<p>The capability of manipulation of the flow of mechanical energy in the form of mechanical waves (including acoustic and elastic waves) has always been a challenge and a critical part in various areas of engineering. The recent advances in topological acoustic/elastic metamaterials certainly open a new pathway to the manipulation of mechanical waves, especially for the novel scattering-immune wave-guiding capability, even in the presence of defects, disorders or sharp bends along the waveguide. In this Dissertation, the theoretical background and experimental evidence of various types of elastic-wave topological metamaterials including analogues to 2D quantum valley Hall effect (QVHE) materials, 2D quantum spin Hall effect (QSHE) topological insulators are presented. First, the formulation the elastic-wave analogue to QVHE materials in a general continuous elastic phononic structure (not limited to local resonant lattices, filling the gap in the literature) is proposed, and a strategy using pressurized cells to actively control the phononic lattice is presented. By finite prestrain and geometric nonlinear effect, the space inversion symmetry of the original hexagonal lattice is broken, resulting in distinct QVHE phases (characterized by valley Chern numbers) in lattice domains with opposite pressurization. With such mechanism, the edge-state path, i.e., the domain wall connecting lattices with distinct QVHE phases, can be real-time configured. Further more, edge states with tunable frequency-wavenumber dispersion can be created at the external boundaries of the lattice by appropriate pressurization of the outermost cells. An aluminum reticular sheet built with water-jet cutting is machined in the pre-deformed pattern with a Z-shape domain wall at the center, which spatially divides the sheet into two domains with opposite QVHE phases. Using piezoelectric transducers and laser Doppler vibrometry, the measured harmonic and transient responses confirm the back-scattering-immunity of the topological edge states, and the frequency-wavenumber dispersion matches the numerical prediction. A strategy is proposed for unidirectionally generating edge states along the domain wall using two off-phase transducers, which is also experimentally demonstrated. For elastic-wave analogue to QSHE topological insulators, we focus on the ``zone-folding'' method and propose a honeycomb 2D elastic beam network with periodically altered thickness with a generalized Kekule distortion pattern. Such framework provides a parametric space with exhaustive control in the topological phase diagram of waves in the lattice compared to earlier works in the literature. The effective Hamiltonian as well as the characterized topological phase are gauge dependent, particularly they change with different reference frames. This lead to ambiguity in the topological phase of such phononic crystal. Based on this argument, it is predicted that edge states could exist at a dislocation interface connecting two piece of phononic structures of the same pattern with relative displacement. Following the same idea, but considering the available fabrication options, a phononic plate with honeycomb groove pattern engraved on both sides is built, which the depth varied according to the Kekule pattern. With proper tuning of the parameters, it realizes an analogue to the QSHE topological insulator. With <em>ab initio</em> calculation of the Berry curvature (without involving any approximations such as the perturbative approach), a new topological invariant <em>local topological charge</em> is defined and evaluated as the counterpart of the Z₂ invariant in the classical-wave-zone-folding analogue. The local topological charge has intrinsic ambiguity and its value depends on the selected reference frame. However, its <em>change </em>according to changes in the parameters, under a consistent reference frame, is well-defined. Given the fact that shifting the reference frame by certain fractions of a lattice constant was equivalent to changing one of the parameters by a certain amount, it also lead to a well-defined change in the local topological charge, which indicates topological phase transition, and one can predict the existence of edge states at the displacement-dislocation interface between two neighboring lattices having the same pattern up to a rigid-body shifting. The phononic plate is machined by a CNC mill, and the experiment is carried out using piezoelectric transducers and laser Doppler vibrometry, which confirms the existence and robustness of the topological edge states at such dislocation interface connecting identical pattern, which was unprecedented in both quantum and classical systems. The final part of this Dissertation focuses on creating classical mechanical analogues to the 1D Kitaev superconducting model and Majorana-like bound states aimed at future acoustic-wave based computation.</p>

