Les variations de l'indice de réfraction d'origine électronique, proportionnelles au nombre d'ions actifs du matériau laser portés dans leur état excité et à la variation de polarisabilité entre le niveau excité et le niveau fondamental, peuvent avoir un impact considérable sur les propriétés spatio-temporelles des résonateurs laser. Il est ainsi nécessaire de disposer de méthodes sensibles afin de les évaluer. Ce travail de thèse est donc centré autour de la métrologie de ces effets dits " de population ", afin d'être en mesure de mieux appréhender le comportement des lasers à solide voire d'être capable d'utiliser ces effets pseudo-nonlinéaires pour diverses applications. La première partie de cette thèse consiste donc à quantifier les effets de population dans des cristaux laser dopés Chrome et Ytterbium à l'aide de la technique Z-scan. Dans cette optique, nous avons donc mis en place en expérience résolue en temps afin de nous affranchir des effets thermiques, phénomène inhérent à tout processus de pompage optique. Nous avons par la suite mis au point une technique originale, appelée Baryscan, permettant de mesurer de très faibles variations d'indice et d'atteindre une sensibilité parmi les plus grande rencontrée à ce jour. Cette technique est basée sur l'utilisation d'un Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) et les propriétés non-linéaires des cristaux sont déduites de l'évolution du barycentre du faisceau laser pompe-sonde. Nous présentons de plus des résultats concernant la focalisant diffractive de faisceaux laser à l'aide d'optiques de phase ainsi que des techniques de mise en forme permettant de forcer une cavité laser à osciller sur le mode transverse souhaité.

Ultra wide band (UWB) is an extremely promising wireless technology for researchers and industrials. One of the most interesting is its high data rate and fading robustness due to selective frequency fading. However, beside such advantages, UWB system performance is highly affected by existing narrowband interference (NBI), undesired UWB signals and tone/multi-tone noises. For this reason, research about NBI cancellation is still a challenge to improve the system performance vs. receiver complexity, power consumption, linearity, etc. In this work, the two major receiver sections, i.e., analog (radiofrequency or RF) and digital (digital signal processing or DSP), were considered and new techniques proposed to reduce circuit complexity and power consumption, while improving signal parameters. In the RF section, different multiband UWB low-noise amplifier key design parameters were investigated like circuit configuration, input matching and desired/undesired frequency band filtering, highlighting the most suitable filtering package for efficient UWB NBI cancellation. In the DSP section, due to pulse transmitter signals, different issues like modulation type and level, pulse variety, shape and color noise/tone noise assumptions, were addressed for efficient NBI cancelation. A comparison was performed in terms of bit-error rate, signal-to-interference ratio, signal-to-noise ratio, and channel capacity to highlight the most suitable parameters for efficient DSP design. The optimum number of filters that allows the filter bandwidth to be reduced by following the required low sampling rate and thus improving the system bit error rate was also investigated.

