Phytoplankton mirrors changes in the environment and plays an important role in biogeochemical processes. Phytoplankton dynamics is the outcome of both autogenic succession and external disturbances. This thesis focused on the seasonal variation of water column stability and its effects on phytoplankton, particularly considering the influence of mixing events on phytoplankton development. Lake Erken is a dimictic lake with weak and often interrupted summer stratification, which represents an intermediate case between a polymictic lake and a lake with strong summer stratification. There are two diatom phases annually. The spring bloom is caused by pioneer centric diatoms, and the autumn diatom phase is dominated by meroplanktonic diatoms induced by turnover. A summer Cyanobacteria bloom – mainly Gloeotrichia echinulata, depended on the length and stability of stratification. Winter and spring air temperature is found to play an important role in the annual succession of phytoplankton by initiating changes in ice/snow-cover and lake thermal stability and setting the basic status. Instead of starting from zero, the vernal phytoplankton piles up on the overwintering community, this trans-annual ecological memory influences both the composition and diversity and taxonomic distinctness of spring phytoplankton. Water column stability during summer in Lake Erken is mainly influenced by wind-induced turbulence and internal seiches. As thermal stratification develops from early until late summer, variations in stability and gradual deepening of the thermocline depth influence phytoplankton dynamics directly by changing its distribution, and also indirectly by altering the nutrient and light availability. A new disturbance index (DI) was defined to quantify environmental stability/disturbance and tested well to indicate phytoplankton equilibrium status in two summer stratification periods. The concept of species and functional groups was generally used in this study. However, a next generation sequencing based approach was also tested and proved to provide an excellent candidate for revealing distribution patterns of phytoplankton in inland waters.

This thesis addresses the problem of target positioning and localization using Radio Frequency (RF) based measurements and using a variety of modulation including Time of Arrival (ToA), Phase of arrival (PoA) and Received Strength Indicator of RF signals (RSSI). Starting from finding the planar coordinates of a device from a collection of ranging measurements using weighted least square (WLS) methods, we explore the dependency of the solution uncertainty from the geometric configuration of anchors and then develop solutions that compensate for the effects of geometry and reduce the positioning uncertainty to a value close to the Cramer–Rao Lower Bound (CRLB), a measure which is then used in the proceeding chapters for developing optimal anchor configurations for positioning problem with guaranteed estimation uncertainties. The findings in the positioning part are also used to address the limitations of initializing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors through a random trajectory. This is done by studying the dual of the positioning problem addressed in the first part, that is incorporating CRLB as a measure of optimality to design a trajectory that minimizes the uncertainty of anchor initialization. We finally close the positioning part of the thesis by studying the range and bearing measurements provided by radar sensors for people tracking and positioning in indoor environments. Taking into account the target dynamics, in the second part of the thesis we present observabilty analysis and localization for non-holonomic robots, using a combination of onboard sensors and range-only anchors. By using a discrete-time formulation of the system’s kinematics, we identify the geometric conditions that make the system globally observable and thereby derive the observability-based filter (ObF) to outperform the limitations of the classic Bayesian filters. We then use the implications of this analysis to design an active control and optimal path-planning strategy with guaranteed maximum observability. We close this part of the thesis by investigating localization in presence of intermittent measurements and discuss how the observability of a trajectory can be quantified by the condition number of the system matrix, a subject related to the maneuvers executed by the robot and to the sampling time used to collect the measurements. Eventually, in the last part of this thesis, we address the localization in presence of offset and ambiguities in measurements. First, we show that, while using range-only measurements corrupted with offset, the trajectories can be observed and the offset can be estimated in a finite number of steps. Next, we present an approach to resolve the ambiguity of rang-only measurements obtained from RSSI values at the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band by proposing an optimization algorithm that merges RFID and odometry data to reconstruct the entire robot trajectory. Finally, we present a solution to resolve the ambiguity of the RFID signal phase and reconstruct the robot trajectory through sensor fusion and using UHF-RFID passive tags.

