Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, School of Chemistry, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-109).

Une crème solaire, ayant pour objectif de filtrer les UV, est un système complexe, à plusieurs phases, contenant deux types de filtres : des filtres dits chimiques - c'est-à-dire des molécules absorbantes - et des réflecteurs (comme le TiO2), protégeant par diffusion de la lumière. Afin d'évaluer l'efficacité des produits, des mesures d'indice de protection (IP ou SPF) existent ; la crème est placée in vivo sur différents phénotypes de peau ou in vitro sur un support plastique en PMMA.Afin de modéliser la protection solaire, nous avons cherché à connaitre la répartition de la crème sur son support. Nous avons pour cela utilisé l'OCT (Tomographie à Cohérence Optique) avec un support plastique métallisé, permettant d'améliorer le contraste des images.Ceci nous a alors permis, en connaissant les paramètres des différents filtres chimiques ou particulaires, de modéliser la transmission de la crème sur son support la peau ou le PMMA. Nous avons pour cela utilisé la méthode différentielle, une méthode de calcul de diffusion de la lumière permettant de traiter une structure bidimensionnelle.Nous avons alors pu comparer nos résultats de calcul avec des mesures de protection, étudier l'influence de quelques caractéristiques des particules comme la taille ou le matériau utilisé, ou bien encore évaluer l'effet de l'hydratation de la couche la plus externe de la peau sur la protection solaire. Nous avons par ailleurs cherché à améliorer la vitesse et le champ d'application des calculs en comparant les résultats obtenus par la méthode différentielle avec d'autres modèles (diffusion de la lumière par des tiges ou théorie de Mie). / Sunscreens, an emulsion of several phases, are used as UV filters in order to protect people from sun damages. Filters can be divided in two types: the chemical ones which are organic molecules that absorb selectively ultraviolet light and the physical ones (such as TiO2) which are inorganic particles that scatter and may absorb some of the UV radiation. The sunscreen quality is given by the sun protection factor (SPF), measured in vivo. In order to avoid long and complicated tests, a quick and simple in vitro method, using a plastic substrate, has been established, which gives an approximation of the SPF. In order to model the sunscreen protection, we had to evaluate the sunscreen distribution. We used an OCT (for Optical Coherence Tomography) device, after having spread a metallic thin on the substrate before applying the sunscreen. Theses images helped us to model the cream transmission on the skin or the plastic substrate, using the differential method which can calculate the scattering of light through a 2D structure.We then compared our results to measurements, but also studied the impact of several particles specifications, such as the size or the material of the particle, or study the effect of the skin hydration on the UV protection.Furthermore, we have compared our results to other calculation methods (Mie scattering or scattering by a set of parallel cylinders) in order to improve the calculation time and try a 3D-method.

This paper investigated the effects of swirl number and momentum ratio on the atomization and mixing performance of Swirl-Venturi Lean Direct Injection technology. Mie scattering of liquid water, was used to identify the location of water droplets in a cross section of the injector spray. Experiments were performed with three air swirlers with vane angles of 45, 52 and 60 degrees. The swirl number varied from 0.58 to 1.0 and air-to-liquid ratios from 15.8 to 35.6. A transition was observed in the liquid spray distribution for the 52 degree case, which unexpectedly produced twice as much signal than the 45 and 60 degree cases. The main cause of this increased signal may be due to instabilities in the flow when transitioning from low to high swirl states. The results from investigation of swirl number it was found that the spray pattern for is sensitive to swirl intensity. Two flow states were observed for a lower and higher swirl flow as well as a transition state that occurred with the lower swirl state. This work may aid in the specific inquiry of physical mechanisms relating to the effect of flow states on spray distribution. It is found that improved atomization and mixing performance are a result of increase in swirl number.

Patients with pancreatic cancer in metastasis rarely survive, thus the need for diagnostic tools for early stage detection. Current techniques such as ELISA and SPR are complex and expensive and cannot detect cancer in its early stages. Cancer Antigen 242 (CA 242) is a potential protein biomarker of pancreatic cancer with high sensitivity and specificity. This thesis presents a negative Dielectrophoresis (DEP) based method of detecting pancreatic cancer protein biomarker CA 242 in serum. A spectrum of concentration levels was generated with a cut off level 20 U/mL using a transduction mechanism with negative DEP spectroscopy, light scattering, and image processing. This was a fast and cost-effective method to diagnose early stage pancreatic cancer. This thesis also presents the design and simulation of an electrode modified to increase the electric field gradient with reduced heat generation and a concentration prediction model to predict concentrations from the generated spectrum of experiments.