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Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Limited research results are available on the aging impacts of surface discharges for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) excitation on practical insulators using the Tracking Wheel Tester (TWT) methodology. This thesis gives details of an experimental investigation to compare the aging performance of insulator samples using the TWT for High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) and positive and negative polarity HVDC excitation. Two series of tests were performed. The first series of tests evaluated the aging of six insulator rods, namely three Room Temperature Vulcanized Silicone Rubber (RTV SR) coated glass samples and three uncoated glass samples. Three creepage distances were used for each of the test materials, namely 277 mm, 346 mm and 433 mm. The tests were conducted with HVAC excitation and the test methodology described in the IEC 61302 standard. The second series of tests involved the testing of actual insulator samples. The test voltage and conductivity of the salt water solution were also adapted. Six insulators from different manufacturers, representing different materials and specific creepage distances, were tested with HVAC and positive and negative polarity HVDC excitation. The test samples consisted of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM), High Temperature Vulcanized Silicone Rubber (HTV SR), porcelain and SR coated porcelain insulators. The aging performance of the different test samples for the three types of excitation are compared in terms of peak leakage current, visual observations of surface degradation and hydrophobicity properties. The leakage current data for HVAC excitation shows that the insulators from the different manufacturers perform differently, even for the same type of material. The results also indicate differences in the way the surfaces degrade, as well as the rate of degradation. For insulators representing the same specific creepage distance, but different materials, it has been shown that the material does influence the aging performance. Comparison of the leakage current data for the HTV SR insulators from the same manufacturer, but with different specific creepage distances, shows that the specific creepage distance affect the aging performance significantly. In general, the test insulators showed higher peak leakage currents with HVDC excitation compared to HVAC excitation. The results for positive polarity HVDC excitation show that the dry band arcing, as well as the discharges, has the same form for all six insulators. The colour of the dry band discharges ranged from a blue-ish orange to a dark yellow, depending on the intensity of the leakage currents. The hydrophobic insulators, namely the HTV SR, EPDM and RTV SR coated porcelain insulators, had lost hydrophobicity within the first week of testing. The results for negative polarity HVDC excitation show severe surface degradation compared to the results for HVAC excitation. The effect of positive polarity HVDC excitation, however, seems to be more severe in terms of leakage currents and aging compared to negative polarity HVDC excitation.

In this thesis, we investigate the quantum transport properties of disordered three dimensional topological insulator (3DTI) nanostructures of BiSe and BiTe in detail. Despite their intrinsic bulk conductivity, we show the possibility to study the specific transport properties of the topological surface states (TSS), either with or without quantum confinement. Importantly, we demonstrate that unusual transport properties not only come from the Dirac nature of the quasi-particles, but also from their spin texture. Without quantum confinement (wide ribbons), the transport properties of diffusive 2D spin-helical Dirac fermions are investigated. Using high magnetic fields allows us to measure and separate all contributions to charge transport. Band bending is investigated in BiSe nanostructures, revealing an inversion from upward to downward bending when decreasing the bulk doping. This result points out the need to control simultaneously both the bulk and surface residual doping in order to produce bulk-depleted nanostructures and to study TSS only. Moreover, Shubnikov-de-Haas oscillations and transconductance measurements are used to measure the ratio of the transport length to the electronic mean free path ltr/le. This ratio is measured to be close to one for bulk states, whereas it is close to 8 for TSS, which is a hallmark of the anisotropic scattering of spin-helical Dirac fermions. With transverse quantum confinement (narrow wires or ribbons), the ballistic transport of quasi-1D surface modes is evidenced by mesoscopic transport measurements, and specific properties due to their topological nature are revealed at very low temperatures. The metallic surface states are directly evidenced by the measure of periodic Aharonov-Bohm oscillations (ABO) in 3DTI nanowires. Their exponential temperature dependence gives an unusual power-law temperature dependence of the phase coherence length, which is interpreted in terms of quasi-ballistic transport and decoherence in the weak-coupling regime. This remarkable finding is a consequence of the enhanced transport length, which is comparable to the perimeter. Besides, the ballistic transport of quasi-1D surface modes is further evidenced by the observation of non-universal conductance fluctuations in a BiSe nanowire, despite the long-length limit (L > ltr) and a high metallicity (many modes). We show that such an unusual property for a mesoscopic conductor is related to the limited mixing of the transverse modes by disorder, as confirmed by numerical calculations. Importantly, a model based on the modes' transmissions allows us to describe our experimental results, including the full temperature dependence of the ABO amplitude.

