The middle ear plays an integral role in the normal hearing process by transforming sound energy from the air inside the ear canal into vibrations of the inner-ear fluid, and a malfunction in any middle-ear component can lead to significant hearing loss. Despite decades of research on the Tympanic Membrane (TM or eardrum), the transformation of sound energy into ossicular mechanical vibrations is not yet well understood. Part of this is because the available clinical and research tools provide insufficient data to understand the complexities of this transformation. The data insufficiency arises due to methodological, technological, and physiological limitations such as required nanometer and microsecond spatio-temporal resolutions of the sound-induced TM motions. Although holographic methods provide nondestructive non-contact measuring capabilities that satisfy most of the constraints for TM measurements, the influence of large submillimeter scale physiological motions in live samples produced by heartbeat and breathing can result in near complete saturation of TM holograms. In this Dissertation, a new high-speed correlation interferometry holographic method is proposed that can compensate for the effects of physiological noise using an open-loop control configuration. Preliminary animal measurements with the proposed method demonstrate the necessary accuracy and precision to measure the motion of the entire TM produced by short- duration (≥1 kHz) transient stimuli. Such rapid measurements reduce the effect of the longer and slower environmental and physiologic noises, and enable clinical applications. In the second part of this Dissertation, a novel multiple wavelength high-speed holographic interferometric shape measurement method is incorporated into the high-speed displacement measurements. The method uses the imaging optics of the displacement measurement system to perform shape and orientation measurements. Displacement and shape measurements can be made in less than 200 msec and allow computation of true surface-normal displacements. The surface-normal measurements are independent of the direction of observation, which helps comparisons of measurements made after changes in TM orientation or location. The results enable accurate and precise shape and displacement measurements for use in applications such as modal and finite element analyses, additive manufacturing of prosthetic TM grafts, clinical diagnosis, hearing rehabilitation, as well as optimization of hearing devices. In addition, measured shape parameters such as curvature, depth of cone etc., can help us understand TM mechanics and contribute to quantitative diagnostic assessments.

One of the key measurement devices used in characterization of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is the interferometric microscope. This device allows remote, noninvasive measurements of the surface shape and deformations of MEMS in full-field-of-view with high spatial resolution and nanometer accuracy in near real-time. As MEMS are becoming more prevalent in the areas of consumer products and national defense, the demand for a versatile and easy to use characterization system is very high. This Thesis describes the design, implementation, and use of an interferometric system that is based on modular components which allow for many loading and measurement capabilities, depending on a specific application. The system has modules for subjecting MEMS to vacuum and dry gas environments, mechanical vibration excitation, thermal loads (both heating and cooling), and electrical loads. Three interferometric measurement modules can be interchanged to spatially measure shape and deformation of micro- and/or meso-scale objects, and temporally measure vibrations of these objects. Representative examples of the measurement and loading capabilities of the system are demonstrated with microcantilevers and a microgyroscope.

The conventional methods for diagnosing pathological conditions of the tympanic membrane (TM) and other abnormalities require measuring its motion while responding to acoustic excitation. Current methodologies for characterizing the motion of the TM are usually limited to either average acoustic estimates (admittance or reflectance) or single-point mobility measurements, neither of which is sufficient to characterize the detailed mechanical response of the TM to sound. Furthermore, while acoustic and single-point measurements are useful for the diagnosis of some middle ear disorders, they are not useful in others. Measurements of the motion of the entire TM surface can provide more information than these other techniques and may be superior for the diagnosis of pathology. In this Thesis, the development of an optoelectronic holographic otoscope (OEHO) system for characterization of nanometer scale motions in TMs is presented. The OEHO system can provide full-field-of-view information of the sound-induced displacements of the entire surface of the TM at video rates, allowing rapid quantitative analysis of the mechanical response of normal or pathological TMs. Preliminary measurements of TM motion in cadaveric animals helped constrain the optical design parameters for the OEHO, including the following: image contrast, resolution, depth of field (DOF), laser power, working distance between the interferometer and TM, magnification, and field of view (FOV). Specialized imaging software was used in selecting and synthesizing the various components. Several prototypes were constructed and characterized. The present configuration has a resolution of 57.0 line pairs/mm, DOF of 5 mm, FOV of 10 ´ 10 mm2, and a 473 nm laser with illumination power of 15 mW. The OEHO system includes a computer controlled digital camera, a fiber optic subsystem for transmission and modulation of laser light, and an optomechanical system for illumination and observation of the TM. The OEHO system is capable of operating in two modes. A 'time-averaged' mode, processed at video rates, was used to characterize the frequency dependence of TM displacements as tone frequency was swept from 500 Hz to 25 kHz. A 'double-exposure' mode was used at selected frequencies to measure, in full-field-of-view, displacements of the TM surface with nanometer resolution. The OEHO system has been designed, fabricated, and evaluated, and is currently being evaluated in a medical-research environment to address basic science questions regarding TM function. Representative time-averaged holographic and stroboscopic interferometry results in post-mortem and live samples are herein shown, and the potential utilization discussed.

