Thin films of a ternary alloys between aluminum, manganese and copper (AlMnCu), prepared at low temperature, are reported in the present work. It is a study along two binary edges (Al100−xMnx and Al100−xCux (from literature)), the first almost along the entire range of concentrations, and two different cuts through the ternary system. The first cut begins at amorphous Al50Mn50 and adds Cu step by step (from literature). The second cut begins at amorphous Al60Cu40 and varies Al and Mn such that the Cu-content stays constant. There is a wide amorphous range, purely amorphous or with additional quasi-crystalline local features, and there are ranges where mixtures between amorphous and nano- or partially crystalline phases with a high content of lattice defects exist. The work exclusively deals with the development of the static structure and its thermal stability, as well as the development of its electronic transport properties. The ternary AlMnCu is a model for a deeper understanding of different scenarios of structure stabilization and their interaction, with consequences on the emergence of physical properties. The analysis focuses on self-organizing spherical-periodic, global resonance effects between two global subsystems of the alloy under consideration, the Fermi gas as one and the forming static structure of ions as the other. The global resonances are self organizing by i.e. an exchange of characteristic momenta and energy between the subsystems and trigger, besides a particular structure, particle-density anomalies and/or hybridization effects. The work shows strong evidence of a combined action of the particle-density anomalies with the effective valence of the atoms involved, in order to maintain the resonance condition under all circumstances. Whereas at high Al-content, additionally, local features of quasi-crystallinity arise, closer to pure Mn phase separations arise, causing mixtures of amorphous with nano-crystalline phases or crystals with a high content of lattice distortions. Reports on density anomalies, hybridization effects, and angular correlations, have been published quite often. In the present work, besides similar effects in a ternary system, first indications for phase separations and lattice defects as additional scenarios of stabilizing condensed matter are reported. The resonance, seen as spherical-periodic-order at short- and medium-range distances in real space, causes in reciprocal space a resonance maximum (analogous to a Bragg peak in crystals). Its location on the axis of the scattering vector is defined by the electron system and a pseudo-gap in the electronic density of states arise at the Fermi energy. The origin of the structural order and its thermal stability, the pseudo-gap at the Fermi energy, as well as the transport properties with its anomalies, all are attributed to the resonance. The spherically-periodic atomic order in an amorphous phase is analogous to the planar order in a crystal. The interatomic distances between the nearest neighboring shells at short- and medium range distances coincide with half the Fermi wavelength, also called Friedel-wavelength. / In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird über bei niedriger Temperatur hergestellte dünne Schichten aus einem ternären Legierungssystem zwischen Aluminium, Mangan und Kupfer (AlMnCu) berichtet, über zwei binäre Randlegierungen (Al100−xMnx und Al100−xCux (aus der Literatur)) und über zwei verschiedene Schnitte durch den ternären Bereich. Ein Schnitt durch den ternären Bereich beginnt bei amorphem Al50Mn50 und fügt schrittweise Cu zur Legierung (aus der Literatur). Der zweite Schnitt beginnt bei amorphem Al60Cu40 und fügt schrittweise Al und Mn so zu, dass der Cu-Gehalt konstant bleibt. Es gibt amorphe Bereiche, teilweise mit weiteren lokal quasi-kristallinen zusätzlichen Merkmalen, sowie Bereiche, in denen Mischungen aus amorphen mit nano oder teilkristallinen Phasen auftreten. Die Arbeit behandelt die Entwicklung der statischen Struktur und deren thermische Stabilität, sowie die Entwicklung elektronischer Transporteigenschaften. Das ternäre AlMnCu ist ein Modellsystem für ein tieferes Verständnis der verschiedenen Szenarien struktureller Stabilisierung und deren Interaktion, mit Auswirkungen auf ein tieferes Verständnis der mit der Struktur sich entwicklenden physikalischen Eigenschaften. Die Analyse konzentriert sich auf sich selbstorganisierende sphärisch-periodische, globale Resonanzeffekte zwischen zwei globalen Untersystemen des gewählten Materialsystems, der Fermi-Kugel als einem und der sich bildenden statischen Struktur der Ionen als dem anderen. Die globalen Resonanzen bilden sich u.a. durch einen Austausch von charakteristischen Impulsen und Energie zwischen den Untersystemen, die neben einer bestimmten Struktur zunächst auch Teilchendichteanomalien und/oder Hybridisierungseffekte erzeugen. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt dabei starke Anzeichen für eine kombinierte Wirkung dieser Effekte um die Resonanzbedingung unter allen Umständen beizubehalten. Bei hohen Al-Anteilen treten zusätzlich lokale Merkmale von quasi-Kristallinität, mit 5-facher Winkelkorrelation auf, um auch diesen Bereich strukturell zu stabilisieren. Bei hohen Mn-Anteilen sind es lokale Phasentrennung in amorphe und nano-kristalline Phasen oder hohe Anteile von Gitterdeffekten, die zusätzlich auftreten. Über Dichteanomalien, Hybridisierungseffekte und Winkelkorrelationen wurde in der Vergangenheit bereits mehrfach berichtet. In der vorliegenden Arbeit sind es, neben der modellhaften Behandlung dieser im ternären System, die Hinweise zu Phasentrennung und Gitterdeffekten als zusätzliche Szenarien zur Stabilisierung kondensierter Materie, über die erstmalig berichtet wird. Die auf dem Austausch von Impuls beruhende Resonanz, als sphärisch-periodische-Ordnung im nahen und mittleren Abstandsbereich des Ortsraumes zu sehen, verursacht im reziproken Raum ein Resonanzmaximum (analog zu einem Bragg-peak in kristallinen Systemen), dessen Lage auf der Achse der Streuvektoren vom Elektronensystem definiert wird, und eine Pseudolücke in der elektronischen Zustandsdichte der Elektronen an der Fermi-Energie. Letztendlich werden die Entstehung der strukturellen Ordnung selbst, ihre thermische Stabilität, als auch die Transporteigenschaften mit ihren Anomalien auf diese Pseudolücke und demzufolge auf die Resonanz zurückgeführt. Die sphärisch-periodische Ordnung der Atome in einer amorphen Phase ist analog zur planaren Ordnung in einem Kristall. Die Atomabstände zwischen den Nächstnachbarschalen im mittleren, aber auch nahen Abstandsbereich, stimmen über große Distanzen mit der halben Fermi-Wellenlänge überein, die man auch als Friedel-Wellenlänge bezeichnet.

A maneira mais direta de detectar as anomalias da densidade é pelo estudo do potencial gravitacional e de suas derivadas. A disponibilidade global e a boa resolução dos dados do satélite GOCE, aliadas à disponibilidade de dados de gravimetria terrestre, são ideais para a comparação e classificação das bacias de larga escala, como as bacias sedimentares do Solimões e do Amazonas dentro do Craton amazônico. Foram processados um conjunto de dados, produtos GOCE EGG_TRF_2 Level 2, ao longo das trajetórias do satélite para remover o ruído (shift/drift) nos gradientes da gravidade a partir da técnica crossover (XO). Calculamos a redução das massas topográfica a fim de obter os componentes do gradiente da gravidade e anomalia da gravidade usando modelagem direta com prismas esféricos a partir do modelo de elevação digital, ETOPO1. Desta maneira, a comparação dos dados somente do satélite GOCE com as reduções das massas topográficas referentes aos componentes do gradiente da gravidade permitiram estimar quantidades invariantes que trouxeram uma melhoria na interpretação dos dados do tensor de gravidade. Além disso, comparamos dados terrestres do campo de gravidade com dados do campo de gravidade dos modelos geopotenciais EGM2008 e GOCE, uma vez que os dados terrestres podem ser afetados por erros em longos comprimentos de onda devido a erros de nivelamento, diferentes referenciais de altitudes, e aos problemas em interligar diferentes campanhas de medidas da gravidade. Portanto, estimamos uma melhora e uma nova representação dos mapas das anomalias de gravidade e do tensor gradiente da gravidade nas áreas inacessíveis do Craton Amazônico. As observações forneceram novas entradas para determinar campos regionais a partir dados brutos pre-processados (gradiente de gravidade EGG_TRF_2 L2), bem como a partir de um modelo geopotencial mais