This thesis investigates the interference potential of microwave ovens to Bluetooth data communication. Interference experiments are conducted in the CWT's Bluetooth lab, using CSR™ (Cambridge Silicone Radio) Bluetooth radios and a Tektronics™ Protocol Analyzer to record packet transmissions between the master and slave units. A novel, "quasi-real time" spectral measurement concept is developed to take radio frequency measurements. A LabView program enables a spectrum analyzer to download oven spectral data onto a computer via the instrument's serial port. From this data, three-dimensional plots of microwave radiated power levels versus ISM band frequencies over time periods are produced for different microwave ovens. These plots are compared with the results of interference experiments to explain Bluetooth packet errors. In addition to causing packet errors, emitted oven power levels at certain frequencies are sometimes strong enough to cause data packets to be lost (dropped) as they are transmitted over the air. This is a major problem since the Protocol Analyzer does not "see" these packets and cannot record the transmissions during an experiment. These lost packets can be accounted for if the frequency hopping scheme of the communicating Bluetooth devices is know prior to data transmission. Bluetooth's Frequency Hop Scheme is coded in Matlab for the purpose of predicting a data transmission's hopping sequence. The lost packets on each Bluetooth channel are counted by subtracting the Analyzer's recorded number of data transmissions per channel from the total number of transmissions per channel predicted by Matlab. A method is devised to calibrate the Bluetooth receiver and the spectrum analyzer is used to measure the received power level of Bluetooth signals on a particular frequency (channel). The number of packet errors on a channel is determined from the channel's C/I (carrier-to-interference ratio). If a channel's C/I level falls below the calculated C/I threshold at any instant of time due to oven operation, the packet transmitted at that instant is likely in error. A Matlab program estimates the number of packet errors per channel by counting the number of times the C/I of a channel falls below it's threshold value. The predicted number of packet errors is compared with the measured packet errors from experiments to yield extremely good results. Various oven-interference experiments are conducted in a small building, a large office environment and outdoors. For each experiment, the number of occurrences of transmitted data is plotted for each Bluetooth channel. Composite Excel bar graphs, created from this data, are compared with the oven spectral plots to describe an oven's effect on Bluetooth transmission. It is determined that different ovens cause packet errors on specifically different channels, in addition to channels 52-54 around the oven's 2450 MHz center operating frequency. The interference experiments suggest that placing an oven a radius of 10 m away from Class I (devices in a piconet will not affect data transmission). / Master of Science

Precise measurements of both absolute frequencies and small frequency differences of atomic energy levels have played an important role in the development of physics. For example, high precision measurements of absolute frequencies of the 2S½ → 2P ½ transition (D1 line) of alkali atoms form an important link in the measurement of the fine structure constant, α. Similarly, precise interferometric measurements of the local gravitational acceleration (g) rely on the knowledge of the absolute frequencies of the 2S½ → 2P 3/2 transition (D2line) in alkali atoms. Difference frequency measurements of hyperfine structure and isotope shifts of atomic energy levels provide valuable information about the structure of the nucleus, which in turn helps in fine tuning the atomic wave functions used in theoretical calculations. The work reported in this thesis starts with the development and refinement of high precision measurement of absolute frequencies using a ring-cavity resonator. The measurement technique is relatively simple and cost-effective, but the accuracy is comparable to that achieved with the frequency comb technique (10¯11) when the accuracy is limited by the natural linewidth of the transition being measured. The technique combines the advantages of using tunable diode lasers to access atomic transitions with the fact that the absolute frequency of the D2 line in87Rb is known with an accuracy of 6 kHz. A frequency-stabilized diode laser locked to this line is used as a frequency reference, along with a ring-cavity resonator whose length is locked to the reference laser. For a given cavity length, an unknown laser locked to an atomic transition has a small frequency offset from the nearest cavity resonance. We use an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) to compensate for this frequency offset. The measured offset is combined with the cavity mode number to obtain a precise value for the frequency of The unknown laser. We have used this technique for absolute frequency measurements Of the D lines in133Cs and 6,7Li, and the 398.8nm line in Yb. We have also developed a technique to measure the ‘difference frequency’ of atomic energy levels using a single diode laser and an AOM. In this technique, the laser is first locked to a given hyperfine transition. The laser frequency is then shifted using the AOM to another hyperfine transition and the AOM frequency