Cool giant and supergiant stars are among the largest and most luminous stars in the Universe and, therefore, dominate the integrated light of their host galaxies. These stars were extensively studied during last few decades, however their relevant properties like photometric variability and mass loss are still poorly constrained. Understanding of these properties is crucial in the context of a broad range of astrophysical questions including chemical enrichment of the Universe, supernova progenitors, and the extragalactic distance scale. Atmospheres of giant and supergiant stars are characterized by complex dynamics due to different interacting processes, such as convection, pulsation, formation of molecules and dust, and the development of mass loss. Current 1D/3D dynamical model atmospeheres are able to simulate these processes and produce a good agreement with the observed spectral features of evolved stars. However, the models lack constraints and need to be confronted to observables. Dynamical processes in stellar atmospheres impact the formation of spectral lines producing their asymmetries and Doppler shifts. Thus, by studying the line-profile variations on spatial and temporal scales it is possible to reconstruct atmospheric motions in evolved stars. As will be shown in this thesis, a tomographic method is an ideal technique for this purpose. The tomographic method is based on construction and cross-correlation of spectral templates (masks) with observed or synthetic stellar spectra in order to recover velocity fields at different optical depths in the stellar atmosphere.The first part of the thesis further improves the original implementation of the tomographic method. This improvement involves the computation of the contribution function in order to correctly determine an optical depth of formation of spectral lines. The tomographic method is, then, fully validated by applying it to a stellar convection simulation of a red supergiant star and correctly recovering its velocity field throughout the atmosphere. The second part of the thesis applies the tomographic method to the red supergiant star μ Cep in order to constrain its atmospheric motions and relate them to photometric variability. A phase lag (hysteresis) between the effective temperature and the radial velocity variations is revealed with timescales of a few hundred days, similar to photometric ones. A comparison to a stellar convection simulation of a red supergiant star indicates that hysteresis loops are linked to the stochastic shocks generated and shaped by the underlying large-scale convection and may be responsible for photometric variations in μ Cep. The third part of the thesis applies the tomographic method to spectro-interferometric observations of the Mira-type star S Ori. The uniform-disk angular diameters measured at wavelengths contributing to the tomographic masks increase with decrease of an optical depth probed by the masks. This validates the capability of the tomographic method to probe distinct geometrical depths in the stellar atmosphere. The last part of the thesis applies the tomograhic method to the Mira-type star RY Cep and compares the results to those obtained for μ Cep in this thesis. The comparison reveals differences in their behavior in the temperature-velocity plane pointing to the posibility to differentiate between Mira-type and red supergiant stars from their spectroscopic signatures. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