Ce travail de recherche présente la préparation et la caractérisation de matériaux monolithiques hautement poreux dérivés majoritairement de ressources naturelles. L'objectif était de préparer de nouveaux gels biosourcés jusqu'à 91%, de proposer des alternatives au séchage supercritique au CO2, et d'étudier quelques propriétés d'intérêt de tels gels après séchage, non seulement à l'état organique mais, dans certains cas, après pyrolyse pour obtenir des gels de carbone. A ces fins, le tannin et le soja ont été testés comme précurseurs, à différentes concentrations et différents pH, et trois voies de séchages ont été utilisées : supercritique, lyophilisation et séchage évaporatif. Les gels obtenus ont été caractérisés en termes de densité, porosité, distributions de tailles de pores et surfaces spécifiques, qu'ils soient sous forme organique ou carbonée selon l'application envisagée ou le type de porosité attendue. Leurs propriétés mécaniques et thermiques ont aussi été mesurées. La très large gamme de textures poreuses obtenues a permis de proposer des applications en tant qu'isolants thermiques, supports de catalyseur, ou électrodes de condensateur électrochimiques, selon les cas / This manuscript presents the preparation and the characterization of highly porous monolithic materials mainly derived from natural resources. The objectives were to: (i) develop new gels, biosourced up to the 91% level; (ii) suggest alternatives to supercritical drying in CO2, and (iii) investigate properties of interest for such gels in the organic state and, in some cases, after pyrolysis for obtaining carbon gels. For those purposes, tannin and soy flour were tested as precursors, at different concentrations and different pH, and three ways of drying were used: supercritical drying, freeze drying and evaporative drying. The obtained gels were characterized in terms of density, porosity, pore size distributions and specific surface area, whether in organic or in carbon form, depending on the intended application or expected type of porosity. Mechanical and thermal properties were also measured. The obtained broad range of porous textures allowed suggesting applications such as thermal insulators, catalyst supports or electrodes for electrochemical capacitors

Technology where a solitary dopant acts as the active component of an opto-electronic device is an emerging  field known as solotronics, and bears the promise to revolutionize the way in which information is stored, processed and transmitted. Magnetic doped semiconductors and in particular (Ga, Mn)As, the archetype of dilute magnetic semiconductors, and topological insulators (TIs), a new phase of quantum matter with unconventional characteristics, are two classes of quantum materials that have the potential to advance spin-electronics technology. The quest to understand and control, at the atomic level, how a few magnetic atoms precisely positioned in a complex environment respond to external stimuli, is the red thread that connects these two quantum materials in the research presented here. The goal of the thesis is in part to elucidate the properties of transition metal (TM) impurities near the surface of GaAs semiconductors with focus on their response to local magnetic and electric fields, as well as to investigate the real-time dynamics of their localized spins. Our theoretical analysis, based on density functional theory (DFT) and using tight-binding (TB) models, addresses the mid-gap electronic structure, the local density of states (LDOS) and the magnetic anisotropy energy of individual Mn and Fe impurities near the (110) surface of GaAs. We investigate the effect of a magnetic field on the Mn acceptor LDOS measured in cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy, and provide an explanation of why the experimental LDOS images depend weakly on the field direction despite the strongly anisotropic nature of the Mn acceptor wavefunction. We also investigate the effects of a local electrostatic field generated by nearby charged As vacancies, on individual and pairs of ferromagnetically coupled magnetic dopants near the surface of GaAs, providing a means to control electrically the exchange interaction of Mn pairs. Finally, using the mixed quantum-classical scheme for spin dynamics, we calculate explicitly the time evolution of the Mn spin and its bound acceptor, and analyze the dynamic interaction between pairs of ferromagnetically coupled magnetic impurities in a nanoscaled semiconductor. The second part of the thesis deals with the theoretical investigation of a single substitutional Mn impurity and its associated acceptor state on the (111) surface of Bi2Se3 TI, using an approach that combines DFT and TB calculations. Our analysis clarifies the crucial role played by the spatial overlap and the quasi-resonant coupling between the Mn-acceptor and the topological surface states inside the Bi2Se3 band gap, in the opening of a gap at the Dirac point. Strong electronic correlations are also found to contribute significantly to the mechanism leading to the gap, since they control the hybridization between the p orbitals of nearest-neighbor Se atoms and the acceptor spin-polarization. Our results explain the effects of inversion-symmetry and time-reversal symmetry breaking on the electronic states in the vicinity of the Dirac point, and contribute to clarifying the origin of surface-ferromagnetism in TIs. The promising potential of magnetic-doped TIs accentuates the importance of our contribution to the understanding of the interplay between magnetic order and topological protected surface states.