Hazards associated with air pollution motivate the search for technologies capable of monitoring individual exposure to gaseous pollutants and particulate matter (PM). A Low-cost Optical Particle Counter (OPC), costing less than 50 USD, is an example of such technologies. Currently, OPCs are widely used to measure the concentration of particle matter in ambient air. While these low-cost air quality sensors are widely available, the accuracy and precision of these devices is highly uncertain. Consequently, the purpose of this thesis is to present an analytical model of two generic, low-cost OPCs based on the Laws of Conservation of Mass, Momentum, and Energy. These models utilize Mie scattering theory and Computational Fluid Dynamics models to quantify uncertainty and accuracy in low-cost OPCs based first principles. Modeling results indicate that the measurement of forward-scattered light may dramatically increase the accuracy of low-cost OPCs. These results also indicate that careful attention must be placed on the design of sensor flow passages so as to most efficiently transport particles to the scattering volume where they may be detected. A combination of careful attention to photodetector placement in the forward scattering regime as well as efficient transport to the scattering volume may increase low-cost OPC accuracy by magnitudes of order.

The aim of the presented work is to investigate the angle-resolved scattering characteristics of biological nano- and micro-scaled cell structures. The scattering results of cellular structures were compared to measurements of ideal spherical nano- and micro-particles. A monolayer of mouse fibroblasts L929 cells was cultivated in a Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) in a standard 24 well cell culture plate. The system allows an in situ measurement directly in the standard cell culture plate and a contaminant-free investigation of the viability of the cell cultures. Of particular interest was whether changes in the tumor characteristics occur in necrosis or other cell-harming effects. Because of the size ratios between wavelength and the scattering particles, all observations were investigated using Mie scattering theory. A setup for reliable measurements was developed and the scattered angle dependent intensity obtained was compared with simulated scattering characteristics. A homemade supercontinuum (SC) light source was filtered by an optical bandpass filter with a central wavelength of 500 nm. The scattered portion of the pulsed SC light behind the sample was recorded in a time-resolved manner at defined angles. A specimen holder adapted to standard cell culture plates allows detection of scattered radiation at angles between ±80° without angle-dependent Fresnel reflection losses and a Snell’s law bending of the propagation direction. Finally, the system was tested to detect structural changes of mouse fibroblast L929 cells before and after poisoning the cells with the cell detergent Triton X100 and the data clearly shows changes in the scattering characteristics when the cells were destroyed.

The living body tissues consist of cells which dimensions are bigger than a wavelength of visible light. Therefore a Mie scattering of reflected of backscaterred light occurs and different polarization states arise. The changes of polarization state due to the multiple scattering of light in the biological cellular tissues allow measure the aging of biological tissue. The reflected or backscattered polarized laser light exhibits multiple scattering on the sample surface and in its subsurface area.

Optical trapping of metal nanoparticles investigates phenomena at the interface of plasmonics and optical micromanipulation. This thesis combines ideas of optical properties of metals originating from solid state physics with force mechanism resulting from optical trapping. We explore the influence of the particle plasmon resonance of gold and silver nanospheres on their trapping properties. We aspire to predict the force mechanisms of resonant metal particles with sizes in the Mie regime, beyond the Rayleigh limit. Optical trapping of metal nanoparticles is still considered difficult, yet it provides an excellent tool to investigate their plasmonic properties away from any interface and offers opportunities to investigate interaction processes between light and nanoparticles. Due to their intrinsic plasmon resonance, metal nanoparticles show intriguing optical responses upon interaction with laser light. These differ greatly from the well-known bulk properties of the same material. A given metal nanoparticle may either be attracted or repelled by laser light, only depending on the wavelength of the latter. The optical forces acting on the particle depend directly on its polarisability and scattering cross section. These parameters vary drastically around the plasmon resonance and thus not only change the magnitude but also the direction and entire nature of the acting forces. We distinguish between red-detuned and blue-detuned trapping, that is using a trapping wavelength shorter or longer than the plasmon resonance of the particle. So far optical trapping of metal nanoparticles has focussed on a wavelength regime far from the particle’s resonance in the infrared. We experiment with laser wavelengths close to the plasmon resonance and expand the knowledge of metal nanoparticle trapping available to date. Existing theoretical models are put to the test when we compare these with our real experimental situations.