Contaminants can exist in a wide range of states in aqueous environments, especially in surface waters. They can be freely dissolved or associated with dissolved or particulate organic matter depending on their chemical and physical characteristics. The freely dissolved fraction represents the most bioavailable fraction to an organism. These freely dissolved contaminants can cross biomembranes, potentially exerting toxic effects. Passive sampling devices (PSDs) have been developed to aid in sampling many of these contaminants by having the ability to distinguish between the freely dissolved and bound fraction of a contaminant. A new PSD, the Lipid-Free Tube (LFT) sampler was developed in response to some of the shortcomings of other current PSD that sample hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). The device and laboratory methods were original modeled after a widely utilized PSD, the semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), and then improved upon. The effectiveness, efficiency, and sensitivity of not only the PSD itself, but also the laboratory methods were investigated. One requirement during LFT development was to ensure LFTs could be coupled with biological analyses without deleterious results. In an embryonic zebrafish developmental toxicity assay, embryos exposed to un-fortified LFT extracts did not show significant adverse biological response as compared to controls. Also, LFT technology lends itself to easy application in monitoring pesticides at remote sampling sites. LFTs were utilized during a series of training exchanges between Oregon State University and the Centre de Recherches en Ecotoxicologie pour le Sahel (CERES)/LOCUSTOX laboratory in Dakar, Senegal that sought to build "in country" analytical capacity. Application of LFTs as biological surrogates for predicting potential human health risk endpoints, such as those in a public health assessment was also investigated. LFT mass and accumulated contaminant masses were used directly, representing the amount of contaminants an organism would be exposed to through partitioning assuming steady state without metabolism. These exposure concentrations allow for calculating potential health risks in a human health risk model. LFT prove to be a robust tool not only for assessing bioavailable water concentrations of HOCs, but also potentially providing many insights into the toxicological significance of aquatic contaminants and mixtures. / Graduation date: 2010

Populations of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, were evaluated from five pit-lakes in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to determine if accurate proportional stock density (PSD) data can be obtained from a mandatory creel survey. It was hypothesized that the proportion of stock-to-quality (300-400mm) and quality (+400mm) largemouth bass from four years (2007-2010) of creel survey data would be statistically similar to those generated through on-site sampling in 2011. Fish were collected via a combination of gill netting, seining, hook-and-line fishing, and boat-mounted electro-fishing. In two of the pit-lakes, the sampling-generated length frequency data was not significantly different from the creel survey data (Pump Gadj[1]=0.03, P=0.8629, Goose Gadj[1]=0.76, P=0.3850). There were significant differences between creel and sampling data for the other pit-lakes (Big Reno Gadj[1]=5.74 P=0.0166, Airstrip Gadj[1]=14.3 P=0.0002, Lime Gadj[1]=9.81 P=0.0017). At least one of the lakes likely demonstrated significances because of low sample size (Airstrip and/or Lime). Changes in population structure due to modified harvest regulations may be responsible for the significant differences (Big Reno and Lime). Population structures were verified with relative weight, length-at-age, and an assessment of five years of largemouth bass and bluegill PSD data. It appears that creel survey data does accurately reflect that of simple sampling techniques and can help guide management decisions.

This thesis describes the development of electronic modules for fusion neutron spectroscopy as well as several implementations of artificial neural networks (NN) for neutron diagnostics for the Joint European Torus (JET) experimental reactor in England. The electronics projects include the development of two fast light pulser modules based on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for the calibration and stability monitoring of two neutron spectrometers (MPRu and TOFOR) at JET. The particular electronic implementation of the pulsers allowed for operation of the LEDs in the nanosecond time scale, which is typically not well accessible with simpler circuits. Another electronic project consisted of the the development and implementation at JET of 32 high frequency analog signal amplifiers for MPRu. The circuit board layout adopted and the choice of components permitted to achieve bandwidth above 0.5 GHz and low distortion for a wide range of input signals. The successful and continued use of all electronic modules since 2005 until the present day is an indication of their good performance and reliability. The NN applications include pulse shape discrimination (PSD), deconvolution of experimental data and tomographic reconstruction of neutron emissivity profiles for JET. The first study showed that NN can perform neutron/gamma PSD in liquid scintillators significantly better than other conventional techniques, especially for low deposited energy in the detector. The second study demonstrated that NN can be used for statistically efficient deconvolution of neutron energy spectra, with and without parametric neutron spectroscopic models, especially in the region of low counts in the data. The work on tomography provided a simple but effective parametric model for describing neutron emissivity at JET. This was then successfully implemented with NN for fast and automatic tomographic reconstruction of the JET camera data. The fast execution time of NN, i.e. usually in the microsecond time scale, makes the NN applications presented here suitable for real-time data analysis and typically orders of magnitudes faster than other commonly used codes. The results and numerical methods described in this thesis can be applied to other diagnostic instruments and are of relevance for future fusion reactors such as ITER, currently under construction in Cadarache, France.