recente até grau e ordem 250 dos harmonicos esféricos derivados de dados somente do satélite GOCE para a representação do campo de gravidade como geóide, anomalias da gravidade e os componentes tensor da gravidade, os quais foram quantidades importantes para interpretação, modelagem e estudo dessas estruturas. Finalmente, obtivemos um modelo isostático considerando a estrutura de densidade litosférica estudada através de uma modelagem direta 3D da distribuição de densidade por prismas esféricos usando a geometria do embasamento e descontinuidade do Moho. Além do que, constatamos através da modelagem direta das soleiras de diabásios dentro dos sedimentos mostramos que somente as soleiras dentro da Bacia do Amazonas não são as únicas responsáveis pela anomalia de gravidade positiva que coincide aproximadamente com as espessuras máximas dos sedimentos da Bacia. Talvez, isso possa ser também um resultado de movimentos relativos do Escudo das Guianas situado ao norte da Bacia, e o Escudo Brasileiro situado ao sul. Embora isso seja apenas uma evidência adicional preliminar, não podemos confirmá-las a partir das estimativas do campo da gravidade. Portanto, é necessário outros tipos de dados geofísicos, como por exemplo, evidências mais claras advindas do paleomagnetismo. / The most direct way to detect density anomalies is the study of the gravity potential field and its derivatives. The global availability and good resolution of the GOCE mission coupled with the availability of terrestrial gravity data are ideal for the scope of intercomparison and classification of the two large-scale Amazon and Solimoes sedimentary basins into area of the Amazon Craton. The GOCE data set obtained in satellite tracks were processed from EGG_TRF_2 Level 2 Products generated with the correction needed to remove the noise (shift/drift), and so, to recover the individual components of the gravity gradient tensor using the crossover (XO) points technique. We calculated the topographic masses reductions in order to obtain the gravity gradient components and gravity anomaly (vertical component) using forward modelling from tesseroids from Digital Elevation Model, ETOPO1. Thus, the comparison of the only-satellite GOCE data with the reductions of the topographic masses for the gradient components allowed to estimate invariants quantities for bring an improvement in the interpretation of the gravity tensor data. Furthermore, we compared the terrestrial data gravity field with EGM2008 and GOCE-deduced gravity field because the terrestrial fields may be affected by errors at long wavelengths due to errors in leveling, different height references, and problems in connecting different measurement campaigns. However, we have estimated an improvement and new representations of the gravity anomalies maps and gravity gradient tensor components primary in inaccessible areas of the Amazon Craton. GOCE observations provide new inputs to determine the regional fields from the preprocessed raw data (EGG_TRF_2 L2 gravity gradients), as well from the most recent global geopotential model available up to degree and order 250 developed in spherical harmonics derived only-satellite GOCE data for representing of geoid and others gravity field as gravity anomaly and gravity gradient tensor components, which are important quantities for modelling and studying these structures. Finally, we obtained the isostatic model considering the lithospheric density structure studied through a 3D direct modelling of density distribution using the geometry of basement and Moho discontinuity, assumed to be known as initial constraint. In addition, we found through direct modeling sills and sediment has shown that the diabase sills are not the only ones responsible for positive gravity anomaly map that transects the Amazon Basin, roughly coincident with the maximum thickness of sedimentary rocks or the trough of the basin. Maybe, this could be the result of the relative movements of the Guiana Shield, situated at the north of the Amazon basin, and the Brazilian Shield, situated at the south. Although this is only a preliminary additional evidence, we cannot confirm it only from the data of gravity. It is necessary others types of geophysical data, for example, more clear evidences obtained from paleomagnetism.

