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This dissertation is a theoretical treatment of the electric field dependence of optical properties such as Quantum Confined Stark (QCS) shifts, Photoluminescence Quenching (PLQ), and Excitonic Mixing in quantum well heterostructures. The reduced spatial dimensionality in heterostructures greatly enhances these optical properties, more than in three dimensional semiconductors. Charge presence in the quantum well from doping causes the potential to bend and deviate from the ideal square well potential. A potential bending that varies as the square of distance measured from the heterostructure interfaces is derived self-consistently. This potential is used to solve the time-independent Schrodinger equation for bound state energies and wave functions within the framework of the Wentzel, Kramers, and Brillouin (WKB) approximation. The theoretical results obtained from the WKB approximation are limited to wide gap semiconductors with large split off bands such as gallium arsenide-gallium aluminum arsenide and indium gallium arsenide—indium phosphide. Quantum wells with finite confinement heights give rise to an energy dependent WKB phase. External electric and magnetic fields are incorporated into the theory for two different geometries. For electric fields applied perpendicular to the heterostructure multilayers, QCS shifts and PLQ are found to be in excellent agreement with the WKB calculations. Orthogonality between electrons and holes gives rise to interband mixing in the presence of an external electric field. On the contrary, intraband mixing between light and heavy holes is not sufficiently accounted for in the WKB approximation.

La connaissance de l'impact des aérosols sur le climat, au cours de leur cycle de vie, est aujourd'hui un enjeu majeur de la communauté scientifique. En particulier, les aérosols organiques secondaires (AOS) constituent une part importante de la fraction fine des aérosols et pourtant leurs propriétés optiques et hygroscopiques présentent encore des fortes incertitudes. Cette étude avait pour objectif de comprendre et d'évaluer l'évolution des propriétés optiques et hygroscopiques de l'AOS produit dans la chambre de simulation atmosphérique CESAM à partir de l'ozonolyse de l'α-pinène au cours de sa formation et de son vieillissement dans l'atmosphère. Afin de mener à bien ce projet, un HTDMA a été développé et validé. Cette approche a été complétée en mesurant les propriétés hygroscopiques de l'ensemble de la population polydispersé d'aérosols par humidification au sein de la chambre de simulation. Afin de mettre en évidence des modifications de propriétés optiques, l'évolution temporelle de l'indice complexe de réfraction a été déterminée. La méthodologie a été validée et l'effet du temps de contact des particules avec la vapeur d'eau a été investigué. Cette méthodologie a ensuite été appliquée à l'étude des propriétés optiques et hygroscopiques de l'AOS généré par ozonolyse de l'α-pinène au cours de sa formation et du vieillissement par différents processus: dans le noir, en présence d'un excès d'ozone et par photolyse. Les liens avec des modifications possibles de la composition chimique ont été investigués par des observations et par modélisation / The impact of aerosols on climate represents a major challenge in atmospheric science. This is particularly true for secondary organic aerosols, representing a major fraction of the fine aerosols. However, their optical and hygroscopic properties are poorly understood. The present work investigates the optical and hygroscopic properties of SOA generated from the ozonolysis of α-pinene at first and after having undergone atmospheric ageing reactions using the laboratory smog chamber CESAM. For that purpose, an HTDMA has been built and a new approach has been developed to measure hygroscopic properties of polydispersed aerosols by humidifying them directly in the smog chamber. The refractive index has been calculated to investigate the optical properties changes. The methodology has been validated and the residence time of particles with water vapor has been investigated. Then, it has been applied to study the optical and hygroscopic properties of α-pinene SOA during its formation and during ageing by various processes: reaction in the dark, with ozone, and photolysis. The link with changes in the composition has been investigated by measurements and modeling