Turbulent flows and coherent structures emerging within turbulent flow fields have been extensively studied for the past few decades and a wide variety of experimental and numerical techniques have been developed for measurement and analysis of turbulent flows. The complex nature of turbulence requires methods that can accurately estimate its highly chaotic spatial and temporal behavior. Some of the classical cases of turbulent flows with simpler geometries have been well characterized by means of the existing experimental techniques and numerical models. Nevertheless, since most turbulent fields are of complex geometries; there is an increasing interest in the study of turbulent flows through models with more complicated geometries. In this dissertation, characteristics of turbulent flows through two different facilities with complex geometries are studied applying two different experimental methods. The first study involves the investigation of turbulent impinging jets through a staggered array of rods with or without crossflow. Such flows are crucial in various engineering disciplines. This experiment aimed at modeling the coolant flow behavior and mixing phenomena within the lower plenum of a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR). Dynamic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Matched Index of Refraction (MIR) techniques were applied to acquire the turbulent velocity fields within the model. Some key flow features that may significantly enhance the flow mixing within the test section or actively affect some of the structural components were identified in the velocity fields. The evolution of coherent structures within the flow field is further investigated using a Snapshot Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) technique. Furthermore, a comparative POD method is proposed and successfully implemented for identification of the smaller but highly influential coherent structures which may not be captured in the full-field POD analysis. The second experimental study portrays the coolant flow through the core of an annular pebble bed VHTR. The complex geometry of the core and the highly turbulent nature of the coolant flow passing through the gaps of fuel pebbles make this case quite challenging. In this experiment, a high frequency Hot Wire Anemometry (HWA) system is applied for velocity measurements and investigation of the bypass flow phenomena within the near wall gaps of the core. The velocity profiles within the gaps verify the presence of an area of increased velocity close to the outer reflector wall; however, the characteristics of the coolant flow profile is highly dependent on the gap geometry and to a less extent on the Reynolds number of the flow. The time histories of the velocity are further analyzed using a Power Spectra Density (PSD) technique to acquire information about the energy content and energy transfer between eddies of different sizes at each point within the gaps.

O Ruído de Baixa Frequência (LFN), tais como o ruído flicker e o Random Telegraph Noise (RTN), são limitadores de performance em muitos circuitos analógicos e digitais. Para transistores diminutos, a densidade espectral de potência do ruído pode variar muitas ordens de grandeza, impondo uma séria limitação na performance do circuito e também em sua confiabilidade. Nesta tese, nós propomos um novo modelo de RTN estatístico para descrever o ruído de baixa frequência em MOSFETs. Utilizando o modelo proposto, pode-se explicar e calcular o valor esperado e a variabilidade do ruído em função das polarizações, geometrias e dos parâmetros físicos do transistor. O modelo é validado através de inúmeros resultados experimentais para dispositivos com canais tipo n e p, e para diferentes tecnologias CMOS. É demonstrado que a estatística do ruído LFN dos dispositivos de canal tipo n e p podem ser descritos através do mesmo mecanismo. Através dos nossos resultados e do nosso modelo, nós mostramos que a densidade de armadilhas dos transistores de canal tipo p é fortemente dependente do nível de Fermi, enquanto para o transistor de tipo n a densidade de armadilhas pode ser considerada constante na energia. Também é mostrado e explicado, através do nosso modelo, o impacto do implante de halo nas estatísticas do ruído. Utilizando o modelo demonstra-se porque a variabilidade, denotado por σ[log(SId)], do RTN/LFN não segue uma dependência 1/√área; e fica demonstrado que o ruído, e sua variabilidade, encontrado em nossas medidas pode ser modelado utilizando parâmetros físicos. Além disso, o modelo proposto pode ser utilizado para calcular o percentil do ruído, o qual pode ser utilizado para prever ou alcançar certo rendimento do circuito. / Low Frequency Noise (LFN) and Random Telegraph Noise (RTN) are performance limiters in many analog and digital circuits. For small area devices, the noise power spectral density can easily vary by many orders of magnitude, imposing serious threat on circuit performance and possibly reliability. In this thesis, we propose a new RTN model to describe the statistics of the low frequency noise in MOSFETs. Using the proposed model, we can explain and calculate the Expected value and Variability of the noise as function of devices’ biases, geometry and physical parameters. The model is validated through numerous experimental results for n-channel and p-channel devices from different CMOS technology nodes. We show that the LFN statistics of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs can be described by the same mechanism. From our results and model, we show that the trap density of the p-channel device is a strongly varying function of the Fermi level, whereas for the n-channel the trap density can be considered constant. We also show and explain, using the proposed model, the impact of the halo-implanted regions on the statistics of the noise. Using this model, we clarify why the variability, denoted by σ[log(SId)], of RTN/LFN doesn't follow a 1/√area dependence; and we demonstrate that the noise, and its variability, found in our measurements can be modeled using reasonable physical quantities. Moreover, the proposed model can be used to calculate the percentile quantity of the noise, which can be used to predict or to achieve certain circuit yield.

