Shutter-less infrared cameras based on microbolometer focal plane arrays (FPAs) are the most widely used cameras in thermography, in particular in the fields of handheld devices and small distributed sensors. For acceptable measurement uncertainty values the disturbing influences of changing thermal ambient conditions have to be treated corresponding to temperature measurements of the thermal conditions inside the camera. We propose a compensation approach based on calibration measurements where changing external conditions are simulated and all correction parameters are determined. This allows to process the raw infrared data and to consider all disturbing influences. The effects on the pixel responsivity and offset voltage are considered separately. The responsivity correction requires two different, alternating radiation sources. This paper presents the details of the compensation procedure and discusses relevant aspects to gain low temperature measurement uncertainty.

The performance of a dedicated A/D converter located beneath each pixel is explored in this thesis. Specifically, a voltage to frequency converter coupled with a direct injection amplifier designed for use with an IR focal plane array is analyzed. This versatile implementation of a Readout Integrated Circuit can be found applicable to a wide variety of imaging technologies. Noise performance of the conversion system is theoretically calculated, and is supported by SPICE simulations using valid CMOS SPICE models. It is shown that a 10 transistor sub-pixel voltage to frequency analog to digital converter will produce noise that is less than the input shot noise. Design considerations will be addressed to ensure continued performance as the scale of the imagers increase to large format arrays.

Excellent uniformity and mature material properties of Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs) have allowed the realization of large format, low cost staring focal plane arrays (FPAs) in various thermal imaging bands. AlGaAs/InGaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs materials systems have been the standard systems for the construction of mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength (LWIR) QWIPs. However AlGaAs/GaAs QWIP FPAs suffer from low quantum and conversion efficiencies under high frame rate (low integration time) and/or low background conditions limiting the application area of standard QWIPs. This thesis focuses on the growth and development of InP based single and dual band QWIP FPAs. We experimentally demonstrate that QWIPs on InP substrates provide important advantages that can be utilized to overcome the bottlenecks of the standard GaAs based QWIP technology. InP/InGaAs material system is an alternative to AlGaAs/GaAs for LWIR QWIPs. We demonstrate a large format (640x512) LWIR QWIP FPA constructed with strained InP/InGaAs material system. The strain introduced to the structure shifts the cut-off wavelength from ~8.5 to 9.7 &micro / m with lambdap=8.9 &micro / m. The FPA fabricated with the 40-well epilayer structure yielded a peak quantum efficiency as high as 12% with a broad spectral response (&amp / #8710 / lambda/lambdap=17%). The peak responsivity of the FPA pixels is larger than 1.4 A/W with conversion efficiency as high as 20% in the bias region where the detectivity is reasonably high (2.6x1010 cmHz1/2/W, f/1.5, 65 K). The FPA providing a background limited performance temperature higher than 65 K (f/1.5) satisfies the requirements of most low integration time/low background applications where AlGaAs/GaAs QWIPs cannot be utilized due to low conversion efficiency and read-out circuit noise limited sensitivity. Noise equivalent temperature differences (NETD) of the FPA are as low as 19 and 40 mK with integration times as short as 1.8 ms and 430 &micro / s (f/1.5, 65 K), respectively. We also experimentally demonstrate that the cut-off wavelength of MWIR AlInAs/InGaAs QWIPs can be tuned in a sufficiently large range in the MWIR atmospheric window by only changing the quantum well (QW) width at the lattice matched composition. The cut-off wavelength can be shifted up to ~5.0 &micro / m with a QW width of 22 &Aring / in which case very broad spectral response (&amp / #8710 / lambda/lambdap=~30%) and a reasonably high peak detectivity is achievable leading to a NETD as low as 14 mK (f/2) with 25 &micro / m pitch in a 640x512 FPA. The advantages of InP based MWIR and LWIR single band QWIPs were combined by growing and fabricating a mid format (320x256) dual band QWIP FPA. The FPA provided NETD (f/1.5, 65 K, 19 ms) values of 27 mK and 29 mK in the MWIR and LWIR modes with an impressively low DC signal nonuniformity of ~ 4%. The results clearly demonstrate that InP based material systems display high potential for MWIR and LWIR single band and MWIR/LWIR dual band QWIP FPAs needed by third generation thermal imagers by overcoming the limitations of the standard GaAs based QWIPs under high frame rate (low integration time) and/or low background conditions.

Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has been recognized as an important analytical technique, and is widely applied for qualitative and quantitative analysis of materials with an increasing interest in addressing complex organic or biologic constituents. In the presented thesis, (a) the fundamental principles for IR spectroscopic applications via in vivo catheters in combination with multivariate data analysis technique were developed, and (b) the combination with a second analytical technique ¨C scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) - for enhancing the information obtained at complex or frequently changing matrices was demonstrated. The first part of this thesis focused on the combination of different MIR measurment techniques with specific focus on evanescent field absorption spectroscopy along with multivariate data analysis methods, for the discrimination of atherosclerotic and normal rabbit aorta tissues. Atherosclerotic and normal rabbit aorta tissues are characterized by marked differences in chemical composition governed by their water, lipid, and protein content. Strongly overlapping infrared absorption features of the different constituents and the complexity of the tissue matrix render the direct evaluation of molecular spectroscopic characteristics obtained from IR measurements challenging for classification. We have successfully applied multivariate data analysis and classification techniques based on principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares regression (PLS), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to IR spectroscopic data obtained by infrared attenuated total reflectance (IR-ATR) measurements, reflection IR microscopy, and a recently developed IR-ATR catheter prototype for future in vivo diagnostic applications. Training and test data were collected ex vivo at atherosclerotic and normal rabbit aorta samples. The successful classification results at atherosclerotic and normal aorta samples utilizing the developed data evaluation routines reveals the potential of IR spectroscopy combined with multivariate classification strategies for in vitro, and ¨C in future - in vivo applications. The second part of this thesis aimed at the development of a novel multifunctional analytical platform by combining SECM with single-bounce IR-ATR spectroscopy for in situ studies of electrochemically active or electrochemically induced processes at the IR waveguide surface via simultaneous evanescent field absorption spectroscopy. The utility of the developed SECM-IR-ATR platform was demonstrated by spectroscopically monitoring microstructured polymer depositions induced via feedback mode SECM experiments using a 25μm Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME). The surface of a ZnSe ATR crystal was coated with a thin layer of 2,5-di-(2-thienyl)-pyrrole (SNS), which was then polymerized in a Ru(bpy) ₃ ² ⁺-mediated feedback mode SECM experiment. The polymerization reaction was simultaneously spectroscopically monitored by recording the absorption intensity changes of specific IR bands characteristic for SNS, thereby providing information on the polymerization progress, mechanism, and level of surface modification. Furthermore, a novel current-independent approach mechanism for positioning the UME in aqueous electrolyte solution was demonstrated by monitoring IR absorption changes of borosilicate glass (BSG) shielding the UME, and of water within the penetration depth of the evanescent field.

Abstract  Master's essay by Pawan Mostafa Autumn term 2017. Supervisor: Magnus Lindh.     A foreign policy analysis of influencing factors explaining Turkey's changed policy towards Syria                                                       This study searching an analytical explanation of factors of influence that possibly will have supported the way Turkey's foreign policy has changed in Syria. The study covers a main question and three different theoretical questions.      Charles F. Hermann's model for foreign policy change is used to produce results. In this context, the current study argues that the Arab Spring has been an important part of the changes in the regional security structure and made these changes the most important determinant of Turkish foreign policy. It further examines the leadership of Turkish foreign policy, the restructuring within the country and external shock as factors that perceive and convey change and lead to results. In this regard, this study focuses primarily on the explanation of the source of change and the intermediate step of the above-mentioned factors of influence.      The empirical purpose of this study is to develop an analytical explanation of the change in Turkish foreign policy in the context of the Arab Spring 2011, specifically focusing on the period 2015 to the now. By applying the explanatory model for foreign policy change in a qualitative content analysis, the study aims at contributing to the empirical studies of foreign policy change. In addition to the empirical goals, this study also has theoretical motives. The theoretical purpose is to contribute to the studies of foreign policy change. Taking into consideration previous literature on foreign policy change is an important dimension that gives the study a functional alternative, partly based on Hermann's three-step model. In addition, the study aims at contributing to the scientific literature, as it combines foreign policy analysis (FPA) with a focus on the actor's devices and analysis of international relations (IR) with a focus on system or structure. / Sammandrag        Magisteruppsats av Pawan Mostafa VT 2017. Handledare: Magnus Lindh. En Utrikespolitisk analys av påverkningsfaktorer bakom Turkiets ändrade policy gentemot Syrien       Den här studien söker en analytisk förklaring av påverkningsfaktorer som kan ha legat bakom hur Turkiets utrikespolitik förändrats vad gäller Syrien. Studien omfattar en övergripande forskningsfråga och tre olika teoretiskt ställda frågor.       Charles F. Hermanns modell för utrikespolitisk förändring används för att få fram resultat. I detta sammanhang hävdar den nuvarande studien att den arabiska våren har varit en viktig del av förändringarna i den regionala säkerhetsstrukturen och gjort dessa förändringar till den viktigaste determinanten inför den turkiska utrikespolitiken. Den undersöker vidare den turkiska utrikespolitikens ledarskap, omstruktureringen inom landet och extern chock som faktorer som uppfattar och förmedlar förändring och leder till resultat. I det avseendet fokuserar denna studie främst på förklaringen av förändringskällan och det mellanliggande steget i de ovannämnda påverkningsfaktorerna.       Det empiriska syftet med denna studie är att utveckla en analytisk förklaring av förändringen i turkisk utrikespolitik i samband med den arabiska våren 2011, specifikt med fokus på perioden 2015 till nutid. Genom att tillämpa den förklarande modellen för utrikespolitisk förändring i en kvalitativ innehållsanalys syftar studien till att bidra till de empiriska studierna av utrikespolitisk förändring. Förutom de empiriska målen har den här studien också teoretiska motiv. Det teoretiska syftet är att bidra till studierna av utrikespolitisk förändring. Att ta hänsyn till tidigare litteratur om utrikespolitisk förändring är en viktig dimension som ger studien ett funktionellt alternativ, delvis baserat på Hermanns trestegsmodell. Dessutom avser studien att bidra till den vetenskapliga litteraturen, eftersom den kombinerar utrikespolitisk analys (UPA) med inriktning på skådespelarens anordningar och analys av internationella relationer (IR) med inriktning på system eller struktur.

