Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Texas at Dallas, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-100)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references and vita.

Two different time-resolved spectroscopic techniques are discussed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally in dilute gases. The first technique involves extending the advantages of Stark-effect based time-resolved spectroscopy to non-polar molecules. This involves the development of a stable, TEM₀₀ mode, cw, CO₂ laser capable of switching rapidly and controllably between two frequencies. Design problems and output characteristics are discussed. The frequency switchable laser is applied to the CO₂ 10.6 μm P(16) coincidence with the non-polar molecule SF₆. The population relaxation time, T₁, is measured using two-pulse delayed nutation. The decay of induced dipoles is studied using the phenomenon of photon echoes. It is found that the echoes decay in a manner characteristic of dephasing dominated by velocity-changing collisions. A fit of the data to a model for such decays gives values of γ(ab) ≡ 1/T₂ (the non-velocity-changing contribution to the dipole decay rate), Γ(VC) (the total probability of a velocity-changing collision per unit time), and Δu which is related to the mean velocity change of SF₆ upon a velocity changing collision. A comparison with the published results of the similar Stark experiments on C¹³ H₃F are made. The second technique involves the development of an alternative to the pulsed excitation typically used in time-resolved T₁ studies. This involves inversion of a portion of the velocity distribution by adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) techniques. The center of this portion is then probed in the manner of previous delayed nutation experiments. The system preparation is shown theoretically to be different and simpler than the pulse case. In addition, ARP preparation gives a larger signal than two-pulse delayed nutation experiments. ARP experiments on N¹⁴H₃ and N¹⁵H₃ are described and compared to two-pulse delayed notation experiments. The single exponential decay best fits to the data from the two methods are found to be in agreement. We would expect the N¹⁵H₃ results to be very similar to the N¹⁴H₃ results, though reduced rotational resonance effects in its upper state should give it an overall slower decay. It is indeed found that the decay appears to be a simple exponential as did the N¹⁴H₃ data over the time range studied. The pressure dependent single exponential decay rate for N¹⁵H₃ is however roughly 45% larger than the rate for N¹⁴H₃ in the pressure range from 0.5 to 9 mTorr.

This work consider with monitoring components of komplex permittivity at frequency section of electro-insulation material in process of wetting by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy.

This work deals with measurement capacity and dissipation factor of capacitor with real dielectric in frequency range 20 Hz to 30 MHz. Liquid and solid dielectrics are measured by LCR instruments and by test fixtures, both from company Agilent. Relative permittivity and loss number are calculated for different instruments settings. The general aim is to specify the influence of parameters as frequency, voltage, integration time and thickness of material on the uncertainties of primary and secondary quantities for measurement.

The dissertation thesis submitted deals with the study of dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposites containing nanoparticles of inorganic oxides. These nanocomposites may have a promising technologic application for electric insulations in view of their higher resistance against partial discharges; yet information about their behavior in the course of ageing is not available. If at least a partial mass replacement of the currently used epoxy insulation with nanocomposite-based insulations is due to occur, the knowledge of the changes of their dielectric properties in the course of their operation will become indispensable. Within the framework of this dissertation, ensembles of samples of epoxy resins without fillers and with Al2O3, WO3, TiO2 and SiO2 fillers in the form of nanopowders, in concentrations up to 12 wt %, have been prepared. These ensembles have been measured prior to ageing and exposed to long-time (up to 5000 hours) ageing at increased temperatures 200, 250 and 300 °C and in a few cases also at 330 and 360 °C. Samples were measured in the course of ageing roughly in a logarithmic time series after 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 hours. The measured quantities included complex permittivity , internal resistivity i and loss factor tan at temperatures ranging from -153 °C to +167 °C and in the frequency range 10-2 – 106 Hz. Changes in nanocomposites have been investigated using not just dielectric spectroscopy measurements, but other methods, too, namely Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experiments have proved that materials with different fillers respond to the same concentrations of various fillers in different ways. The addition of nanoparticles, without the addition of microparticles, at a relatively low concentration (max 12 wt %), was not sufficient for reaching fundamental changes in dielectric spectrum; only smaller changes of dielectric strength and shifts of relaxations and in relaxation maps have occurred. Out of more pronounced changes, increase of concentration of the SiO2 filler in the epoxy matrix brings about a decrease of electrical conductivity in the resulting nanocomposite. The TiO2 filler had a different impact. Different TiO2 concentrations make their marked appearance in the region between the relaxation and relaxation. The TiO2-filled nanocomposites do not exhibit the unambiguous dependence of electrical conductivity on nanofiller concentration. It can be concluded that the mere addition of nanoparticles, without the addition of established microparticles, does not change the dielectric spectrum substantially. Generally, a serious problem was the production of the nanocomposite with a uniform distribution of nanoparticles. The preparation of such a nanocomposite was not trivial and, in industrial applications, this issue will require a specific focus, so as to avoid the formation of undesirable aggregates. Within the framework of this research, a methodology for the production of an epoxy nanocomposite has been developed with as high as possible uniformity of nanoparticle distribution.