O presente trabalho otimizou os parâmetros concentrados do sistema de suspensão de um modelo de veículo completo, representando um automóvel de passeio que trafega a uma velocidade constante por um determinado perfil de pista previsto na norma ISO 8608, 1995, através da utilização de um algoritmo meta-heurístico de otimização multiobjetivo. Duas rotinas numérico-computacionais foram desenvolvidas, visando realizar tal otimização tanto no domínio do tempo quanto no domínio da frequência. A utilização de algoritmos meta-heurísticos vem ganhando espaço na otimização de sistemas mecânicos, proporcionando rapidez e precisão na obtenção de resultados ótimos. Ao se combinar um algoritmo de otimização a um modelo que represente satisfatoriamente um sistema mecânico, obtém-se uma ferramenta indicadora dos parâmetros de máxima eficiência do sistema, que pode ser utilizada em inúmeras aplicações. Pretendeu-se, com a integração de rotinas de análise dinâmica nos domínios do tempo e da frequência ao algoritmo genético de otimização multiobjetivo NSGA-II, desenvolvido por Deb et al., 2002, a obtenção de duas fronteiras ótimas de Pareto. Estas fronteiras consistem no conjunto de soluções não dominadas que minimizam as seguintes funções objetivo: o valor RMS ponderado da aceleração vertical do assento do motorista, o valor RMS da média do fator de amplificação dinâmica das quatro rodas do modelo e o máximo deslocamento relativo entre cada roda e a carroceria. O método proposto por Shinozuka e Jan, 1972, é utilizado para a obtenção do perfil de irregularidades da pista no domínio do tempo a partir das equações de densidade espectral de potência (PSD) que representam as diferentes classes de pavimentos. O método de Newmark, 1959, é utilizado para resolver a equação diferencial de movimento no domínio do tempo e obter a resposta dinâmica do modelo a tais irregularidades. O comportamento dinâmico do modelo de veículo no domínio da frequência foi obtido através da utilização da função de resposta em frequência (FRF) do modelo de veículo analisado. Os resultados demonstraram a capacidade de ambas as rotinas de análise dinâmica desenvolvidas de produzir resultados consistentes com os encontrados na literatura, bem como a capacidade dos algoritmos de otimização implementados de fornecer fronteiras ótimas de Pareto para os problemas propostos. / The proposed work optimized the concentrated parameters of a full-vehicle model’s suspension system, being that model representative of a passenger car which travels at a constant speed on a certain road profile provided by the ISO 8608, 1995, standard, using a multi-objective meta-heuristic optimization algorithm. Two numerical-computational routines were developed, seeking to perform said optimization for both the time and frequency domains. The use of meta-heuristic algorithms has been increasing in mechanical systems optimization, providing speed and accuracy in obtaining an optimal result. Combining an optimization algorithm with a model that satisfactorily represents a mechanical system yields a tool that indicates the system’s maximum efficiency parameters, which can be used in numerous applications. It was intended, with the integration of the dynamic analysis routines to the multi-objective genetic optimization algorithm NSGA-II, developed by Deb et al., 2002, the obtainment of two Pareto-optimal fronts. These fronts consist in the set of non-dominated solutions that minimize the following objective functions: the weighted RMS value of the driver’s seat vertical acceleration, the mean RMS value of the model wheel’s dynamic amplification factor, and the maximum relative displacement between each wheel and the body of the vehicle model. The method proposed by Shinozuka and Jan, 1972, is used to obtain the road irregularity profile in the time domain from the power spectral density (PSD) equations that represent the different pavement classes. The Newmark’s method (1959) is used to solve the differential motion equation in the time domain, in order to obtain the vehicle model’s responses to these irregularities. The dynamic behavior of the vehicle model in the frequency domain was obtained through the use of the frequency response function (FRF) of the analyzed model. The results showed the capacity of both the dynamic analysis routines developed in generating results that are consistent with those found in literature, as well as the capacity of the optimization algorithms implemented in providing Pareto optimal fronts to the proposed problems.