The Poetic Process is a creative thesis analyzing the use of different poetic forms but focuses more on the application of them through a series of creative work.

To analyse the war in Afghanistan from different theories is nothing new to the studies of international relations. However, one aspect that yet has been studied regarding the Afghan war is the withdrawal of troops and civilian personnel and why it occurred in August 2021 and not earlier or later. This lack of knowledge creates a research gap which needs to be filled to explain why President Biden went through with the withdrawal, even though the president knew that the Taliban would seize power in Afghanistan. This thesis will therefore explain the Biden administration's decision to continue the military and civilian withdrawal from Afghanistan even though the threat of Taliban takeover was imminent. The method chosen for this thesis is a qualitative content analysis which will be used to analyse the material with the help of leadership trait analysis and the bureaucratic politics model theories. The material which was used war press statements, speeches, and committee hearings. As the analysis shows, the decision to withdraw was a compromise between actors which was possible due to Joe Bidens openness to information. In summary, this thesis offers one explanation to why the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan.

This study is based on Swedish feminist foreign policy and how ideas about feminist peacebuilding have found their place in international peace and conflict studies. Since World War II, traditional security policy has been dominated by liberal explanatory models and strategies to achieve a more peaceful world order, and the main elements of liberal peace include democracy, international cooperation and free trade. Feminist theory criticizes the liberal view of peace by pointing out the meaning of human security rather than national security. The purpose of the study is to depict the type of peace that the Swedish government has worked for in Colombia and intends to answer the questions, what has the Swedish government's work for peace in Colombia looked like and what type of peace, feminist peace or liberal peace, can the work describe best? By using a qualitative content analysis as a method with an analysis tool that is built based on the theoretical framework, the study aims to more deeply examine the empirical material to depict what the government’s worked looked like during the peace process. The study shows that Sweden has worked for a feminist peace in the negotiations and statements that were directly linked to the peace process, but that the traditional liberal perspective still dominates in certain areas such as trade policy. The study contributes to an increased understanding of the development of Swedish feminist politics.

Die Dissertation befasste sich mit der Entwicklung einer neuen diagnostischen Methode für in-situ-Gewebeuntersuchungen. Der Ansatzpunkt war die Untersuchung von pathologischen Veränderungen im Gewebe, die sich biochemisch in den Zellen widerspiegeln und deshalb mit schwingungsspektroskopischen Methoden, wie der IR-Spektroskopie, erfassbar sind. Das Ziel der Arbeit war die IR-spektroskopische Charakterisierung und Klassifizierung von benignen, präkanzerösen und malignen Geweben mittels chemometrischer Algorithmen auf der Basis multivariater Informationen der IR-Spektren. Um komplexe spektrale Veränderungen zu charakterisieren und die Ergebnisse statistisch abzusichern, ist für jeden Gewebetyp eine Vielzahl an Spektren erforderlich. Daher wurde zur Spektrenakkumulation das IR-mikrospektroskopische Imaging mittels Focal Plane Array Detektor (FPA) genutzt. Die Herausforderung liegt in der Datenanalyse. Der große Datenumfang macht die Anwendung multivariater Algorithmen notwendig. Angewendet wurden Clusteralgorithmen zur Spektrendifferenzierung und die SIMCA (Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies) zur Spektrenklassifizierung. Die Validierung der Ergebnisse erfolgt über die histologische Untersuchung der nach der spektroskopischen Messung gefärbten Gewebedünnschnitte. Die genaue Vorgehensweise bei der Auswertung wird in dieser Arbeit anhand humaner Gewebeproben dargestellt. Die untersuchten Plattenepithelkarzinome und Adenokarzinome gehören zu den epithelialen Tumoren, die oralen bzw. zervikalen Ursprungs sind. Die Übertragbarkeit der spektralen Modelle wurde mit Gewebeproben mehrerer Patienten innerhalb einer und zwischen verschiedenen Tumorarten untersucht. Das ist ein erster Schritt zum Einsatz spektroskopischer Methoden in der medizinischen Forschung und Diagnostik.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Civil (Área de Especialização de Vias de Comunicação). Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2012