is locked to this difference. Thus the AOM frequency directly gives a measurement of the hyperfine interval. Applying this AOM technique we have measured the hyperfine interval of the D1 lines of all alkali atoms with high precision. We have further developed a technique of coheren-tcontrol spectroscopy (CCS) using co-propagating control and probe beam that is useful for highresolution spectroscopy. In this technique, the probe beam is locked to a transition and its absorption signal is monitored while the control beam is scanned through neighbouring transition. As the control comes into resonance with another transition, the probe absorption is reduced and the signal shows a Doppler free dip. This technique allows us to resolve transitions that are otherwise swamped by crossover resonances in conventional saturated absorption spectroscopy (SAS). We have applied this technique to measure hyperfine intervals in the D2 line of several alkali atoms. Thus, we were able to do high-precision measurements of both absolute and difference frequency of atomic transitions. The precision of the absolute frequency measurement is finally limited by the accuracy of 6 kHz with which the reference frequency is known. The nearby two photon transition in Rb, i.e. the 5S1/2→5D3/2 transition at 778 nm, is known with an accuracy of 1 kHz. In future, we hope to improve the accuracy of our technique using this transition as the reference. This thesis is organized as follows: In Chapter1,we give a brief introduction to our work.. We review the importance of frequency measurements and precision spectroscopy, followed by a comparison of the frequency comb and our ring cavity technique. In Chapter2, we describe measurements of the absolute frequency of the D lines of 133Cs using the ring cavity. We give a detailed discussion of the technique, the Possible sources of errors, and ways to check for the errors. The measurement of the absolute frequency of the D lines of Cs allows a direct comparison to frequency comb measurements, and thus acts as a good check on our technique. In Chapter 3, we describe the absolute frequency and isotope shift measurements in the 398.8 nm line in Yb. We probed this line by frequency doubling the output of a tunable Ti:Sapphire laser. We obtained< 60 kHz precision in our measurements and were able to resolve several discrepancies in previous measurements on this line. In Chapter 4, we describe the measurement of hyperfine structure in the D1 lines of alkali atoms. We used conventional saturated-absorption spectroscopy in a vapor cell to probe different hyperfine transitions and then used our AOM technique to measure the hyperfine interval with high precision. In Chapter 5 we discuss our measurements of hyperfine structure in the D2 lines of several alkali atoms. In the case of 23Na and 39K, the closely-spaced hyperfine transitions are not completely resolved in conventional saturatedabsorption spectroscopy due to the presence of cross over resonances. We have used coherent control spectroscopy to obtain crossover-free spectra and then measured the hyperfine intervals using an AOM. This technique was also used for high resolution spectroscopy in the D2 line of 133Cs. Finally, we describe our measurements of hyperfine structure in the D2 line of Rb using normal saturated absorption spectroscopy. Chapter 6, describes the relative and absolute frequency measurements in the D lines of6,7 Li at 670nm. High-precision measurements in lithium are of special interest because theoretical calculations of atomic properties in this simple three electron system are fairly advanced. Lithium spectroscopy poses an experimental challenge and we describe our efforts in doing highresolution spectroscopy on this system. Chapter 7 describes the hyperfine spectroscopy on the1P 1 state of 173Yb. Measurement of hyperfine structure in 173Yb has a problem because two of the hyperfine transitions overlap with the transition in 172Yb. In our earlier work (described in chapter 4), we had solved this problem by using multipeak fitting to the partially resolved spectrum. Here, we directly resolve the hyperfine transitions by using transverse laser cooling to selectively deflect the 173Yb isotope. In Chapter 8 , we give a broad conclusion to the work reported in this thesis and suggest future avenues of research to continue the work commenced here.

With increasing demands on network reliability and speed, network suppliers need to effectivize their communications algorithms. Frequency measurements are a core part of mobile network communications, increasing their effectiveness would increase the effectiveness of many network processes such as handovers, load balancing, and carrier aggregation. This study examines the possibility of using supervised learning to predict the signal of inter-frequency measurements by investigating various learning algorithms and pre-processing techniques. We found that random forests have the highest predictive performance on this data set, at 90.7\% accuracy. In addition, we have shown that undersampling and varying the discriminator are effective techniques for increasing the performance on the positive class on frequencies where the negative class is prevalent. Finally, we present hybrid algorithms in which the learning algorithm for each model depends on attributes of the training data set. These algorithms perform at a much higher efficiency in terms of memory and run-time without heavily sacrificing predictive performance.