O Ruído de Baixa Frequência (LFN), tais como o ruído flicker e o Random Telegraph Noise (RTN), são limitadores de performance em muitos circuitos analógicos e digitais. Para transistores diminutos, a densidade espectral de potência do ruído pode variar muitas ordens de grandeza, impondo uma séria limitação na performance do circuito e também em sua confiabilidade. Nesta tese, nós propomos um novo modelo de RTN estatístico para descrever o ruído de baixa frequência em MOSFETs. Utilizando o modelo proposto, pode-se explicar e calcular o valor esperado e a variabilidade do ruído em função das polarizações, geometrias e dos parâmetros físicos do transistor. O modelo é validado através de inúmeros resultados experimentais para dispositivos com canais tipo n e p, e para diferentes tecnologias CMOS. É demonstrado que a estatística do ruído LFN dos dispositivos de canal tipo n e p podem ser descritos através do mesmo mecanismo. Através dos nossos resultados e do nosso modelo, nós mostramos que a densidade de armadilhas dos transistores de canal tipo p é fortemente dependente do nível de Fermi, enquanto para o transistor de tipo n a densidade de armadilhas pode ser considerada constante na energia. Também é mostrado e explicado, através do nosso modelo, o impacto do implante de halo nas estatísticas do ruído. Utilizando o modelo demonstra-se porque a variabilidade, denotado por σ[log(SId)], do RTN/LFN não segue uma dependência 1/√área; e fica demonstrado que o ruído, e sua variabilidade, encontrado em nossas medidas pode ser modelado utilizando parâmetros físicos. Além disso, o modelo proposto pode ser utilizado para calcular o percentil do ruído, o qual pode ser utilizado para prever ou alcançar certo rendimento do circuito. / Low Frequency Noise (LFN) and Random Telegraph Noise (RTN) are performance limiters in many analog and digital circuits. For small area devices, the noise power spectral density can easily vary by many orders of magnitude, imposing serious threat on circuit performance and possibly reliability. In this thesis, we propose a new RTN model to describe the statistics of the low frequency noise in MOSFETs. Using the proposed model, we can explain and calculate the Expected value and Variability of the noise as function of devices’ biases, geometry and physical parameters. The model is validated through numerous experimental results for n-channel and p-channel devices from different CMOS technology nodes. We show that the LFN statistics of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs can be described by the same mechanism. From our results and model, we show that the trap density of the p-channel device is a strongly varying function of the Fermi level, whereas for the n-channel the trap density can be considered constant. We also show and explain, using the proposed model, the impact of the halo-implanted regions on the statistics of the noise. Using this model, we clarify why the variability, denoted by σ[log(SId)], of RTN/LFN doesn't follow a 1/√area dependence; and we demonstrate that the noise, and its variability, found in our measurements can be modeled using reasonable physical quantities. Moreover, the proposed model can be used to calculate the percentile quantity of the noise, which can be used to predict or to achieve certain circuit yield.

