-Earth- Moon-spacecraft four body transfers based on startup transfers indentified in the Earth- Sun three body problem. The local optimality of the transfers is examined through use of Lawden’s primer vector theory, and new conditions of optimality for single-impulse-to-capture lunar transfers are established. / text

La plupart des objets quantiques individuels développés jusqu’à aujourd’hui ne permettent pas de satisfaire toutes les conditions nécessaires pour la construction d’un simulateur quantique. Une possibilité pour obtenir un système quantique robuste est de combiner plusieurs de ces approches. Dans cette thèse, nous décrivons les résultats obtenus sur deux systèmes expérimentaux développés dans ce but.La première partie de cette thèse décrit un système hybride d’atomes neutres couplés à des qubits supraconducteurs, en construction à l’Université du Maryland. La solution envisagée pour placer un ensemble d’atomes froids à proximité de la surface supraconductrice est de piéger les atomes dans le champ évanescent se propageant autour d’une fibre optique nanométrique. Nous avons développé un dispositif permettant la production de fibres optiques nanométriques de transmission optique supérieure à 99.95% dans le mode fondamental. Nous avons également optimisé la transmission de quelques modes d’ordres supérieurs, ce qui pourra s’avérer utile pour le piégeage d’atomes.La seconde partie de cette thèse décrit un système développé à l’Institut d’Optique et comprenant des atomes neutres piégés dans des matrices de pinces optiques. Dans ce cas, nous excitons les atomes dans des états de Rydberg afin de bénéficier de fortes interactions interatomiques. Nous avons caractérisé les interactions de van der Waals et les interactions résonantes entre deux atomes individuels, et démontré le caractère cohérent de l’interaction dipolaire. Nous avons enfin simulé la dynamique d’une chaine élémentaire de spins dans une matrice de trois atomes / Most platforms that are being developed to build quantum simulators do not satisfy simultaneously all the requirements necessary to implement useful quantum tasks. Robust systems can be constructed by combining the strengths of multiple approaches while hopefully compensating for their weaknesses. This thesis reports on the progress made on two different setups that are being developed toward this goal.The first part of this thesis focuses on a hybrid system of neutral atoms coupled to superconducting qubits that is under construction at the University of Maryland. Sub-wavelength diameter optical fibers allow confining an ensemble of cold atoms in the evanescent field surrounding the fiber, which makes them ideal for placing atoms near a superconducting surface. We have developed a tapered fiber fabrication apparatus, and measured an optical transmission in excess of 99.95% for the fundamental mode. We have also optimized tapered fibers that can support higher-order optical modes with high transmission, which may be useful for various optical potential geometries.The second part of this thesis focuses on a system of neutral atoms trapped in arrays of optical tweezers that has been developed at the Institut d’Optique. Placing the atoms in highly excited Rydberg states allows us to obtain strong interatomic interactions. Using two individual atoms, we have characterized the pairwise interactions in the van der Waals and resonant dipole-dipole interaction regimes, providing a direct observation of the coherent nature of the interaction. In a three-atom system, we have finally simulated the dynamics of an elementary spin chain

Dans les eaux naturelles ou bien dans les eaux en cours de traitement, de nombreux processus peuvent générer des espèces réactives telles que de l´oxygène singulet, des ions superoxydes,des radicaux hydroxyles, ou bien d’autres oxydants. Dans les eaux naturelles, ces processus impliquent les substances humiques ou les ions nitrates en présence de lumière et d´oxygène. Dans les eaux en cours de traitement, les procédés d’oxydation avancée sont une source de production de radicaux hydroxyle. D’autres radicaux peuvent ensuite être formés par des réactions secondaires avec la matrice inorganique des eaux. Ces réactions aboutissent à la formation de radicaux inorganiques tels que les radicaux carbonates CO3·- et les radicaux chlores Cl· (atome de chlore). La réactivité de ces derniers est mal connue. Ce travail a pour but d’étudier la réactivité des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec des pesticides de type phénylurées, utilisés comme molécules modèles, et d’identifier les produits de dégradation. Le radical carbonate a été généré par la photolyse de [Co(NH3)5CO3]+, par photosensibilisation à partir de la 4- carboxybenzophenone, de la 1-nitronaphtalène et de la duroquinone et par l’excitation UV du peroxyde d’hydrogène. Le radical chlore a été généré par l’excitation UV du peroxyde d’hydrogène. Les constantes de vitesse de réaction des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec les pesticides étudiés, ont été déterminées, après validation d’une méthode de cinétique compétitive ou par modélisation cinétique. Ces constantes sont comprises pour le radical carbonate dans l’intervalle 0,35-3,5.107 L mol-1 s-1, et dans l’intervalle 1,2-3,9.108 L mol-1 s-1 pour le radical chlore. La comparaison de la réactivité des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec celle des radicaux hydroxyles, indique un facteur de l’ordre de 1000 pour le radical carbonate et de 100 pour le radical chlore, et ceci en faveur de la réactivité des radicaux hydroxyles. Plusieurs produits de dégradation du radical carbonate ont été identifiés. Il s’agit de produits d’hydroxylation du cycle aromatique, des produits issus d’une déméthylation, un dérivé quinone imine pour le fénuron, la cassure du pont dissulfure pour le metsulfuron méthyl. La comparaison des produits de dégradation formés avec les radicaux carbonates et hydroxyles met en évidence certains produits communs aux deux processus tandis que d’autres sont plus spécifiques. Les produits issus du radical carbonate sont moins nombreux en nombre que ceux issus du radical hydroxyle. / In natural water, humic substances are a source of reactive species production, in the presence of light and oxygen, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide but also a plurality of inorganic radicals such as the carbonate and chlorine radicals. The reactivity of these is unknown. This work aims to study the reactivity of carbonate and chorine radicals with pesticide ofphenylurea type and identify the products of degradation. The carbonate radical was generated by the photolysis of [Co(NH3)5CO3]+, by photosensitization from 4-carboxybenzophenone, from 1-nitronaphtalene and from duroquinone and by UV excitation of hydrogen peroxide. The chlorine radical was generated by UV excitation of hydrogen peroxide. The rate constants for reaction with the carbonate and chlorine radicals with the pesticides were determined after validation of competitive kinetic or kinetic modeling. These constants are included of the carbonate radical in the range 0.35-3.5x107 mol-1 L s-1, and in the range fron 1,2-3,9x108 mol-1 L s-1 for the chlorine radical. The comparison between the reactivity of the carbonate and chlorine radicals with the hydroxyl radicals, shows a factor 1000 for the carbonate radical and 100 for the chorine radical for the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals. Several degradation products were identified from the carbonate radical. These products were the hydroxylation of the aromatic ring, the products of demethylation, a derivative quionone imine for fenuron, the breaking of the bridge dissulfure for metsulfuron methyl. The comparison of the degradation products formed with carbonate and hydroxyl radicals show some common products to both processes, and others products are more specific. The products from the carbonate radical are fewer in number than those resulting from the hydroxyl radical.