[pt] Nesta tese estudamos as propriedades físicas de materiais fortemente correlacionados e desordenados, usando Hamiltonianos modelos para descrevê-los. A tese está dividida em duas partes. Na primeira, estudamos o modelo de Anderson periódico para descrever as propriedades de um isolante Kondo. Em particular tomamos o composto de Ce3Bi4Pt3 como paradigma deste tipo de materiais caracterizados por apresentar um pequeno gap(da ordem dos meV ). Na presença de pequenas concentrações de impurezas metálicas como íons de La substituindo os de Ce, como é o caso da liga (Ce1-xLax)Bi4Pt3, sofre uma transição metal-isolante. O Hamiltoniano de Anderson periódico é resolvido a partir da solução de um único sítio atômico que logo é embebido numa rede de Bethe. Este modelo consegue explicar qualitativamente os resultados experimentais como a resistividade em função da temperatura para diferentes concentrações de íons de La, assim como as propriedades óticas do sistema puro. A influência da localização de Anderson nesta transição é analisada a partir do estudo da condutividade elétrica do sistema. A segunda parte está dedicada ao estudo das propriedades de sistemas descritos pelo Hamiltoniano de Falicov- Kimball, largamente utilizado para estudar fenômenos como a transição de valência e metal- isolante, também em compostos de Metais de Transição e Terras Raras. Neste modelo, o caráter destas transições ainda não está bem estabelecido já que o resultado é muito dependente da aproximação utilizada. Utilizamos o Hamiltoniano de Falicov-Kimball sem spin onde a banda de condução é tratada de forma exata já que mostramos a sua equivalência com o problema de uma liga. Os estados f são resolvidos em forma aproximada a partir da equação de movimento, aproximação que chamamos de Aproximação do Estreitamento Dinâmico(AED). Estudamos as propriedades eletrônicas como a ocupação dos estados localizados em função da energia local. Também neste caso, analisamos um sistema desordenado estudando o contraponto entre a correlação eletrônica e a desordem. As diferentes fases que aparecem no sistema como, metálica, isolante de Anderson e de Mott são investigadas em função dos parâmetros que definem o sistema. / [en] In this thesis we study the properties of strongly correlated and disordered materials, using model Hamiltonians to describe them. The thesis is divided in two parts. The first one studies the periodic Anderson model used to describe the properties of a Kondo insulator. In particular we take Ce3Bi4Pt3 as a paradigmatic compound, characterized by a small gap(of the order of meV ). For small concentration of metallic impurities, ions of La substituting Ce, the alloy (Ce1-xLax)Bi4Pt3 suffers a metal- insulator transition. The periodic Anderson Hamiltonian is solved using the atomic solution that is embedded into a Bethe lattice. This model explains the experimental results as the resistivity as a function of temperature for different concentrations of ions of La, as well as, the optical properties of the pure system. The Anderson localization is analyzed studying the electric conductivity of the system. The second part of the thesis is dedicated to study the property of a system described by the Falicov- Kimball Hamiltonian. This Hamiltonian has been used to study the valence and metal-insulator transitions in Transitions Metal and Rare Earth compounds. In this model, the character of these transitions is still not well understood, since it is very dependent of the approximation used. We study the Falicov-Kimball Hamiltonian without spin. The conduction band is exactly described since we show its equivalence with the problem of an alloy. The f states are studied using the equation of motion for the Green functions, decoupling them in a way defined as the Dynamic Narrowing Approximation(DNA). We study the occupation of the local states as a function of energy and other electronic properties. For an alloy the interplay between the electronic correlation and disorder is analized. The different phases that appear in the system, as metallic and Anderson and Mott insulating, are investigated as a function of the parameters that define the system.

