La compréhension de la formation du Système Solaire et de son Evolution est profondément connectée aux connaissances que nous pouvons avoir sur les structures internes des planètes. Des études sismiques in-situ sont donc cruciales pour sonder la structure (répartition et Épaisseur des couches) et la composition interne des planètes telluriques. L'instrument SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) se posera sur Mars en 2018 (mission InSight de la NASA). Il contient deux types de capteurs sismiques: les VBB (Very Broad Band) et SP (Short Period), montés sur le LVL (système de nivellement mécanique) qui a un double objectif: assurer le placement horizontal des capteurs sur le sol de Mars dans des conditions locales inconnues et fournir le couplage mécanique des sismomètres au sol. Dans cette thèse, un modèle analytique simple du LVL est développé afin de reproduire son comportement mécanique grâce au calcul de ses résonnances et de sa fonction de transfert. Ce modèle permettra d'étudier l'effet du LVL sur les données sismiques des VBB et SP enregistrées sur Mars. Celui-ci est d'abord implémenté numériquement puis sa validation est garantie grâce ˆ l'observation de grandes similitudes entre nos résultats et ceux des expériences réalisées en laboratoire avec le modèle de vol. Ces comparaisons prouvent ainsi la fidélité du modèle ˆ la réalité. Après quelques simulations, on remarque également une influence importante du couplage mécanique entre les pieds du LVL et le sol dans les résonnances trouvées. Une étude d'inversion est alors réalisée afin d'observer si le modèle pourrait permettre d'estimer les propriétés du sol au niveau du site d'atterrissage InSight. Un autre travail consiste ˆ modéliser les 6 capteurs VBB et SP sur le LVL et observer la réponse de l'instrument global en translation et en rotation. En effet, des effets de rotation du LVL ˆ courte période peuvent perturber les mesures sismiques. Cette étude peut aussi permettre d'estimer les performances en rotation de SEIS, qui peut être une information clé pour déterminer la vitesse de phase des ondes sismiques de surface, fortement dépendante de la composition du sol. Cette vitesse sera calculée sur Mars en réalisant une expérience sismique active grâce ˆ l'autre instrument principal d'InSight: HP3. Aujourd'hui, de nouveaux projets sont étudiés pour un retour sismique sur la Lune. En effet, les sismomètres Apollo bien qu'ayant une bonne résolution en terme de déplacement du sol étaient cependant incapables de détecter le bruit sismique du sol lunaire, appelé "meteoritic hum". Ce bruit, du aux chutes continues de micrométéorites, a une amplitude estimée ˆ 1/100e de la résolution des sismomètres Apollo ˆ une certaine fréquence. Les phases sismiques du noyau, même si estimées grâce au "stacking" des données, n'ont pas non plus été directement enregistrées. Une nouvelle génération de sismomètres, 100 ˆ 1000 fois plus sensibles que ceux d'Apollo, est donc désirée pour atteindre le plancher du bruit sismique lunaire. Cette sensibilité pourrait permettre de tirer bénéfice de l'intégralité des ondes sismiques générées par l'activité sismique lunaire. La structure d'un tel sismomètre serait un capteur de déplacement, toujours lié ˆ une masse d'épreuve, mais présentant de grosses améliorations en termes de performance, linéarité, et niveau de bruit. Pendant cette thèse, un prototype de système de lecture optique du déplacement de la future masse d'épreuve de ce sismomètre lunaire ultra-sensible est développé, basé sur l'utilisation de la technologie des détecteurs d'ondes gravitationnelles. En effet, ceux-ci sont une référence en termes de mesures interférométriques ˆ basse fréquence et très bas niveau de bruit. Le prototype construit est ainsi basé sur la technique de stabilisation laser appelée "Pound-Drever-Hall". / The understanding of the Solar System formation and its evolution is deeply connected to the knowledge on the planet interior structures. In situ studies with seismometers are therefore crucial to probe the internal structure (distribution and thickness of layers) and composition of the telluric planets. Indeed, SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) will land on Mars in 2018 (NASA InSight mission). Both types of sensors of the SEIS instrument, the VBB (Very Broad Band) and SP (Short Period), are mounted on the LVL (a mechanical levelling system) for which the purpose is twofold: ensure a level placement of the sensors on the Martian ground under yet unknown local conditions and provide the mechanical coupling of the seismometers to the ground. In this thesis, we developed a simplified analytical model of the LVL structure in order to reproduce its mechanical behaviour by predicting its resonances and transfer function. This model will allow to estimate the LVL effect on the VBB and SP data recorded on Mars. It is first implemented numerically and its validation is then guaranteed thanks to the observation of a lot of similarities between our results and those of the laboratory experiments with the LVL flight model. These comparisons prove the model fidelity with reality. After some simulations, we noticed a clear influence of the mechanical coupling between the LVL feet and the ground in the resonances found. For this reason, an inversion study has been realized in order to study if this model could allow to estimate the ground properties of the InSight site. Another work consists in modeling the 3 VBB sensors and the 3 SP sensors on the LVL and to observe the response of the global SEIS instrument in translation and rotation. Indeed, some rotation effects at short period can disturb the seismic measurements. This study can also allows to estimate the performances of SEIS, especially in rotation that can be one important information to recover the phase velocity of the surface seismic waves, highly dependent of the ground composition. This can be realized on Mars with an active seismic experiment thanks to the other main instrument of InSight mission: HP3. Today, new projects are also considered for a seismic return on the Moon. Indeed, the Apollo seismometers had a good resolution in ground displacement but were however unable to detect the Lunar ground seismic noise, named "meteoritic hum". This noise is possibly due to the continuous fall of micro-meteorites and its amplitude has been estimated to be about 1/100 of the resolution of the Apollo sensors at a certain frequency. Core seismic phases, although detected through stacking, have not also been individually recorded. A new generation of broadband seismometers, 100 to 1000 times more sensitive than the Apollo ones are therefore requested in order to reach the lunar seismic noise floor. This sensitivity will allow to take benefit of all the seismic waves generated by the Moon seismic activity. The core of such seismometer will be the proof mass displacement sensors, with extreme improvement in performances, linearity and noise level. During this thesis, we developed an optical readout prototype, based on the use of gravitational waves detectorsÕ technology which is the reference in term of interferometric measurements at low frequency and very low noise levels. This prototype is based on the "Pound-Drever-Hall" laser frequency stabilization technique. The objective is to improve the sensitivity by 2 orders of magnitude compared to the current seismometers performances

