The purpose of this thesis is to study the relation between surface optical anisotropy of polyimide thin film with different rubbing strength and liquid crystal alignment by means of reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS). We discuss the surface properties of rubbed polyimide thin film by measuring the surface roughness, surface free energy and pretilt angle. RAS is a non-contact optical probe of surfaces. It measures the difference in reflectance of normal incidence linearly polarized light between two orthogonal directions in the surface plane, and we can obtain the surface character of sample by analyzing the signals. It is isotropic of polyimide thin film surface without rubbing, and reflection anisotropy (RA) signal is zero. The non-zero RA signal, i.e. anisotropic of surface, is revealed because of rubbed polyimide thin film surface. The RA signal is increasing with an increase in rubbing strength. In the results, we found that the pertilt angle is increasing with a decrease in surface free energy, and discovered the correlation between RA signal strength of characteristic wavelength and pretilt angle of liquid crystal at the rubbed polyimide thin film.

In this study, we researched three kinds of surface treatment (no surface treatment, homogeneous alignment (HA) and vertical alignment (VA)) effect for the optoelectronic properties of cholesteric blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs). We demonstrate the surface treatments have influence on the temperature range of BPLCs. The VA-BPLC possesses the widest temperature range, about 6.0 ¢J. The temperature range of both no surface treatment BPLC and HA-BPLC are about 5.5 ¢J. In the process of cooling, the surface treatments will restrain the change of the pitch of BPLC. Besides, surface treatment will let the crystalline of BPLC shipshape, so that it can reduce the scattering of the reflection light of BPLC. In the vertical electric field, the reflection wavelength of BPLC will be red-shift when the applied voltage increased. The reflection wavelength of the HA-BPLC can be tuned about 90 nm. The reflection wavelength of the VA-BPLC can be tuned about 120 nm. We have demonstrated the treatment of vertical alignment will reduce the operating voltage of BPLC.

¡@¡@The research on collection or reflection of solitary waves mainly focus on numerical model and theoretical analytics, there are few study on experiment. due to the process on reaction of solitary waves are very short in times, and the waveform is also hardly to measure quantifiable. ¡@¡@The method present in this paper that we setup a high speed camera at a fixed position, and a grid-point board is located in the water tank and out of the tank after pictured, then we capture the process on reflection of solitary wave at a wall by high speed camera, so that the waveform and the grid surface coincide. finally, we analyze the waveform within the grid by using image techniques. ¡@¡@The results of this paper that present several important parameters in several relative wave height, such as maximal run-up, residual time, phase shift..et.al. the other hand, this paper compare the result of experiment with available evidences likes numerical model and theoretical analytics that found to be in quantitative agreement. ¡@¡@In addition, this paper also present the result of experiment that could compare with the new phenomenon "residual falling jet¡¨, it`s published by Chambarel.et.al (2009) numerical model.

In this study, we prepare the zinc oxide nanotip with aqueous solution deposited on ZnO nucleation layer. The thermal annealing with N2 ambiance at 300 oC for 1 hr increase the UV emission and decrease the defects. We use ZnO nanotip as an anti-reflection layer because of surface roughness and optical interference. ZnO nanotip with rough surface decreases reflection, so we use ZnO nanotip as an anti-reflection layer, after grown ZnO nanotip on solar cell the efficiency of solar cell was enhancement. The coordination modes were measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The physical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical properties were measured by Micro-photoluminescence (Micro-PL). The morphology was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The performance of the cells was measured by a semiconductor device analyzer. In our results, we grow the high performance of ZnO nanotip on solar cell to increase the efficiency. The short-circuit current increased from 42 to 51 mA, and the efficiency increased from 15.7 to 18.8 %.

In this study, we study three kinds of surface treatments in the blue phase lasers. Three kinds of surface treatments include no surface treatment, homogeneous alignment ,HA, and vertical alignment ,VA. Blue Phase liquid crystal is a three-dimensional photonic crystal, and it can be used to be a laser cavity. When the blue phase doped with a laser dye, a laser emission can be observed under appropriate pumping energy. In the first part, we fabricate the blue phase lasers with three kinds of surface, there are different surface treatments to study the surface effect of the optoelectronic properties. It is found that the threshold pumping power is significantly decreased under a surface treatment on glass substrate. In the second part, we change cooling rate in the formation of the blue phase liquid crystals, and study the optoelectronic properties of blue phase lasers. The experiment results reveal that the slower cooling rate leads to a order blue phase substrate, resulting in a lower threshold pumping energy of the blue phase laser.

The problem is effect of electromagnetic wave. When electromagnetic wave obliquely transmitted through two different medias ,electromagnetic wave undergoes reflection and refraction at the interface and inside the media. Computation of electromagnetic wave is well known by Maxwell`s equation. There are two cases solving questions. One is constant of £g¡B£`¡B£m.Another is variable of £g¡B£`¡B£m. In case one, use D`Alembertian equation and Helmholtz equation transforming Maxwell`s equation. And solve by ILHI`s(incomplete Lips-chitz-Hankel integrals) and FFT(fast Fourier transform). In case two,if £g¡B£`¡B£m are variables ,we can simplify Maxwell`s equation. It is similar to wave equation with source. We use Finite Element Method(FEM) getting Numerical solution by setting absorbing boundary and mesh. Using results by ILHI`s would get exact solution obliquely incident on two medias. Proof numerical solution by exact solution.