En la presente tesis se muestra una nueva metodología de extracción "inteligente" de modelos circuitales lineales y no lineales para dispositivos MESFET y HEMT, además de efectuar numerosas aportaciones en el campo de las medidas radioeléctricas de dichos dispositivos mediante diseño del hardware y del software necesario para la automatización de las mismas. Por otro lado se presenta un novedoso modelo de Gran Señal para dispositivos HEMT de potencia que da cuenta del fenómeno de la compresión de la transconductancia y es fácilmente implementable en simuladores no lineales comerciales del tipo de MDS, LIBRA, HARMONICA, etc. Además se ha aumentado el rango de validez frecuencial de los modelos de pequeña señal mediante la obtención de las expresiones "exactas" de los modelos usuales de pequeña señal Vendelin-Dambrine, Vickes, Berroth & Bosch, etc. Otra novedad aportada por este trabajo de tesis ha sido aplicar estos modelos lineales a los transistores HEMT, evitando la obtención valores carentes de significado físico como ocurría hasta ahora. Como validación del modelo no lineal de HEMT se han llevado a cabo numerosas simulaciones del mismo en MDS que han sido comparadas con las medidas experimentales realizadas en nuestro laboratorio (Scattering, DC, Pulsadas y Pin/Pout) poniendo de manifiesto la exactitud del modelo. Para validar los modelos de pequeña señal se han efectuado simulaciones con el simulador lineal MMICAD utilizando transistores de diferentes tamaños procedentes de distintas foundries con objeto de visualizar el comportamiento del dispositivo independientemente del origen del mismo. / In this thesis a new methodology for the "intelligent" parameter extraction of linear and non-linear model for GaAs MESFET and HEMT devices is shown, besides numerous contributions in the field of Scattering and DC measurements of this kind of devices by means of hardware design and necessary software for the automation of the same have been done. On the other hand a novel Great Signal model for HEMT devices is presented. This model is capable to model the transconductance compression phenomenon and it is easily to built in commercial non-linear simulators like MDS, LIBRA, Microwave HARMONICA, etc. This work has also increased the frequency range for the usual small-signal models by means of calculate "exact" expressions of them. Another novelty contribution of this thesis is to apply for first time these linear models to HEMT transistors, avoiding the lacking of physical meaning values like it occurred up to now. To make possible the validation of non-linear HEMT model, simulations with MDS software and comparisons with experimental measurements made in our laboratory (Scattering, DC, Pulsed and Pin/ Pout) have been carried out and there was very good agreement between measured and simulated data. To validate small-signal models referred before, simulations with MMICAD software and comparisons between simulated and experimental scattering measurements using transistors of different sizes from several foundries and technological processes have been made.

Depuis plus d’un siècle, les changements globaux sont à l’origine de profondes modifications de nos sociétés, nos modes de vie et il en va bien sûr de même pour notre environnement. Cette trajectoire empruntée, bon gré mal gré, par l’ensemble de l’humanité n’est pas sans conséquences pour les systèmes naturels et semble déjà mener les générations futures au-devant de grands défis. Afin de ne pas compromettre notre capacité à relever ces épreuves futures et, devant l’urgence du besoin d’action, une partie de la communauté scientifique a choisi de concentrer ses efforts sur la couche superficielle de notre planète qui soutient la vie terrestre : la Zone Critique. L’émergence de ce concept souligne la nécessité de développer des approches scientifiques pluridisciplinaires intégrant une large variété d’échelles de temps et d’espace. En tant que lien entre les différents compartiments de la Zone Critique (Atmosphère, Biosphère, Hydrosphère, Lithosphère et Pédosphère), l’eau est une molécule essentielle aux échanges d’énergie et de matière dont la dynamique requiert une attention particulière. Compte tenu de la diversité et de la variabilité spatiotemporelle des transferts d’eau et de matière dissoute dans les milieux aquatiques, de nouvelles méthodes d'investigations sont nécessaires. L'objectif général de cette thèse est de décrire l’intérêt et le potentiel qui résident dans l’utilisation des gaz dissous, en particulier lorsqu’ils sont mesurés à haute fréquence sur le terrain, afin de caractériser la dynamique hydrobiogéochimique des eaux naturelles de la Zone Critique à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles. Pour parfaire cette ambition, ce travail s’est tout d’abord attaché au développement d'une instrumentation innovante puis, à la mise en place de nouveaux traceurs intégrés dans des dispositifs expérimentaux originaux et enfin, à l'acquisition, au traitement et à l'analyse de différents jeux de données de gaz dissous en se focalisant sur les eaux souterraines. / For more than a century, global change has led to a profound modification of our societies, our lifestyles and, of course, our environment. This trajectory followed willy-nilly by all mankind has consequences for natural systems and already seems to lead the future generations ahead of serious challenges. In order not to compromise our ability to meet these future ordeals, and because of the urgent need for action, part of the scientific community has chosen to concentrate on the near-surface environment that supports terrestrial life: the Critical Zone. The emergence of this concept underlines the need to develop multidisciplinary scientific approaches integrating a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales. As the link between the different compartments of the Critical Zone (Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere and Pedosphere), water is an essential molecule controlling the exchanges of energy and matter whose dynamics require special attention. In view of the diversity and spatiotemporal variability of water and matter transfers arising in aquatic environments, new methods of investigation are needed. The general objective of this thesis is to describe the interest and the potential lying in the use of dissolved gases, especially when they are measured at high frequency in the field, in order to characterise the hydrobiogeochemical dynamics of the natural waters of the Critical Zone at different spatial and temporal scales. To perfect this ambition, this work focused first on the development of an innovative instrumentation, then, on the implementation of novel tracers integrated into original experimental setups and finally, on the acquisition, processing and analysis of different dissolved gas datasets focusing on groundwater.