Ces travaux de thèse sont consacrés à l'élaboration de revêtement réfléchissant et diffusant par projection plasma d'arc soufflé. Par la sélection des paramètres opératoires et le contrôle de la microstructure des revêtements élaborés, la première partie de cette étude présente la mise en forme d'un revêtement bicouche (micro/nano-structuré) d'alumine possédant une réflectance supérieure à 90% sur la gamme UV-Visible. Le transfert nécessaire à la démonstration pour démontrer la faisabilité d'élaboration de pièces de plus grandes dimensions (0.25 m2) a été entrepris. Dans une seconde partie et à partir de l'exploration de la microstructure des revêtements et de leur physicochimie, l'amélioration de la réflectance dans le proche UV par la couche nanostructurée est explicitée d'une part par la nature de la phase cristallographique moins absorbante et d'autre part par la présence en nombre de pores de faibles dimensions. De plus, la caractérisation des propriétés radiatives des revêtements par inversion de l'Equation du Transfert Radiatif a permis d'obtenir des éléments de compréhension des phénomènes d'interaction rayonnement/matière. Enfin, une dernière partie a pour objectif de mettre en place les différents éléments nécessaires à la prédiction des propriétés optiques de revêtements mis en forme par projection plasma. Un modèle tridimensionnel a été proposé pour représenter numériquement la structure de chacune des couches micro- et nanostructurée à partir des analyses microstructurales. Le code de résolution des équations de Maxwell par méthode FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) a été validé et de premières simulations ont été réalisées / This study deals with the manufacturing of reflecting and scattering coatings by plasma spraying process. By the selection of operating parameters and the control of the coatings microstructure, the first part of this work presents the elaboration of a micro/nanostructured bilayer material in alumina with a reflectance up to 90 % in the near UV-Visible range of wavelength. The feasibility of larger pieces (0.25m2) is demonstrated and the different characterizations for inserting the material in the Laser MegaJoule are performed. In a second part, from characterizations of the microstructure (by SEM, Hg Porosimetry, USAXS) and the chemical composition (DRX, X fluorescence), the improvement of the reflectance in the near-UV thanks to the nanostructured layer is explained, on the one hand, by the less absorbing crystallographic phase and, on the other hand, by the smaller and numerous pores. Moreover, the characterization of the radiation properties by the Radiation Transfer Equation inversion brings new elements for understanding the phenomena during radiation/porous media interaction and to determine the spatial repartition of the scattering radiation. The aim of the last part is to set up the different tools which are necessary to compute simulations of plasma-sprayed coatings optical behavior. From the microstructure analysis, a tridimensional numerical representation of each layer is suggested. The resolution of Maxwell equations is performed by FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) method. The model is validated and some first simulations are realized

Le niobate de lithium (LN) présente des propriétés piézo-électrique, électro-optique, optique non linéaire et photo-réfractive, qui sont riches d'applications matures (filtres acoustiques de surface, modulateurs EO, convertisseurs de fréquence) ou potentielles (mémoires holographiques, guide d'onde photo-inscrits). En utilisant la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT) couplée à la méthode des ondes planes augmentées linéarisées à potentiel total (FP-LAPW) implémentée dans le code WIEN2k_12, nous avons pu investiguer - avec plus de détails - les propriétés électroniques du LN stoechiométrique (SLN) tel que la structure de bande, les densités d'états, la densité de charges électroniques, les masses effectives, les intégrales du saut Nb-Nb et O-O, ainsi que les différentes propriétés optiques déduites de la fonction diélectrique à savoir l'indice de réfraction, le coefficient d'extinction, le coefficient d'absorption... Au cours de notre étude, nous avons essayé aussi d'analyser et d'interpréter, les désaccords qui apparaissent dans les résultats de calculs ab initio d'un auteur à un autre. Ces désaccords imputables aux méthodes de calcul employées sont parfois déjà très sensibles pour le matériau SLN exempt de défauts. La valeur expérimentale de l'énergie de gap (3.78 eV) correspondante à LN quasi stoechiométrique (NSLN) - fréquemment cité dans la littérature - fut suggérée plus grandes pour le SLN d'après des études ab initio récentes. Pour cette raison, nous avons tenté de la corriger en utilisant une nouvelle approche (en se référant à la valeur