Dans cette thèse, je présente une étude que j'ai réalisée à l'université Paris-sud sous la direction de Thierry Jolicœur sur les phases des Hall Quantiques Fractionnaire (HQF) dans la géométrie du cylindre.Après une rapide introduction dans le premier chapitre, je présente dans le second quelques concepts de base de l'effet HQF et j'introduit certains aspects de la géométrie cylindrique.Le chapitre 3 est consacré à l'étude de la limite du cylindre fin, c'est à dire lorsque la circonférence du cylindre est de l'ordre de quelques longueurs magnétiques. Dans cette limite, on sait que la fonction d'onde de Laughlin au remplissage 1/q se réduit à un cristal unidimensionnel, où une orbitale sur q est occupée. Dans le but d'étudier un limite intermédiaire, nous conservons les quatre premiers termes du développement de l’Hamiltonien lorsque la circonférence est petite devant la longueur magnétique. On trouve alors une expression exacte de l'état fondamental au moyen d'opérateurs de "squeezing" ou de produits de matrices. Nous trouvons également une écriture similaire pour les quasi- trous, les quasi-électron et la branche magnétoroton.Dans les chapitres 4 et 5, je me concentre sur l'étude des excitations de bord chirales des phases de HQF. Je présente une étude microscopique de ces états de bord dans la géométrie du cylindre, lorsque les quasi-particules peuvent passer d'un bord à l'autre par effet tunnel. J'étudie d'abord dans le chapitre 4 la phase de HQF principale dont l'état fondamental est bien décrit par la fonction d'onde de Laughlin. Pour un échelle d'énergie plus faible que le gap du volume, le théorie effective est donnée par un fluide d'électrons unidimensionnel bien particulier : un liquide de Luttinger chiral. À l'aide de diagonalisations numériques exactes, nous étudions le spectre des états de bord formé de le combinaison des deux bord contre-propageant sur chacun des cotés du cylindre. Nous montrons que les deux bords se combinent pour former un liquide de Luttinger non-chiral, où le terme de courant reflète le transfert de quasi-particules entre les bords. Cela nous permet d'estimer numériquement les paramètre de Luttinger pour un faible nombre de particules, et nous trouvons une valeur cohérente avec la théorie de X. G. Wen.J'analyse ensuite dans le chapitre 5 les modes de bord des phases de HQF au remplissage 5/2. À partir une construction basée sur la Théorie des Champs Conformes (TCC), Moore et Read (Nucl. Phys. B, 1991) ont proposé que la physique essentielle de cette phase soit décrite par un état apparié de fermion composites. Une propriété importante de cet état est que ses excitations émergentes permutent sous une statistique non-abéliène. Lorsqu'elles sont localisées sur les bords, ces excitations sont décrites par un boson chiral et un fermion de Majorana. Dans la géométrie du cylindre, nous montrons que le spectre des excitations de bord est fomé des tours conformes du modèle IsingxU(1). De plus, par une méthode Monte-Carlo, nous estimons les différentes dimensions d'échelle sur des grands systèmes (environ 50 électrons), et nous trouvons des valeurs en accord avec les prédictions de la TCC.Dans le dernier chapitre de ce manuscrit, je présente un travail que j'ai réalisé à UBC (Vancouver) en collaboration avec Marcel Franz sur les phase de Hall quantiques de spin induites dans le graphène par des adatomes. Dans ce système, les adatomes induisent un couplage spin-orbite sur les électrons des la feuille de graphène et introduisent du désordre qui est susceptible de détruire le gap spectral. Nous montrons dans ce chapitre que le gap spectral est préservé lorsque des valeurs réalistes de paramètres sont usités. De plus, au moyen de calculs analytiques à base énergie et de diagonalisations numériques exactes, nous identifions un signal caractéristique dans la densité d'états locale mettant en évidence la présence d'un gap topologique. Ce signal pourrait être observé au moyen d'un microscope à effet tunnel. / I present in this thesis a study that I did in the university Paris-sud under the supervision of Thierry Jolicœur onto Fractional Quantum Hall (FQH) phases in the cylinder geometry. After a short introduction in the first chapter, I present some basic concept relative to the FQH effect in the second one and introduce some essential features relative to the cylinder geometry, useful for the chapters 3, 4, and 5. The chapter 3 is dedicated to the study of the thin cylinder limit, i.e. when the circumference of the cylinder is of the order of a few magnetic length. In this limit, it is known that the Laughlin wave function at the filling factor 1/q is reduced to a one dimensional crystal in the lowest Landau level orbitals where one every q orbitals is occupied. We Taylor expand the Hamiltonian when the circumference is small compare to the