In dieser Arbeit wurden zwei katalytische Modellreaktionen studiert. Zunächst die katalytische Reduktion von p-Nitrophenol (Nip) mit Natriumborhydrid (BH_4^-). Diese verläuft entlang der direkten Route: Dabei wird Nip über p-Hydroxylaminophenol (Hx) zum Produkt p-Aminophenol (Amp) reduziert. Ein kinetisches Modell wird vorgestellt, dass die Reaktion auf Basis des Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) Mechanismus beschreibt. Die Lösung der Gleichungen gibt die Nip Konzentration als Funktion der Zeit, welche direkt mit den experimentellen Daten verglichen werden kann. Werden als Katalysator auf sphärischen Polyeletrolytbürsten stabilisierte Gold Nanopartikel (SPB-Au) verwendet, zeigt sich eine gute Übereinstimmung und unterstreicht die Allgemeingültigkeit der direkten Route. Der zweite Teil beschäftigt sich mit der katalytischen Oxidation von 3,3’,5,5’-Tetramethylbenzidin (TMB) durch Wasserstoffperoxid (H_2O_2) an SPB-Pt Nanopartikeln. Dabei wurden die Katalyse mithilfe zweier Modelle analysiert: Michaelis-Menten (MM) und Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH). Im MM Modell wird die Oxidation von TMB durch die Nanopartikel mit der Peroxidase katalysierten TMB Oxidation unter Annahme des Ping-Pong Mechanismus verglichen. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die häufig verwendete Analyse der initialen Reaktionsraten große Fehler verursacht und zu inkonsistenten Ergebnissen führt. Dies zeigt dass dieses Vorgehen zu Analyse der Oxidation von TMB nicht geeignet ist. Im LH Modell wird angenommen dass H_2O_2 und TMB im ersten Schritt auf der Oberfläche der Nanopartikel adsorbieren. Das LH Modell mit Produktinhibition ermöglicht hierbei eine zufriedenstellende Beschreibung der kinetischen Daten bis zu einem Umsatz von 40 %. Die gesamte Analyse zeigt, dass das Langmuir-Hinshelwood Modell die bessere Näherung zur Beschreibung der Kinetik der Nanopartikel katalysierten TMB Oxidation bietet / In this work, two catalytic model reactions were studied using different metallic nanoparticles in aqueous solution. One is the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (Nip) by sodium borohydride (BH_4^-). The reaction proceeds in the following route: Nip is first reduced to p-hydroxylaminophenol (Hx) which is further reduced to the final product p-aminophenol (Amp). Here we present a full kinetic scheme according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism (LH). The solution of the kinetic equations gives the concentration of Nip as the function of time, which can be directly compared with the experimental data. Satisfactory agreement is found for reactions catalyzed by Au nanoparticles immobilized in spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB-Au) verifying the validity of the reaction route. In the second part, we present a study on the catalytic oxidation of 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2) with SPB-Pt nanoparticles. The catalysis was analyzed by two different models: Michaelis-Menten (MM) and Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) model. In the MM model, the oxidation of TMB catalyzed by nanoparticles is inferred to the catalysis of peroxidase assuming the Ping-Pong mechanism. It is found that the frequently used analysis with the initial rates introduces large errors and leads to inconsistent results, which indicates that such approach is not suitable to analyze the oxidation of TMB catalyzed by nanoparticles. In the LH model, it is assumed that H_2O_2 and TMB adsorb on the surface of nanoparticles in the first step. The LH model with product inhibition gives satisfactory description of the kinetic data up to a conversion of 40%. The entire analysis demonstrates that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model provides a superior approach to describe the kinetics of TMB oxidation catalyzed by nanoparticles.

No description available.

O ganho crescen te de desempenho nos computadores modernos tem impulsionado os trabalhos científicos nas áreas de simulação computacional. Muitos autores utilizam em suas pesquisas ferramentas comerciais que limitam seus trabalhos ao esconder os algoritmos internos destas ferramentas e dificultam a adição de dados in-vivo nestes trabalhos. Este trabalho explora esta lacuna deixada por aqueles autores. Elaboramos um arcabouço computacional capaz de reproduzir os fenômenos óticos e fisiológicos do sistema visual. Construímos com superfícies quádricas os modelos esquemáticos do olho humano e propomos um algoritmo de traçado de raio realístico. Então realizamos um estudo nos modelos esquemáticos e a partir deles mais a adição de dados in-vivo obtidos de um topógrafo de córnea extraímos informações óticas destes modelos. Calculamos os coeficientes e Zernike dos modelos para tamanhos diversos de pupila e obtivemos medidas de aberração do olho humano. Os resultados encontrados estão de acordo com os trabalhos relacionados e as simulações com dados in-vivo estão consoantes com as produzidas por um aparelho de frente de onda comerciais. Este trabalho é um esforço em aproveitar as informações adquiridas pelos equipamentos modernos de oftalmologia, além de auxiliar o entendimento de sistemas visuais biológicos acabam também em auxiliar a elaboração de sistemas de visão artificial e os projetistas de sistemas óticos / The increase in performance of the modern computers has driven scientific work in the areas of computer simulation. Many authors use in their research commercial tools that use embedding algorithms, which sources are not provided, and it makes harder and sometimes impossible, the development of novel theories or experiments. This