O projeto de transdutores piezelétricos envolve modelagens matemáticas e verificações experimentais, que são necessárias para validá-los. Através das análises dos transdutores verificam-se as influências das condições de contorno experimentais e as dificuldades para modelá-las. No entanto, na literatura atual este ponto não é discutido de forma abrangente. Além disso, as propriedades elétricas, piezelétricas e mecânicas dos materiais devem ser conhecidas com precisão para que o modelo represente um transdutor físico. Estas propriedades são fornecidas pelos fabricantes em valores aproximados, porém algumas delas, como por exemplo, o amortecimento mecânico, não são fornecidas, o que dificulta a modelagem. Por estes motivos, este trabalho trata do desenvolvimento de técnicas de verificações experimentais de transdutores piezelétricos, visando esclarecer efeitos relacionados às variações nas condições de contorno devido à fixação de pequenos espelhos e a fixação do próprio transdutor num suporte, e propor formas de incorporar esses efeitos nos modelos matemáticos. Além disso, propõe-se uma metodologia para a determinação do coeficiente de amortecimento das cerâmicas piezelétricas. São apresentadas as técnicas ópticas utilizadas na medição dinâmica e estática de deslocamentos de transdutores piezelétricos, os problemas das influências mecânicas, como vibrações ambientes, nas análises ópticas e as respectivas soluções adotadas. As análises numéricas foram conduzidas com o software de elementos finitos ANSYS e os resultados comparados com as verificações experimentais. Os materiais analisados são piezocerâmicas PZT-5A, piezoatuadores flextensionais, projetados pelo método de otimização topológica e um piezoatuador bilaminar. Nos resultados apresentados são mostrados os desvios e os comentários sobre as possíveis causas. / Piezoelectric transducer design is done by using numerical method and experimental analysis, which are needed to validate it. Transducers analysis allow us to verify the influence of experimental boundary conditions and the difficulties to model them. However, in the current literature this point is not discussed in a comprehensive way. In addiction, electrical, piezoelectric and mechanical material properties must be known with accuracy, to represent a real transducer. Approximately values of these properties are provided by manufacturers, however other property values are not provided, such as for example, mechanical damping, which causes difficulties for modelling. Therefore, this work is about the development of experimental techniques to analyze piezoelectric transducers, aiming to understand the effects related to boundary conditions changes due to stick of small mirrors and the way the transducer is held, and suggest of way to incorporate these effects in mathematical model. In addiction, suggests a methodology to determine the piezoceramics damping coefficient. It is described optical techniques used for displacement measurements of piezoelectric transducer in dynamic and static operation, problems related to mechanical influences in optical analysis, such as environment vibration, and respective applied solutions. Numerical analysis are conducted by using finite element software, ANSYS, and the results are compared with experimental verification. The materials analyzed are piezoceramic PZT-5A, flextensional piezoactuators, designed by using topology optimization and a bimorph pizoactuator. In the present results is shown the deviation and comments about possible cause.

L'interférométrie atomique a démontré sa capacité à effectuer des mesures de grande précision, notamment pour la réalisation de capteurs inertiels, les tests de physique fondamentale ou la mesure de constantes fondamentales. Une piste pour l'amélioration de la sensibilité des interféromètres atomiques est la réduction de la dispersion en vitesse de la source en utilisant un ensemble d'atomes ultra-froids pour augmenter le temps d'interrogation des atomes et accroitre la séparation spatiale entre les bras de l'interféromètre. Un nouvel interféromètre atomique à bras séparés est en construction au Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats et Réactivité de Toulouse. Ce dispositif répond à deux objectifs. Premièrement sa conception a pour but l'étude et le développement de nouveaux types de sources de condensat de Bose-Einstein (C.B.E.) double espèce de rubidium 85 et 87 adaptées à l'interférométrie. Cette source de C.B.E. repose sur l'utilisation de puces pour la manipulation et le refroidissement des atomes. Cette technologie est compacte et consomment peu d'énergie, ce qui est adaptée aux applications spatiales. L'autre objectif est d'utiliser cet interféromètre pour tester la neutralité de la matière via l'effet Aharonov-Bohm scalaire. Dans ce manuscrit je commence par exposer et justifer les choix techniques fait lors du dimensionnement et de la construction de la source de C.B.E. double isotopes. Par la suite, je présente les premiers résultats expérimentaux accompagnés de simulations numériques et d'explications théoriques. Lors de la première étape de refroidissement laser nous produisons un nuage de rubidium 87 et 85 contenant 4 × 10^10 atomes à une température de 10 µK avec un taux de cycle de 1 s. A la suite du refroidissement laser 8 × 10^9 atomes sont chargés dans le piège magnétique millimétrique de surface. Différentes expériences de caractérisation sont réalisées et expliquées à la lumières de simulations numériques. L'étude des fréquences de piégeage et de la profondeur a révélé les limites du premier prototype de piège millimétrique que nous avons réalisé au laboratoire. Cependant ces développements expérimentaux et théoriques servent à développer et implémenter dans le dispositif une nouvelle génération de puce à échelle micrométrique. / Atom interferometry has shown its interest for high precision measurements, such as inertial sensors, tests of fundamental physics or fundamental constant measurements. A way to improve sensitivity of such device is to reduce speed dispersion of the atomic cloud. The use of ultra-cold atoms allows increasing the interogation time of atoms and the spatial separation between the interferometer arms. The building of a new atom interferometer with separated arms is ongoing in the laboratory "Collisions Agrégats et Réactivité" at Toulouse. This new setup must meet two objectives. One aim of its conception is to study and develop a new kind of double species Bose-Einstein condensate (B.E.C.) source for atom interferometry with rubidium 87 and 85. This B.E.C. source relies on atom chip technology to cool down and manipulate atoms. This technology is compact and low power consuming, therefore suitable for transportable applications in space. A second aim is to use this interferometer to fix new boundary on the experimental value of atom neutrality thanks to the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect. In this manuscript I start by exposing and justifying technical choices made for the design of the double isotope B.E.C. source. Then I present the first experimental results compared with numerical simulations and theoretical explanations. During the first laser cooling stage we produce a cloud including 4 × 10^10 rubidium atoms of both isotopes (87 and 85) at 10 µK. This operation can be repeated every second. Following the laser cooling 8×10^9 atoms are loaded into a millimeter sized magnetic trap. Various experiments were performed to characterize the trap. Studies of the trap frequency and depth revealed the limitations of this first prototype. However these theoretical and experimental developments led to design and future implementation of a new generation of micro-chip in our apparatus.