d'indice de réfraction expérimental du SLN). Ainsi, nous nous proposons une nouvelle valeur théorique Eg pour le LN pur. A cet effet, une correction de certains pics d'énergie des états excités des spectres optiques a été mise en évidence / Lithium niobate (LN) has piezoelectric, electro-optics, nonlinear optical and photorefractive properties, which are rich in mature (surface acoustic filters, EO modulators, frequency converters) or potential (holographic memories, photo-induced waveguide) applications. Using the density functional theory (DFT) combined with the full potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP- LAPW) method implemented in the WIEN2k_12 code, we investigated - with more details - the electronic properties of stoichiometric LN (SLN) such as the band structure, the density of states, the charge density, the effective masses, the hopping integral for Nb-Nb and O-O, as well as different optical properties derived from the dielectric function like the refractive index, the extinction index, the absorption coefficient ...etc. In our study, we also tried to analyze and interpret some disagreements that appear in the results of ab initio calculations of an author to another. These disagreements due to the methods of calculation employed may be very sensitive for the SLN material without any defects. The experimental value of the energy band gap (3.78 eV) corresponding to LN nearly stoichiometric (NSLN) - frequently cited in the literature - was suggested to be largest for SLN according to recent ab inito studies. For this reason, we have tried to correct it by using a new approach (referring to the value of the experimental refractive index of SLN). Thus, we propose a new theoretical value Eg for pure LN and we bring correction of some energy's peaks of excited states of the optical spectra

Les travaux effectués au cours de cette thèse concernent le développement d’un instrument à faible coût et porté sur la personne permettant le suivi quantitatif des paramètres physiologiques de la peau in vivo et de manière non invasive. L’instrument est fondé sur la technique de Spectroscopie de Réflectance Diffuse résolue spatialement (srDRS). Cette technique fournit une quantification absolue des propriétés optiques endogènes d’absorption et de diffusion du tissu sondé et possède un potentiel pour la caractérisation de ces propriétés en couches de la peau.Afin de maximiser ce potentiel, notre approche repose sur l’utilisation d’un capteur matriciel placé en contact avec le tissu et permettant l’imagerie de réflectance diffuse à haute résolution spatiale. Les travaux présentés ici comprennent la spécification et la validation d’une architecture innovante permettant la mise en œuvre de l’approche proposée, l’implémentation d’un système porté sur la personne et bas coût basé sur cette architecture et l’évaluation des performances de ce système au travers d’expérimentations à la fois sur fantômes de peau et in vivo. Les résultats obtenus valident le potentiel de l’instrument développé pour le suivi quantitatif et non-invasif des propriétés de la peau. L’approche proposée est prometteuse pour l’analyse de milieux en couches tels que la peau et ouvre la voie au développement d’une nouvelle génération d’instruments portés sur la personne et bas coûts pour le suivi en continu des propriétés optiques des tissus. / This work presents the development of a low-cost, wearable instrument for quantitative monitoring of skin physiological parameters toward non-invasive diagnostics in vivo. The instrument is based on the spatially resolved Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (srDRS) technique, which provides absolute quantification of absorption and scattering endogenous properties of the probed tissue volume with a potential to discriminate between properties of individual skin layers. In the developed instrument, this potential is maximized by the use of a multi-pixel image sensor to perform contact, high resolution imaging of the diffuse reflectance. This study comprises the specification and validation of a novel srDRS system architecture based on the proposed approach, the implementation of this architecture into a low-cost, wearable device and the evaluation of the device performance both on tissue-simulating phantoms and in vivo. Results validate the potential of the instrument for the non-invasive, quantitative monitoring of tissue properties. The described approach is promising for addressing the analysis of layered tissue suchas skin and paves the way for the development of low-cost, wearable devices for continuous, passive monitoring of tissue optical properties.