Lobtention dun bon contraste en imagerie médicale est un pré-requis à un examen de qualité. Limagerie médicale basée sur la résonance nucléaire magnétique utilise diverses substances magnétiques comme agent de contraste. Le développement dagents de contraste à la fois plus performants et plus économiques sappuie fortement sur létude fondamentale des propriétés magnétiques de divers matériaux potentiellement utilisables. Dans ce travail, deux voies ont été poursuivies. La première partie est consacrée à des matériaux à transition de spin, qui pourraient être utilisés comme agents de contraste en résonance magnétique, pour autant que leur température de transition soit voisine de celle du corps humain. En effet, ces matériaux ont la particularité de posséder deux états magnétiques différents et, sous linfluence dune perturbation telle que la pression ou la température, peuvent passer dun état à lautre, à savoir létat paramagnétique ou diamagnétique. Les complexes de fer(II) étudiés sont basés sur des ligands tri-pyrazolyl borate et méthane. Une autre voie suivie pour améliorer le diagnostic médical est le développement et lutilisation de nanoparticules magnétiques fonctionnelles pour la détection et/ou le traitement des cellules cancéreuses. Dans la deuxième partie de ce travail, les propriétés magnétiques de nanoparticules ferriques préparées par deux méthodes différentes sont investiguées. La spectroscopie Mössbauer est largement utilisée dans cette thèse et les résultats obtenus par cette technique constituent la contribution principale de lauteur au travail. Cette technique, basée sur la fluorescence résonnante sans recul des rayons gamma, permet létude des interactions hyperfines de matériaux solides contenant du fer. Appliquée aux matériaux à transition de spin et aux nanoparticules, deux champs dapplication bien distincts, la spectroscopie Mössbauer fournit des informations structurelles et magnétiques. Elle complémente admirablement dautres techniques macroscopiques et microscopiques, comme la magnétométrie, la microscopie électronique et la diffraction des rayons X. Les autres techniques qui ont été utilisées par lauteur sont la magnétométrie et la relaxation des muons. Cest la première fois, que cette dernière technique est introduite dans léventail des techniques exploitées à lUniversité de Liège.

This doctoral thesis deals with the analysis of dielectric spectra of glycerol with dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). Dielectric spectra of glycerol have been measured in the frequency range 20 Hz to 10 MHz and in the temperature range 10 K to 300 K. The observed dielectric spectra featured a typical relaxation maximum, which could be in the first approximation described by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy of the relaxation process observed was 90 MJ/kmol. The relaxation strength as well as the shape of the relaxation peak remained in the temperature interval 180 K - 230 K (visibility of peak) almost the same, thus indicating that no change of the relaxation mechanism comes about. Much attention was in the thesis paid to the analysis of the excess component of the relaxation alfa process, in the literature commonly denoted as "excess wing". The thesis puts forward a procedure for the quantification of the magnitude of the excess wing. The excess wing magnitude thus determined turns out to increase monotonously with increasing temperature. The excess wing is here interpreted as a manifestation of a weakly-pronounced beta relaxation.

Submitted work deals with monitoring impact of thermal and electric ageing on the dielectric properties of insulating material NKN 0887. In the course of the experiment five sets of dielectric insulating materials were aged. The voltage range has been set from 1,5 kV till 2,2 kV and temperatures were 23 °C and 200 °C. The capacity and loss factor has been directly measured by RLC meter Agilent with attached electrode system. The electrode system operates on the principle of a plate capacitor. The values of relative permittivity and loss number has been calculated from values of capacity and loss factor. For easier confrontation has been frequency dependences of these values plotted in a chart. The Cole-Cole diagrams has been created and factors of Havriliak-Negami function has been calculated. Data has been compared with each other and the effect of ageing factors has been deduced.

Master´s thesis covers introduction to the problems of materials with specific proprieties named liquid crystals. Theoretic part features primary fission these materials, theirs mechanical, electrotechnical and optical characteristics. Interesting chapter is description choice application including perhaps most interesting using liquid crystals - liquid crystal display. In this trend continues experimental part too, where there are first mentioned characteristics LCD, and after it alone metering capacitive characteristics display with active matrix. Main attention in experiment is however concentraded on evaluation frequency analysis of components complex permittivity regarding in plant temperature on submitted sample liquid crystals.