Grâce à une analyse statistique de l’équation de la Mesure des Interféromètres Radio, un schéma de pondération adaptatif est dérivé,basé sur la qualité de calibration des données d’un instrument interférométrique. Ce schéma est utilisé sur une observation d’un champ extragalactique, l’ExtendedGroth Strip, observation qui contient une source radio-vive (3C295) dans son champ de vue. Cette source est résolue avec LOFAR-VLBI ; un modèle de source est créé afin de calibrer les stations LOFAR internationales. Cela permettra d’imager le champ a une résolution comparable à celle du Hubble Space Telescope, dont des données sont disponibles pour ce champ extragalactique. / By performing a statistical analysis ofthe Radio Interferometer’s MeasurementEquation, we derive adaptivequality-based weighting schemes.These are deployed on an observationof the Extended Groth Strip,which includes a bright 3C sourcein the field of view. This source,which is resolved for LOFAR-VLBI,is modeled and used as a calibratorsource for the Extended Groth Strip.This will allow the field to be imagedwith a resolution matching the HubbleSpace Telescope’s, of which dataare available for this field.

Malgré sa capacité unique à discerner des détails qu'aucun instrument “classique” ne peut voir, l'interférométrie optique est fortement handicapée par l'atmosphère. Celle-ci limite drastiquement les temps de pose des interféromètres au sol et les empèche d'accumuler suffisamment de photons pour observer des sources toujours plus faibles, limitant de facto l'échantillon des astres observables. Les suiveurs de franges sont des instruments développés spécifiquement dans le but de compenser ces perturbations atmosphériques, et ainsi de repousser les limites de l'univers visible par les interféromètres optiques. Le but premier de cette thèse est d'étudier et d'améliorer ces instruments, dans le contexte des technologies actuelles et des nouvelles générations d'interféromètres combinant 4 télescopes et plus. La seconde grande partie de cette thèse s'attachera quant à elle à montrer l'intérêt de l'interférométrie optique dans l'étude des binaires en interaction, astres en mesure d'apporter des réponses à un vaste panel de champs d'étude du fait de la diversité des processus physiques en jeu en leur sein. / Despite its unique ability to discern details that a “classical” instrument cannot see, optical interferometry is still strongly handicapped by the atmosphere. It drastically limits the exposure time of ground interferometers and prevents them to accumulate enough photons to observe weak sources, limiting de facto sample of observable stars. Fringe trackers are instruments developed specifically to compensate for these atmospheric disturbances, and so push the boundaries of the universe observable with optical interferometers. The primary purpose of this thesis is to study and improve these instruments in the context of the current technologies and of the new generation of interferometers combining four telescopes and more. The second major part of this thesis will show the advantages of optical interferometry in the study of interacting binary, stars able to answer to a wide range of domains because of the diversity of physical processes involved in them.