The effects of mobile phone-like electromagnetic radiation on the human brain activity are examined. The research focuses on both radio frequency (RF) exposures and the much less studied low frequency (ELF) exposures (less than 40 kHz) arising from the battery operation of GSM handsets. The first single blind study recruited a small sample of twelve human volunteers. The eyes closed resting EEG activity is monitored after radio frequency exposure. With SAR levels of 2 W/kg, results reveal no statistical changes in any of the examined frequency bands for neither pulsed modulated RF signals nor continuous wave RF signals. In the second double blind study, a sample of 72 volunteers is recruited and an improved protocol comprised of separate pulsed RF, continuous RF and pulsed ELF exposures is employed. Exposures are delivered through a custom made handset capable of independent RF and ELF exposures. Findings include a reduced alpha band frequency activity during pulsed radio frequency and low frequency radiations exposures but no changes under the continuous RF radiation. Changes are present both during as well as after exposure, while greater changes are observed during exposures. The study of some non linear measures of the resting EEG revealed no changes under any of the active exposures. As the observed changes are very close to the normal EEG variation during resting conditions, their biological significance and health impact is not immediately obvious. However, their mere demonstration points to a low level interaction mechanism which may deserve further study.

This thesis concerns the study of Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves during magnetospheric substorms. A wavelet algorithm which characterises magnetic ULF waves during substorm onset is presented. The algorithm is validated by comparing the spatial and temporal location of ULF wave onset to space-based observations of the aurora. It is demonstrated that the onset of ULF wave power expands coherently away from an ionospheric epicentre during the substorm expansion phase. Further, a case study of the time-domain causality of magnetotail plasma flows and ULF wave Pi2 pulsations is presented. Although highly correlated, it is demonstrated that the plasma flows cannot directly drive the ground magnetic waveforms but may be indirectly linked via a common source. Finally, results from a statistical study of ULF wave power during onset are presented. It is concluded that there is no statistical difference between historical sub-classifications of ULF waves observed during substorms.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs) are used as charge switches in flat-panel X-ray detectors. The inherent noise in the TFTs contributes to the overall noise figure of the detectors and degrades the image quality. Measurements of the noise provide an important parameter for modeling the performance of the detectors and are a sensitive diagnostic tool for device quality. Furthermore, understanding the origins of the noise could lead to change a method of a-Si:H deposition resulting in a reduction of the noise level. This thesis contains measurements of the low-frequency noise in a-Si:H TFTs with an inverted staggered structure. The noise power density spectrum fits well to a power law with Ñ near one. The normalized noise power is inversely proportional to gate voltage and also inversely proportional to channel length in both the linear and saturation regions. The noise is nearly independent of the drain-source voltage and drain-source current. The noise is unaffected by degrading the amorphous silicon through gate-biasing stress. Hooge¡¦s parameter is in the range 1-2*E-3 or 2-4*E-4 depending on whether the parameter is calculated using the total number of charge carriers in the accumulation layer or just the number of free carriers. As an example, the signal to noise ratio is calculated for photodiode detector gated by a TFT using the results from the noise measurements.