O presente trabalho otimizou os parâmetros concentrados do sistema de suspensão de um modelo de veículo completo, representando um automóvel de passeio que trafega a uma velocidade constante por um determinado perfil de pista previsto na norma ISO 8608, 1995, através da utilização de um algoritmo meta-heurístico de otimização multiobjetivo. Duas rotinas numérico-computacionais foram desenvolvidas, visando realizar tal otimização tanto no domínio do tempo quanto no domínio da frequência. A utilização de algoritmos meta-heurísticos vem ganhando espaço na otimização de sistemas mecânicos, proporcionando rapidez e precisão na obtenção de resultados ótimos. Ao se combinar um algoritmo de otimização a um modelo que represente satisfatoriamente um sistema mecânico, obtém-se uma ferramenta indicadora dos parâmetros de máxima eficiência do sistema, que pode ser utilizada em inúmeras aplicações. Pretendeu-se, com a integração de rotinas de análise dinâmica nos domínios do tempo e da frequência ao algoritmo genético de otimização multiobjetivo NSGA-II, desenvolvido por Deb et al., 2002, a obtenção de duas fronteiras ótimas de Pareto. Estas fronteiras consistem no conjunto de soluções não dominadas que minimizam as seguintes funções objetivo: o valor RMS ponderado da aceleração vertical do assento do motorista, o valor RMS da média do fator de amplificação dinâmica das quatro rodas do modelo e o máximo deslocamento relativo entre cada roda e a carroceria. O método proposto por Shinozuka e Jan, 1972, é utilizado para a obtenção do perfil de irregularidades da pista no domínio do tempo a partir das equações de densidade espectral de potência (PSD) que representam as diferentes classes de pavimentos. O método de Newmark, 1959, é utilizado para resolver a equação diferencial de movimento no domínio do tempo e obter a resposta dinâmica do modelo a tais irregularidades. O comportamento dinâmico do modelo de veículo no domínio da frequência foi obtido através da utilização da função de resposta em frequência (FRF) do modelo de veículo analisado. Os resultados demonstraram a capacidade de ambas as rotinas de análise dinâmica desenvolvidas de produzir resultados consistentes com os encontrados na literatura, bem como a capacidade dos algoritmos de otimização implementados de fornecer fronteiras ótimas de Pareto para os problemas propostos. / The proposed work optimized the concentrated parameters of a full-vehicle model’s suspension system, being that model representative of a passenger car which travels at a constant speed on a certain road profile provided by the ISO 8608, 1995, standard, using a multi-objective meta-heuristic optimization algorithm. Two numerical-computational routines were developed, seeking to perform said optimization for both the time and frequency domains. The use of meta-heuristic algorithms has been increasing in mechanical systems optimization, providing speed and accuracy in obtaining an optimal result. Combining an optimization algorithm with a model that satisfactorily represents a mechanical system yields a tool that indicates the system’s maximum efficiency parameters, which can be used in numerous applications. It was intended, with the integration of the dynamic analysis routines to the multi-objective genetic optimization algorithm NSGA-II, developed by Deb et al., 2002, the obtainment of two Pareto-optimal fronts. These fronts consist in the set of non-dominated solutions that minimize the following objective functions: the weighted RMS value of the driver’s seat vertical acceleration, the mean RMS value of the model wheel’s dynamic amplification factor, and the maximum relative displacement between each wheel and the body of the vehicle model. The method proposed by Shinozuka and Jan, 1972, is used to obtain the road irregularity profile in the time domain from the power spectral density (PSD) equations that represent the different pavement classes. The Newmark’s method (1959) is used to solve the differential motion equation in the time domain, in order to obtain the vehicle model’s responses to these irregularities. The dynamic behavior of the vehicle model in the frequency domain was obtained through the use of the frequency response function (FRF) of the analyzed model. The results showed the capacity of both the dynamic analysis routines developed in generating results that are consistent with those found in literature, as well as the capacity of the optimization algorithms implemented in providing Pareto optimal fronts to the proposed problems.