Neste trabalho nós estudamos as propriedades de nanopartículas de Si hidrogenadas, limpas e com oxidação da superfície, como simulação do material Silício poroso. Para tal, desenvolvemos um procedimento para o cálculo da geometria, propriedades vibracionais e espectro ótico de sistemas semicondutores complexos, usando as técnicas semiempíricas de Química Quântica. As técnicas escolhidas foram completamente reparametrizadas para os átomos de Si e O, e assim apresentamos as novas parametrizações que chamamos AM1/Cristal e Zindo/Cristal. Contrariamente ao silício cristalino, o material poroso emite eficientemente luz no visível, com duas bandas, no vermelho-laranja e no verde. Esse comportamento tem sido atribuído ao confinamento quântico em estruturas nanocristalinas criadas pela porosidade, confinamente esse que deve ser responsável tanto pela eficiência da emissão, quanto pelo deslocamento do limiar ótico para energias mais altas. Nossos resultados para nanopartículas de diferentes diâmetros confirmam a cristalinidade das estruturas, e mostram um deslocamento para o azul do primeiro pico de absorção para partículas de diâmetro ~15 Å está em torno de 3 eV, muito mais altas do que a emissão vermelho-laranja. O estudo da relaxação estrutural no primeiro estado excitado mostra uma distorção forte e localizada, criando um defeito de superfície em que um átomo de hidrogênio coloca-se numa configuração de ponte Si-H-Si. Nessa configuração as partículas emitem numa região de energia mais baixa (vermelho-laranja), independentemente do diâmetro. A oxidação da superfície influencia muito pouco as propriedades óticas, e em particular não afeta a energia da linha de emissão. À luz destes resultados, associamos a atividade ótica do silício poroso a regiões nanocristalinas quase esféricas. A absorção (que varia consideravelmente em energia) e emissão no verde ocorreu no core cristalino, e a emissão vermelho-laranja na região de superfície, através desses defeitos fotocriados, sendo portanto fixa em energia. O deslocamento para o azul da absorção com a oxidação interpretamos como sendo devido à diminuição do diâmetro efetivo dos cristalinos presentes no material, e o decréscimo da intensidade de luminescência como devida a um enrijecimento da superfície oxidada, que reduz o número de sítios favoráveis à fotocriação de defeitos. / We study the properties of hydrogenated Si nanoparticles, also under surface oxidation, as a model-material to understand porous Silicon. To do that we developed a procedure designed to calculate geometries, vibrational properties and optical spectra for complex semiconductor systems, using semiempirical Quantum Chemistry techniques. The adopted techniques were thoroughly reparametrized for the Si and O atoms, and we thus present here the new parametrizations that we call AM1/Crystal and ZINDO/Crystal. Contrary to the bulk crystal, porous Si is known to emit visible light, efficiently, with bands in the red-orange and green regions. This behavior has been ascribed to quantum confinement in crystalline nanostructures created by the porosity, which should account both for the blue shift of the optical thereshold and for the emission efficiency. Our results for different nanoparticles confirm the crystallinity of the structures, and show a blue shift of the first absorption peak with decreasing diameter. However the absorption peak energy for nanoparticles with effective diameter around 15 Å lies around 3eV, much higher than the red-orange emission. A study of structural relaxation in the first excited state reveals a strong local distortion that creates a surface defect, in which an hydrogen atom \"bridges a pair of surface silicon atoms. In this Si-H-Si configuration the nanoparticles emit light of much lower energy (red-orange), which is virtually independent of diameter. Surface oxidation also has very little influence on the energy of the emitted light.Based on our results, we associate the optical activity of porous silicon to quasi- spherical nanocrystalline regions in the material. Both the absorption and green emission occur in the core of the crystallites, and shows blue-shift, with decreasing size; the red-orange luminescence occurs at the surface, through photo- generated defects, being thus pinned in energy. The blue shift of absorption with oxidation we interpret as being due to decrease in crystallite size, and the decrease in luminescence intensity as being due to \"hardening\" of the oxidized surface, which decreases the total number of sites for photogeneration of defects.