Vibration energy harvesting devices have been widely used to power many electronic self-sustainable devices. The aim of this study is to introduce an alternative design to an existing electromagnetic energy harvesting devices to improve the power production of the unit. This thesis presents a multiple degree of freedom compared design and it has demonstrated higher power efficiency over a wider range of frequencies. The power outputs for both the previous single degree of freedom and the current designs are compared and the developed models are validated against their experimental values. Finally, the numerical model is used to find an optimal arrangement to produce the maximum power for the unit.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs) are used as charge switches in flat-panel X-ray detectors. The inherent noise in the TFTs contributes to the overall noise figure of the detectors and degrades the image quality. Measurements of the noise provide an important parameter for modeling the performance of the detectors and are a sensitive diagnostic tool for device quality. Furthermore, understanding the origins of the noise could lead to change a method of a-Si:H deposition resulting in a reduction of the noise level. This thesis contains measurements of the low-frequency noise in a-Si:H TFTs with an inverted staggered structure. The noise power density spectrum fits well to a power law with Ñ near one. The normalized noise power is inversely proportional to gate voltage and also inversely proportional to channel length in both the linear and saturation regions. The noise is nearly independent of the drain-source voltage and drain-source current. The noise is unaffected by degrading the amorphous silicon through gate-biasing stress. Hooge¡¦s parameter is in the range 1-2*E-3 or 2-4*E-4 depending on whether the parameter is calculated using the total number of charge carriers in the accumulation layer or just the number of free carriers. As an example, the signal to noise ratio is calculated for photodiode detector gated by a TFT using the results from the noise measurements.

No description available.

The study is based upon the Vertical Line Array (VLA) of the Asian Seas International Acoustic Experiment (ASIAEX), dated from May 3, 2001 to May 16, 2001, in which the ambient noise was measured and the six frequencies (including 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,200 Hz) were analyzed. The depth dependence of ambient noise levels in shallow water is not significant, and the fluctuations of ambient noise levels can be measured by Fourier analysis. With the similar analysis on static water pressure and temperature variation, the acoustic data has shown obvious in K1 and M2 tidal periods. The frequency dependence of ambient noise was also investigated, the lower frequency components, 50, 100, and 200 Hz, were mainly contributed from distant shipping noise, and the local wind was the dominating factor in higher frequencies such as 400, 800, and 1,200 Hz. This result was further verified by the increased levels at higher frequency due to the typhoon Cimaron during the experiment. Finally, the probability distribution function of ambient noise levels was calculated at each frequency, and was found the lower frequency ambient noise levels were not significantly affected by the typhoon as higher frequency. The threshold frequency of the ambient noise levels affected by the wind wave is about 400 Hz.

No description available.

In this study the exposure of mining vehicle operators, on an opencast goldmine in Tanzania, to certain hazards specific to their occupation was assessed. The aim was to quantify these levels of exposure in order to estimate the risk of health effects but also to report levels of these hazards that exist on mining vehicles. Three different hazards with different physiological effects were assessed and it included exposure to whole-body vibration, A-weighted noise and low frequency noise. In each case correctly calibrated instrumentation was used and internationally accepted methods were followed. It was found that mining vehicles commonly exposed operators to levels of whole-body vibration within and above the ISO Health Guidance Caution Zone (HGCZ) and above the ropean action level, which indicates the need for intervention and control. These levels are a cause for concern and will likely lead to health effects. Noise that damages human hearing (A-weighted noise) was present in high levels on mining vehicles, in each case being higher than the permissible exposure limit of 85 dB(A). Thus operators of mining vehicles are exposed to noise levels that will damage their hearing in time. A potential hazard in the occupational world, low frequency noise, was also included in the assessment. Literature indicates that low frequency noise is capable of causing many human health effects and thus levels on mining vehicles were reported in order to give an indication of what levels may be expected in this department of mining. It was found that much of the sound energy measured on vehicles was located in the low frequency range. In the lowest frequency band measured, Leq levels of more than 100 dB(Z) were commonly found. Controls should be implemented as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that operators are not exposed above recommended or permissible levels for each hazard. These controls can include good maintenance of vehicles and roads to reduce whole-body vibration, sound proofing of vehicle cabs along with hearing protection devices to protect hearing and further research regarding the exposure and health effects caused by low frequency noise. Following literature indicating the physiological effects of low frequency noise exposure and also the presence thereof in different occupations, it is concluded that A-weighted noise measurements alone can not be used when quantifying the risk involved in a given acoustical environment. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Occupational Hygiene))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009