Les capteurs inertiels basés sur l’interférométrie atomique reposent sur l’utilisation d’atomes froids refroidis à des températures proches du micro-Kelvin et des temps d’interrogation de plusieurs centaines de millisecondes. Ces conditions conduisent à une extension du nuage d’atomes de l’ordre du cm, qui rend difficile leur interrogation efficace par des lasers à profil d’intensité gaussien. Cette thèse vise à développer plusieurs moyens de palier aux contraintes posés par le profil gaussien des lasers et leur intensité limitée. Deux axes principaux sont explorés.D'une part, l'inhomogénéité d'intensité des faisceaux d'interrogation a été adressée par l'étude, la réalisation et la caractérisation de solutions de mise en forme de faisceaux. Un modulateur spatial de phase a notamment été utilisé pour réaliser un faisceau plat en intensité et en phase de 3cm de diamètre. Une solution commerciale mise en vente durant la thèse a finalement été adaptée à une expérience d’interférométrie atomique, et son impact a été caractérisé.D’autre part, l’utilisation actuelle de lasers gaussiens de diamètres centimétriques pour adresser un maximum d’atomes apporte des contraintes sur les puissances utilisées. L’idée de profiter du gain en puissance de cavités optiques émerge dans le domaine et constitue le cœur de ce travail. Plusieurs concepts de résonateurs optiques ont été étudiés pour permettre l’amplification d’un mode de grande taille dans une géométrie compacte. Nous avons réalisé un résonateur dégénéré, intégrant une lentille intra-cavité, et avons étudié l’influence de ses désalignements et des défauts des optiques sur la résonance de grands faisceaux injectés.Ces deux dispositifs et leur couplage ouvrent la voie vers des générations avancées d’interféromètres atomiques, pour des expériences de précision en physique fondamentale ou pour la mise au point de capteurs inertiels à atomes froids compacts. / Inertials sensors based on atom interferometry use cold atom clouds cooled to micro-Kelvin temperatures and interrogation times of a few hundred of milliseconds.These conditions lead to an expansion of the atom clouds reaching centimetric sizes, which leads to difficulties when trying to adress them efficiently with gaussian laser beams.This work aims at developing different means to counteract the constraints brought by these gaussian beams and their limited intensity.Two main axes are explored.On the one hand, the intensity inhomogeneity of the interrogation beams has been adressed by the study, realisation and characterization of beamshaping solutions.One of these solutions has been adapted to an atom interferometry experiment, and its impact characterized.On the other hand, the current use of gaussian beams with centimetric sizes to interrogate as many atoms as possible brings constraints on the laser power.The idea of taking advantage of the optical gain of optical resonators rises in the field and constitutes the heart of this work.Different optical resonators concepts have been considered to allow the resonance of a large optical mode in a compact geometry.We built a degenerated optical resonator, with an intra-cavity lens, and studied the influence of misalignments and opticals defects on the resonance of large injected gaussian beams.These two devices and their combination open the way towards a generation of advanced atom interferometers, for precise experiments of fundamental physics or the development of compact cold atom inertial sensors.

abstract: UVLabel was created to enable radio astronomers to view and annotate their own data such that they could then expand their future research paths. It simplifies their data rendering process by providing a simple user interface to better access sections of their data. Furthermore, it provides an interface to track trends in their data through a labelling feature. The tool was developed following the incremental development process in order to quickly create a functional and testable tool. The incremental process also allowed for feedback from radio astronomers to help guide the project's development. UVLabel provides both a functional product, and a modifiable and scalable code base for radio astronomer developers. This enables astronomers studying various astronomical interferometric data labelling capabilities. The tool can then be used to improve their filtering methods, pursue machine learning solutions, and discover new trends. Finally, UVLabel will be open source to put customization, scalability, and adaptability in the hands of these researchers. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Software Engineering 2019