The introduction of digital media into the working practice of artists has produced challenges previously unknown to the field of art. This inquiry follows an atypical model of artist-driven research derived from disciplines such as social science and education. Here, an artwork functions as a model that is self-reflective, integrating methodologies in a form that benefits art and science. Using Naturalistic Inquiry, including semi-structured interviews of fifteen participants, the work illustrates a process of creation, analysis and evaluation that places the values of the artist on equal footing with the needs of science. Recently, artists have begun using video game engines as a tool to produce 3D navigable spaces. Using the hybrid video game/installation Playas: Homeland Mirage as a case study, this research examines the impact of technology on the artwork and identifies a number of key issues related to the function of critical reflection in this environment. Rules-of-play were a fundamental pre-requisite to the stimulation of critically reflective experience. The human interface with software and hardware was also a primary factor in reflective experience. Based on participant evaluation and observation, the interface was altered in response to its effect on critical reflection, illustrating how choices in this area impact aesthetic experience. Those with experience in visual art were more likely to engage the work in a critically reflective manner than seasoned video game players who tended to be more interested in scoring and winning. These findings and others inform our understanding of the stimulation of critical reflection in immersive environments and show how we can sensitively integrate technology with meaningful evaluative methods. By repurposing a video game in this manner, we learn about the nature of the video game and the nature of art. This research enables artists to gain a better understanding of the medium to more fully integrate technology within a meaningful practice. Conversely, other fields will benefit from a better understanding of the stimulation of meaning in immersive spaces and gain a comprehensive view of a work that strives to contribute to our culture on a deeper level than as simple entertainment. Ultimately, more fully understanding critical reflection in virtual environments will enable us to create enriched experiences that transcend space to create “real” or “virtual” place.

Arterial pulse pressure is critically important to a number of diseases such as isolated systolic hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure. Determining the cause of increased pulse pressure has been hampered for two reasons. First, pulse pressure results from contraction of the heart and the load formed by the complex arterial tree. Pressure pulses travel from the heart to the peripheral arteries. As they reach a bifurcation or change in arterial wall properties, some of the pulses get reflected and propagate retrograde towards the heart. Second, two different modeling approaches (0-D and 1-D) describe the arterial system. The Windkessel model ascribed changes in pulse pressure to changes in total arterial compliance (Ctot) and total arterial resistance, whereas the transmission model ascribed them to changes in the magnitude, timing and sites of reflection. Our investigation has addressed both these limitations by finding that a complex arterial system degenerates into a simple 2-element Windkessel model when wavelength of the propagated pulse increases. This theoretical development has yielded three practical results. First, isolated systolic hypertension can be viewed as a manifestation of a system that has degenerated into a Windkessel, and thus increased pulse pressure is due to decreased Ctot. Second, the well-discussed Augmentation Index does not truly describe augmentation of pulse pressure by pulse reflection. Third, the simple 2-element Windkessel can be used to characterize the interaction among heart, arterial system and axial-flow left ventricular assist device analytically. The fact that arterial systems degenerate into Windkessels explains why it becomes much easier to estimate total arterial compliance in hypertension?total arterial compliance is the dominant determinant of pulsatile pressure.

In order to implement an accurate system that allows for absorption of reflected waves impinging to a wave maker (Active Reflection Absorption), it was required to apply a method to estimate properly the direction of arrival of the waves that does it in the fastest way possible. Our wavemaker control system has been prepared to handle an algorithm provided by Bosch-Rexroth where the wave angle estimation is practically locked to a very narrow frequency band (spatial gain-mixer). The system was evaluated with physical tests in a 3D wave basin for different conditions of reflected waves arriving with an angle to the wavemaker front, and acceptable performance has been found for the 3D ARA mode. However, for certain conditions over-compensation or sub-compensation can develop resulting in a poor absorption. This is mainly related to not being able to determine accurately the direction from which the reflected waves travel towards the wavemaker. The present work employed concepts found in the areas of antenna array signal processing and signal propagation, which were applied to this problem. This approach coupled naturally with our wavemaker system since it was prepared with 48 gages that can be employed in an array antenna fashion. A program was codified from an algorithm found in literature to calculate the Direction of Arrival (DOA) of the reflected waves. The focus for the testing of this program was with regular waves. The tests were conducted to validate the program with different angles of incidence and show that for regular waves the program was able to detect accurately the DOA of these in as few as 5 snapshots, with a minimum of 7 gages used as the antenna input. With data obtained directly from the control system of our wavemaker using regular waves, the program was able to determine the DOA. The computational burden of the algorithm is not significant in the case of regular waves. A modification of the program is required to analyze the DOA of reflected irregular waves, which could increase the computational burden. Actual implementation of this program to our control system depends on cooperation with Bosch-Rexroth.

Reflection cracking is one of the main distresses in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlays. It has been a serious concern since early in the 20th century. Since then, several models have been developed to predict the extent and severity of reflection cracking in HMA overlays. However, only limited research has been performed to evaluate and calibrate these models. In this dissertation, mechanistic-based models are calibrated to field data of over 400 overlay test sections to produce a design process for predicting reflection cracks. Three cracking mechanisms: bending, shearing traffic stresses, and thermal stress are taken into account to evaluate the rate of growth of the three increasing levels of distress severity: low, medium, and high. The cumulative damage done by all three cracking mechanisms is used to predict the number of days for the reflection crack to reach the surface of the overlay. The result of this calculation is calibrated to the observed field data (severity and extent) which has been fitted with an S-shaped curve. In the mechanistic computations, material properties and fracture-related stress intensity factors are generated using efficient Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms. In the bending and shearing traffic stress models, the traffic was represented by axle load spectra. In the thermal stress model, a recently developed temperature model was used to predict the temperature at the crack tips. This process was developed to analyze various overlay structures. HMA overlays over either asphalt pavement or jointed concrete pavement in all four major climatic zones are discussed in this dissertation. The results of this calculated mechanistic approach showed its ability to efficiently reproduce field observations of the growth, extent, and severity of reflection cracking. The most important contribution to crack growth was found to be thermal stress. The computer running time for a twenty-year prediction of a typical overlay was between one and four minutes.