Strontiumtitanat (SrTiO3) ist ein wichtiges Substratmaterial für die Epitaxie und essenziel für fast alle bekannten oxidbasierten zweidimensionalen Elektronengassysteme. Diese Systeme haben viele mögliche Anwendungen, sind aber anfällig für Versetzungen im Substrat, weswegen das volle Potential mit den kommerziell verfügbaren Kristallen nicht erreicht werden kann. Um die Qualität zu erhöhen, müssen bessere Züchtungsmethoden gefunden werden wozu Verständnis der temperaturabhängigen Materialeigenschaften unerlässlich ist. Für viele Oxide können sehr gute Kristalle mit der Czochralski Methode hergestellt werden. Diese Methode erfordert einen guten Wärmetransport durch den wachsenden Kristall. Ein sehr niedriger Wärmetransport führt zu instabilem Wachstum und manchmal zu Spiralbildung. Weil SrTiO3 einen hohen Schmelzpunkt von ca. 2350 K hat, dominiert der Strahlungswärmetransport. IR-Spektren bei hoher Temperatur zeigen eine starke Absorption an freien Ladungsträgern. UV/VIS-Spektren zeigen, dass die Bandlücke stark temperaturabhängig ist, was zu einer hohen Dichte an freien Ladungsträgern führt. Da die IR-Absorption stark mit der Temperatur zunimmt, bietet Kristallzüchtung bei niedrigeren Temperaturen mehr Kontrolle. Dies kann mit der „top-seeded solution growth“-Methode (TSSG) erreicht werden. Viele der gezüchteten Kristalle zeigen starke Verfärbungen. Die Abhängigkeit der optischen Eigenschaften von der Züchtungsatmosphäre wurde systematisch untersucht. Eine Atmosphäre mit sehr geringer Sauerstoffkonzentration führt zu einer schwarz-blauen Verfärbung und leitfähigen Kristallen, während zu viel Sauerstoff zu einer Braunen Farbe führt. Mit dem richtigen Sauerstoffgehalt ist es möglich farblose Kristalle zu züchten. Die braune Verfärbung in nahezu stoichiometrischen TSSG-Kristallen konnte auf Nanometer große Hohlräume in den Kristallen zurückgeführt werden die das Licht streuen. Diese Nanohohlräume entstehen wahrscheinlich durch die Kombination von Punktdefekten. / Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is an important epitaxy substrate material which is an essential component in almost all oxide based two-dimensional free electron gas systems. These systems offer many potential applications, but are very sensitive to dislocations in the substrate and their full potential cannot be reached with the commercially available material. To improve crystal quality, alternative growth methods are necessary and to find these, knowledge about the temperature dependent material properties is crucial. For many oxides, high-quality crystals can be produced by using the Czochralski method. For this method, a sufficiently high heat transport through the growing crystal is highly important. Very low heat transport will lead to unstable growth, often resulting in spiraling. Because SrTiO3 has a very high melting point of about 2350 K, radiative heat transport dominates. High temperature IR-spectra show that free charge carriers cause the low radiative heat transport. Temperature dependent UV/VIS spectra show that the band gap shifts strongly with temperature, causing the high free carrier concentration. Since the IR absorption depends heavily on the temperature, growth at lower temperatures is easier to control. This is possible using top seeded solution growth (TSSG). Many of the crystals produced by the growth methods investigated here show strong colorations. The dependence of the color on the growth atmosphere was investigated. Atmospheres with a low oxygen concentration led to blue/black conducting crystals and a high oxygen concentration led to brownish crystals. With the correct oxygen concentration, colorless crystals can be grown. The brown coloration in nearly stoichiometric TSSG crystals was found to be due to light scattering at nanometer sized voids in the crystals. These nano-voids are probably formed by the combination of vacancies.