magnetic length in order to study an intermediate limit. When only the first four terms of the development are kept, it is possible to find exact representations of the ground state with "squeezing" operators or matrix products. We also find similar representations for quasiholes, quasielectrons and the magnetorton branch. These results have been published in the article Phys. Rev. B 85, 155116 (2012). In the chapter 4 and 5 I focus onto the gapless chiral edge excitations of FQH phases. I present a microscopic study of those edges states in the cylindrical geometry where quasiparticles are able to tunnel between edges. I first study the principal FQH phase at the filling fraction 1/3 whose ground state is well described by the Laughlin wave function in the chapter 4. For an energy scale lower than the bulk gap, the effective theory is given by a very peculiar one dimensional electron fluid localized at the edge: a chiral Luttinger liquid. Using numerical exact diagonalizations, we study the spectrum of edge modes formed by the two counter-propagating edges on each side of the cylinder. We show that the two edges combine to form a non-chiral Luttinger liquid, where the current term reflects the transfer of quasiparticles between edges. This allows us to estimate numerically the Luttinger parameter for a small number of particles and find it coherent with the one predicted by X. G. Wen theory. We published this work in Phys. Rev. B 86, 115214 (2012). I then analyze edge modes of the FQH phase at filling fraction 5/2 in the chapter 5. From a Conformal Field Theory (CFT) based construction, Moore and Read (Nucl. Phys. B, 1991) proposed that the essential physics of this phase is described by a paired state of composite fermions. A striking property of this state is that emergent excitations braid with non-Abelian statistics. When localized along the edge, those excitations are described through a chiral boson and a Majorana fermion. In the cylinder geometry, we show that the spectrum of edge excitations is composed of all conformal towers of the IsingxU(1) model. In addition, with a Monte Carlo method, we estimate the various scaling dimensions for large systems (about 50 electrons), and find them consistent with the CFT predictions.In the last chapter of my manuscript, I present a work that I did in UBC (Vancouver) in collaboration with Marcel Franz onto quantum spin Hall phases in graphene induced by adatoms. In this system, adatoms induce a spin orbit coupling for electrons in the graphene sheet and create some disorder which might be responsible for destruction the spectral gap. We show in this chapter and in the article [Phys. Rev. B 89, 201410(R) (2014)] that the spectral gap remains open for a realistic range of parameters. In addition, with analytical computations in the low energy approximation and numerical exact diagonalizations, we find characteristic signal in the local density of states highlighting the presence of topological gap. This signal might be observed in scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments.

O presente trabalho faz um estudo do efeito do campo elétrico sobre a eficiência de separação de buracos e elétrons gerados, por um pulso de luz, numa camada próxima da superfície de um isolante. Obtém-se a fração de portadores que é retirada da camada superficial, pelo campo elétrico aplicado, e que entra no interior da amostra. Assume-se que o excesso de carga é instantaneamente produzido por um pulso de luz fortemente absorvido, e que os eletrodos são bloqueantes, evitando injeção secundária. A solução analítica exata é obtida para o caso em que os elétrons e buracos são criados aos pares, e estão sujeitos à recombinação do tipo bimolecular. Num segundo caso, considera-se o mecanismo de fotogeração extrínseco, e os buracos livres podem se recombinar indiretamente com elétrons aprisionados e os elétrons livres podem ser capturados por armadilhas profundas. Impondo-se a condição de que os buracos são muito mais móveis que os elétrons, obtêm-se uma solução numérica que é apresentada graficamente / The effect of the electric field on the efficiency of separation of electrons and holes generated by a strongly absorbed light pulse is studied in two cases. The fraction of carriers that enters the electrode and the one that goes into the sample is calculated assuming instantaneous generation. In the first, carriers are created in pairs and bimolecular recombination prevails. In the second, a photo-generation extrinsic mechanism is assumed, in which generated free holes recombine with trapped electrons present at the surface and electrons excited, out of traps may be captured again. In this last case, the mobility of the holes is assumed to be much larger than the one of the electrons. The numerical solution was found and conveniently ploted