Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2000. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Harold K. Haugen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-111). Also available via World Wide Web.

Ti: sapphire femtosecond laser ablation of dielectrics (fused silica and BK7 glass) and metals (Cu, Fe, Al) is presented. Results of laser -induced breakdown experiments in fused silica and BK7 glass employing 130 fs -1.7 ps, 790 nm laser pulses are reported. The fluence ablation threshold does not follow the scaling of ~ when pulses are shorter than 1 ps. Single-shot and multi-shot (130 fs pulse) ablation of selected materials are investigated with laser wavelengths of 395 nm, 790 nm, and 1300 nm. The ablation threshold is almost independent of the laser wavelength. The surface morphologies in metals after ultrashort pulse ablation are very different from dielectrics and semiconductors. The roughness of the ablated surface depends on the thermal properties of the metal target. The preliminary TEM result from Cu single crystal that was irradiated by single laser pulses shows few defects in the center region of the ablated crater. Single-shot ablation of single-crystal Fe induces much different surface features than on selected samples of poly-crystal Fe metal. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

No description available.

No description available.

Environmental response as determined by the cell-polymer interaction stands as the greatest restriction to the implementation of new polymeric materials. Cell-polymer interactions are most influenced by substrate surface free energy, surface chemistry, topography, and rigidity[1]. Alteration of these properties through surface treatment has become a common approach to attain the desired cellular interaction. This study investigates Kr-F excimer laser(248 nm) surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate), glycol-modified poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polytetrafluoroethylene and its effect on the adhesion of Escherichia Coli K-12 bacteria. These three polymers were chosen for their very different mechanisms of ablation as well as their range of surface free energies and bacterial responses[2-4]. Polymers were ablated using a pulsed Kr-F excimer laser with a dose of 3.3x 10-9 W/cm2 per pulse. This high level of UV radiation was sufficient to cause significant surface damage on both PMMA and PTFE. PETG showed some signs of wavering in the surface and material removal was confirmed through optical microscopy. Due to the extensive damage associated with ablation, a much lower-powered, continuous beam Kr-F laser was used for contact angle samples. It delivered a dose of 1.27 W/cm2. Contact angle measurements were then taken which showed dose-dependent surface free energy in all three polymers. Following ablation, bacterial adhesion to PETG was improved two-fold, while it decreased in both PTFE and PMMA. Surface chemistry analysis supported the idea that the ablation occurred through chain scission, since there were no new surface groups created. There were significan texture modifications observed in PTFE and PMMA whicle PETG demonstrated the rolling structure characteristic of polyesters following laser ablation described in Wefers et al [4] and Hopp et al [5]. Contact angle measurements showed a correlation between radiation dose and surface free energy of all three polymers. / Master of Science

Two types of core/shell nanoparticles (CS-NPs) generation based on laser ablation are developed in this study, namely, double pulse laser ablation and laser ablation in colloidal solutions. In addition to the study of the generation mechanism of CS-NPs in each scheme, the optical properties of designed CS-NPs are determined with UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy and EM field simulation. In the first scheme, which is double pulse laser ablation, two laser beams are fired in a sequence on two adjacent targets with different material. We have successfully demonstrated the generation of Sn/Glass, Zn/Glass, Zn/Si, Ge/Si, and Cu/Zn CS-NPs. Key factors affecting the generation of CS-NPs are (1) surface tensions of the constructing materials affecting the associated Gibbs free energy of CS-NPs, (2) physical properties of selected background gases (i.e., He and Ar), (3) delay time between two laser pulses, and (4) the amount of laser energy. The second scheme examined for the generation of CS-NPs is through laser ablation of solid targets in colloidal solutions. Compared to the double pulse laser ablation, this second approach provides better control of the size and shape of the resulting CS-NPs. Two colloidal solutions, namely, Au and SiO2 colloidal solution are applied in the second scheme. Key factors affecting the formation of CS-NPs with the second scheme and are (a) the adhesion energy between the shell and the core material, (b) the diameter of the core and (c) the laser ablation time and the laser energy. Red shift of absorption peaks are measured in both SiO2/Au and SiO2/Ag colloids compared with pure nanoparticles (NPs). The amount of red-shift is very sensitive to the shell thickness of the CS-NPs. The same red shift is reproduced with the corresponding full wave analysis. The observed red shift can be attributed to the additional surface plasmon resonance at the interface of metal/dielectric of the CS-NPs compared with pure nanoparticles. Through adjusting the material and size combination, the absorption peak of the CS-NPs can be tuned in a limit range around the intrinsic absorption peak of the metal of the CS-NPs. The freedom of adjusting the absorption peak makes CS-NPs is favorable in bio and optical applications.

ITC/USA 2009 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fifth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2009 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Electrostatic approach is considered for mitigation of communication attenuation during the testing of laser powered directed energy weapon. Mitigation analysis is carried out for two target materials Al and Ti. Plasma parameters are obtained using one dimensional coupled analysis of laser-target interaction. Influence of laser beam frequency on plasma parameters is addressed. Sheath thickness is obtained using transient sheath calculations. It is found that uninterrupted telemetry can be achieved | using a maximum bias voltage of 10 kV, through Al plasma for fluences below 5 J/cm² and through Ti plasma for fluences below 2 J/cm².

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

Microwave spectroscopy is a gas phase technique typically geared toward measuring the rotational transitions of Molecules. The information contained in this type of spectroscopy pertains to a molecules structure, both geometric and electronic, which give insight into a molecule's chemistry. Typically this type of spectroscopy is high resolution, but narrowband ≤1 MHz in frequency. This is achieved by tuning a cavity, exciting a molecule with electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region, turning the electromagnetic radiation o, and measuring a signal from the molecular relaxation in the form of a free induction decay (FID). The FID is then Fourier transformed to give a frequency of the transition. "Fast passage" is defined as a sweeping of frequencies through a transition at a time much shorter (≤10 s) than the molecular relaxation (≈100 s). Recent advancements in technology have allowed for the creation of these fast frequency sweeps, known as "chirps", which allow for broadband capabilities. This work presents the design, construction, and implementation of one such novel, high-resolution microwave spectrometer with broadband capabilities. The manuscript also provides the theory, technique, and motivations behind building of such an instrument. In this manuscript it is demonstrated that, although a gas phase technique, solids, liquids, and transient species may be studied with the spectrometer with high sensitivity, making it a viable option for many molecules wanting to be rotationally studied. The spectrometer has a relative correct intensity feature that, when coupled with theory, may ease the difficulty in transition assignment and facilitate dynamic chemical studies of the experiment. Molecules studied on this spectrometer have, in turn, been analyzed and assigned using common rotational spectroscopic analysis. Detailed theory on the analysis of these molecules has been provided. Structural parameters such as rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants have been determined and reported for most molecules in the document. Where possible, comparisons have been made amongst groups of similar molecules to try and get insight into the nature of the bonds those molecules are forming. This has been achieved the the comparisons of nuclear electric quadrupole and nuclear magnetic coupling constants, and the results therein have been determined and reported.