In dieser Dissertation wurden die ungewöhnlichen und einzigartigen Eigenschaften von Edelmetall-Clustern untersucht, die durch Quantum-Confinement im Sub-Nanometer-Bereich entstehen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass die chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften und damit die Funktionen nicht vom Festkörper abgeleitet werden können und stark von der Anzahl der Atome abhängen. Die erzielten theoretischen Ergebnisse wurden in enger Zusammenarbeit mit experimentell arbeitenden Partnergruppen erzielt. Dabei hat sich gezeigt, dass durch die enge Kooperation zwischen Theorie und Experiment ein tiefes Verständnis von fundamentalen Prozessen und den zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen erlangt werden kann. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurden die Reaktivität von geladenen Goldoxid-Clustern in der Gasphase, die ultraschnelle Dynamik von Edelmetall-Clustern und deren Komplexen sowie die optischen Eigenschaften von kleinen, deponierten Silber-Clustern untersucht und damit Beiträge geliefert, die einzigartigen Eigenschaften von Edelmetall-Clustern im Zusammenhang mit der heterogenen Katalyse und Nano-Optik besser zu verstehen. / In this thesis, the unique novel properties of noble metal clusters which arise in the sub-nanometer size regime due to quantum confinement have been theoretically explored. It has been demonstrated that by adding or removing a single atom the chemical and physical properties and functionality of noble-metal clusters can strongly change. The theoretical results have been derived in close cooperation with experimental findings of partner groups demonstrating that by joint theoretical and experimental efforts thorough understanding of fundamental processes and underlying mechanisms can be achieved. This thesis addresses the reactivity of charged gas-phase gold-oxide clusters in the context of the heterogeneous gold nano-catalysis, the ultrafast dynamical properties of noble-metal clusters and their complexes, and the optical properties of silver clusters at surfaces.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo elaborar um modelo que explique as cores obtidas em amostras de quartzo de São José da Safira (MG) após submetê-las a tratamento (irradiação e tratamento térmico). O quartzo natural sem cor é rotineiramente irradiado com raios gama e depois aquecido para adquirir cores que vão desde o verde-oliva até o marromavermelhado, passando entre essas cores por tons de amarelo-esverdeado e amarelo-marrom. Com essa mudança na coloração da gema, há um aumento considerável no seu valor econômico. As técnicas de espectroscopia no infravermelho, ultravioleta-visível, de absorção e de emissão atômica juntamente com análise por ativação neutrônica e ressonância paramagnética eletrônica foram empregadas para caracterizar e estudar impurezas e defeitos nas amostras de quartzo de São José da Safira. Pela interpretação dos resultados obtidos, pôde ser verificado que o defeito ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi , formado durante a exposição do quartzo a raios gama, é o responsável pelo enegrecimento do mesmo. Quanto maior a exposição aos raios gama, maior será a concentração desse defeito e mais acentuado será o enegrecimento da amostra. Durante o aquecimento da amostra, o defeito ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi é eliminado, motivo pelo qual se observa o clareamento do quartzo. O defeito relacionado com − ] [ 4 O AlSi , produzido na eliminação do defeito ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi , causa absorções de luz nas regiões do ultravioleta próximo e visível, causando sucessivamente as cores verde, amarelo e marrom à medida que a dose aumenta. A população de defeitos − ] [ 4 O AlSi e a cor após o aquecimento dependem da natureza do íon alcalino compensador de carga. O lítio proporciona a melhor condição para a existência de uma significativa população de defeitos − ] [ 4 O AlSi após o aquecimento. Sódio e hidrogênio tornam o quartzo fumê sem cor após o aquecimento. / This research intends to propose a model that explains the colors obtained in samples of natural quartz from São José da Safira (MG) after submitting them to gamma irradiation and heat treatment. In the gemstone industry colorless quartz is routinely exposed to gamma rays and heat to become greenish, yellowish or brownish. This change in coloration of gemstone involves a valorization of its economic value. The techniques of infrared, ultraviolet-visible, atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy combined with neutron activation analysis and electronic paramagnetic resonance were utilized to characterize and to study the impurities and defects in samples of natural quartz from São José da Safira. It is well established that the ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi defect, formed during the exposition of quartz to gamma rays, is the responsible for its smokening. The concentration of this defect is proportional to the dose. During heating of the sample, the ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi defect is eliminated. Because of this reaction, the clearing up of quartz can be observed during the heating. We suggest that a − ] [ 4 O AlSi related defect, produced from ] / [ 4 + h O AlSi defect by heating, has absorption bands of light in the near UV region with extension into the visible region, causing successively the greenish, yellowish, and brownish colors as the irradiation dose increases. The population of − ] [ 4 O AlSi and the color after heating depends on the nature of the alkaline charge compensator. Lithium gives the best condition for color formation. Sodium and hydrogen make the smoky quartz colorless after heating.