Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 98-101).

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2010. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on June 10, 2010. Major professor: Taufik, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Electrical Engineering." "May 2010." Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-69).

Thesis (M.S. in Physics)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): William B. Maier II, Richard Harkins. Includes bibliographical references (p. 29). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-141).

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Title from title screen. Keywords: optimal design; modeling; object identification; ultrasound pulse-echo system; annular array. Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-162).

The use of quasi-optical techniques for signal processing at millimetre wave frequencies and their application to spread spectrum systems is presented in this thesis. Millimetre waves offer a number of advantages when compared to microwave and optical signals and as a result they are finding an increasing number of applications in the area of communications. Traditionally, millimetre wave research has been centred on scientific and experimental interests. In recent years, however, practical communications systems have been emerging at these frequencies. New technologies are being developed which aim to exploit the potential advantages of millimetric signals and the work undertaken here relates to one particular avenue - that of quasi-optics. This thesis introduces measurement methods for assessing millimetric components and quasi-optical systems, followed by an appraisal of Gunn oscillators and their associated power supplies as suitable signal sources for communications. A type of Gunn oscillator displaying semi-chaotic behaviour is described which may have potential as an inherently broadband source suitable for spread spectrum applications. The application of quasi-optical signal processing methods to a prototype spread spectrum millimetre wave system is presented. The system has been shown to operate satisfactorily in a number of demonstrations. Theoretical models of the quasi-optical circuit show good agreement with experiment and an analysis of the signal-to-noise behaviour predicts the potential receiver performance. Some ideas for future work, building on that presented here, are suggested.

This thesis is concerned with the development of Transmission Line Transfomer (TLT) pulsed power supplies and the generation of fast risetime (>50ns), good quality, high repetition-rate voltage pulses for flash x-ray preionisors and other applications. It explains the principle of the TLT and reports on two TLT pulsed power supplies that have been built. The first, or prototype, produced output voltage pulses with risetimes of 50ns and durations of 200ns and was used to power a flash x-ray preionisation source for a mercury bromide laser. The second, a 50kV, 100? device, was built as part of a wider research program concerned with the development of space based pulsed power supplies. The development of ceramic tile technology is also described and the relevant electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of some barium titanate tiles given; it is then shown how ceramic tiles can be used to construct compact pulse generators for TLT systems. Finally, the subject of nonlinear dielectric pulse sharpening is introduced and pulse sharpening in a delay line ladder network containing air-core inductors and non-linear capacitors is demonstrated. It is then explained how these lines can be used to improve the output risetime of a TLT.

Developmental work on the generation and measurement of ultrashort pulses has been performed. A colliding pulse, passively mode-locked (CPM) ring dye laser has been investigated by spectral analysis and the nonlinear technique of second harmonic generation autocorrelation. Two systems for the intracavity compensation of group velocity dispersion (GVD) have been experimentally compared in the CPM laser. Initially one scheme, utilising Gires-Toumois interferometers, has achieved pulse durations of 64 fs. A second technique employing a four-prism sequence within the cavity gave typical pulse durations of -40 fs and focussing adjustments within the jets achieved durations as short as 19 fs for the first time. A realtime interferometric autocorrelator was constructed and detailed theoretical work has been performed to model the resultant fringe resolved autocorrelations as a function of pulseshape and frequency chirp. Spectral and autocorrelation analysis of the CPM laser led to the inference that the laser pulse intensity profiles were distinctly asymmetric. The main sources of frequency chirp within the laser cavity were assessed in order to find possible explanations for this type of laser behaviour. The linear pulse measurement technique employing synchroscan streak cameras was also critically assessed in terms of the available temporal resolutions as a function of phase noise in the RF deflection signal. Two streak tube designs, the Photochron II and the Photochron IV, have been experimentally compared employing the CPM laser as a test pulse source. Optimisation of the synchronisation circuitry has allowed the notable achievement of a temporal resolution of 0.93ps for the Photochron IV streak camera. A computer-interfaced readout system incorporating a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor has been developed which allows the recording of synchroscan streak events with a digitisation accuracy up to 12 bits. Preliminary experimentation was also performed to investigate the feasibility of incorporating a electron sensitive CCD structure within the envelope of the streak camera. It is intended that such a streak camera will be incorporated in a spaceborne laser ranging system and a theoretical assessment of the expected instrument performance has been performed. The above investigations have direct relevance to other types of ultrashort pulse sources and their application in optical communications, time-resolved spectroscopy and ultrafast electrooptic sampling.

Premiered on November 1st 2016, Steve Reich’s new work Pulse: For Winds, Strings, Piano and Electric Bass epitomizes 51 years of compositional development. Understandably, no formal or analytical discussions exist of this work, a lacuna that inspires the present research questions: Where does Pulse fall in relation to Reich’s overall style and technique? Is it a logical continuation of his compositional evolution? Does it make use of the techniques that distinguish him or does it venture into new territories? To answer these questions, the thesis combines a historical survey of Reich’s compositional output with an analysis of Pulse that considers current analytic scholarship. An overview of the literature on the composer serves to determine the separate compositional periods of his output in relation to his most employed techniques. This amalgamation allows for a historically and stylistically contextualized analysis of Pulse. The resulting synthesis not only creates a new categorization of Reich’s compositional development, but also shows that Pulse embodies a summation of the composer’s musical technique.

No description available.