Les aérosols atmosphériques à l'Observatoire Pierre Auger : caractérisation et effet sur l'estimation de l'énergie des rayons cosmiques d'ultra-haute énergie.L'Observatoire Pierre Auger, situé dans la province de Mendoza en Argentine, réalise actuellement de grandes avancées dans la connaissance de la nature et de l'origine des rayons cosmiques d'ultra-haute énergie. Utilisant une technique de détection hybride, basée sur des détecteurs de surface et des télescopes de fluorescence, il fournit une large statistique, une bonne résolution en énergie, et un contrôle solide des incertitudes systématiques.L'un des principaux défis pour la technique de détection par fluorescence est la compréhension de l'atmosphère, utilisée comme un calorimètre géant. Afin de réduire autant que possible les incertitudes systématiques sur les mesures par fluorescence, la Collaboration Auger a développé un important programme de suivi de l'atmosphère. Le but de ce travail est d'améliorer notre compréhension sur les aérosols atmosphériques, ainsi que leur effet sur la propagation de la lumière de fluorescence.En utilisant un modèle de rétrotrajectographie des masses d'air, il a été montré que les nuits pauvres en aérosols ont des masses d'air provenant plus directement de l'Océan Pacifique. Pour la première fois, l'effet de la taille des aérosols sur la propagation de la lumière a été estimé. En effet, selon l'approche Ramsauer, les gros aérosols ont le plus grand effet sur la diffusion de la lumière. Ainsi, la dépendance en taille a été ajoutée aux paramétrisations décrivant la diffusion de la lumière et utilisée par la Collaboration Auger. Une surestimation systématique de l'énergie et du maximum de développement de la gerbe Xmax est observé.Enfin, une méthode basée sur les tirs laser très incliné produit par le laser central d'Auger a été développée pour estimer la taille des aérosols. Des tailles d'aérosols jusque là jamais détectées à l'Observatoire Pierre Auger peuvent à présent être contraintes. De premiers résultats montrent une population d'aérosols de grande taille en utilisant des tirs laser effectués dans le passé. / Atmospheric aerosols at the Pierre Auger Observatory: characterization and effect on the energy estimation for ultra-high energy cosmic rays.The Pierre Auger Observatory, located in the Province of Mendoza in Argentina, is making good progress in understanding the nature and origin of the ultra-high energy cosmic rays. Using a hybrid detection technique, based on surface detectors and fluorescence telescopes, it provides large statistics, good mass and energy resolution, and solid control of systematic uncertainties.One of the main challenges for the fluorescence detection technique is the understanding of the atmosphere, used as a giant calorimeter. To minimize as much as possible the systematic uncertainties in fluorescence measurements, the Auger Collaboration has developed an extensive atmospheric monitoring program. The purpose of this work is to improve our knowledge of the atmospheric aerosols, and their effect on fluorescence light propagation.Using a modelling program computing air mass displacements, it has been shown that nights with low aerosol concentrations have air masses coming much more directly from the Pacific Ocean. For the first time, the effect of the aerosol size on the light propagation has been estimated. Indeed, according to the Ramsauer approach, large aerosols have the largest effect on the light scattering. Thus, the dependence on the aerosol size has been added to the light scattering parameterizations used by the Auger Collaboration. A systematic overestimation of the energy and of the maximum air shower development Xmax is observed.Finally, a method based on the very inclined laser shots fired by the Auger central laser has been developed to estimate the aerosol size. Large aerosol sizes ever estimated at the Pierre Auger Observatory can now be probed. First preliminary results using laser-shot data collected in the past have identified a population of large aerosols.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'évaluer les performances d'une méthode d'imagerie optique non-invasive pour la détection de précancers et cancers précoces de la vessie, à l'aide d'une analyse de lumière laser rétro-diffusée. L'analyse de la distribution spatiale de la lumière à la surface de fantômes multi-couches imitant l'épithelium de vessie avec différentes propriétés d'absorption et de diffusion nous a permis de montrer les modifications de ces propriétés optiques entraînent des changements de la taille de la surface du spot de lumière rétro-diffusée, mesurables par une caméra vidéo. La méthode développée est également sensible à l'accumulation d'un photosensibilisateur et est applicable aussi bien pour des études en réflectance diffuse qu'en fluorescence induite. Les paramètres optiques des fantômes synthétiques tri-couches imitant différents états des épithéliums de vessie ont été calculés à partir de la théorie des ondes électromagnétiques appliquée aux diffuseurs sphériques sans et avec une couche. Ces paramètres ont servi comme entrées aux simulations de Monte Carlo qui ont permis d'obtenir les matrices des distributions d'intensité de réflectance diffuse. Notre étude démontre que les mesures en imagerie de réflectance diffuse non-polarisée permettent de fournir des informations utiles au diagnostic tissulaire / The present thesis aimed to evaluate the performance of non-invasive optical method for bladder pre- and early- cancer detection by means of diffuse-reflected laser light analysis. The analysis of light distribution at the surface of multi-layered bladder phantoms with different scattering and absorption properties showed that the changes in the optical properties lead to increase or decrease of the diffuse-reflected light spot area, detectable by a video camera. It was also determined, that the presented method is capable of detection of the photosensitizer accumulation, and can be applied for both (diffuse-reflected laser and fluorescence) studies simultaneously. The calculations for spherical and ?coated?-spherical tissue scatterers, based on the electromagnetic wave theory, allowed for obtaining optical parameters of three-layered biological phantoms and of bladder tissues at different states. These parameters served as inputs for Monte Carlo simulations, which provided us with matrices of diffuse-reflected light distributions. The study showed that the measurements of non-polarized back-scattered laser light can provide useful information on the tissue state