work explores this gap left for those authors. We present a computational framework capable to reproduce the optical and physiological phenomena of the human visual system. We construct schematical models of the human eye from quadrics surfaces and consider an algorithm of realistic ray tracing. Afterward, we performed a study on schematics models and in addition we introduce, in these models, in-vivo data obtained from corneal topography machine and extract optical information. We calculate the Zernike coefficients in the models for different sizes of pupil and measures of aberration of the human eye. The results are in agreement with related work and simulations with in-vivo data are according with the produced by a commercial wave-front device. This work is an effort in using to advantage the information acquired for the modern equipment of ophthalmology, besides assisting the understanding of biological visual systems, it also helps the development of artificial vision systems and the designing of optical systems

Cette thèse se propose d’étudier la difficulté de l’estimation de la distance dans le cadre de la géométrie de l’espace visuel. En philosophie de la perception, cette thèse est d'abord discutée au plan épistémologique : comment savoir que cette distance n'est pas connue ou connaissable, quoique perçue et discutée. Les travaux de Berkeley nous servent de point de départ et fixent un cadre spéculatif, puisque Berkeley soutient en effet que le jugement porté sur la distance résulte entièrement de l'expérience, quoique cette distance ne puisse être vue phénoménalement. La thèse se propose d'examiner une question essentielle supportée par cette alternative centrale mais au plan ontologique cette fois : comme déterminer de quel type est la distance : est-elle inconsciemment visible ? tangible ? ou visible et tangible à la fois ? Peut-elle être une entité assignable dans un espace hyperbolique, ou sphérique, un espace strictement euclidien, ou hyperbolique et sphérique en même temps qu'euclidien ? Pour appuyer notre propos et notre recherche nous mettrons à l’épreuve différents textes et expériences en passant de Berkeley à I. Rock ou de T. Reid à M. Wagner. Notre but aura été d'explorer les limites argumentatives et de montrer ce qui est impliqué par ces différentes appréciations et assignations de la distance dans tel ou tel espace déterminé. A chaque fois s'affrontent la géométrie de l’espace visuel et l’optique physiologique, mais au sein d'un même débat de fond qui consiste à savoir comment définir philosophiquement l’estimation de la distance ? / This thesis examines the difficulties in estimating the geometrical distance of visual space. Submitted in the field of Philosophy of Perception, this thesis is first discussed from an epistemological standpoint: how does one know that this distance is unknown or unknowable despite being perceived and discussed. The various works of Berkeley serve as a point of depart and establish a speculative framework as Berkeley held that judgment of distance results entirely from experience despite the fact that this distance cannot be seen in a phenomenal way. This thesis examines an essential question supported by this central problem, this time from an ontological position: how is the type of distance to be determined: is it unconsciously visible?tangible? or both visible and tangible at the same time? Can it be categorized in a hyperbolic space, or spherical space, or a strictly Euclidean space, or hyperbolic and spherical at the same time as Euclidean? In support of the thesis and research, various texts and experiences have been examined and contrasted, including those of Berkeley and I. Rock as well as T. Reid and M. Wagner. The goal has been to explore the limits of argumentation and to show what is implicated by these different accounts and assignment of distance in one, versus another, determined space; additionally studying subjects including the experience of the alleys or the so-called the moon illusion, which appeared to be demonstrative examples. In each instance, geometry of visual space and physiological optics confront one another, but at the center of this same fundamental debate is the question of how to define the estimation of distance philosophically?

L’objet de ce travail est de proposer un modèle adapté pour la simulation du remplissage de moules qui réponde au meilleur compromis entre temps de calcul et précision des résultats. La difficulté est double. Il faut prendre en compte le phénomène de remplissage qui est un problème complexe à frontières libres et les spécificités liées au Verre : viscosité fortement thermodépendante et température de fusion élevée qui nécessite de prendre en compte le rayonnement. Le Chapitre I est consacrée à la partie écoulement du Verre liquide. La bibliothèque numérique Aquilon/Thétis, adaptée pour traiter ce type de problèmes et les couplages thermique air/verre/parois, a été utilisée (Méthode V.O.F pour le suivi de l’interface, méthodes de type Lagrangien augmenté/Projection vectorielle pour le couplage Vitesse-Pression). Pour l’aspect radiatif, différentes approches sont proposées : conductivité radiative équivalente (Chapitre II), méthode explicite directe pour la validation (Chapitre III) et méthode d’harmoniques sphériques ou méthode PN (Chapitre IV). Dans le Chapitre V, la méthode PN retenue est validée dans des cas simples et est appliquée ensuite à des cas avec couplage convectif en géométries complexes et obstacles semi-transparents (1D, 2D et 3D, 2D axi-symétrique et milieu non gris). Une version P1 modifiée est présentée. Les résultats sont assez proches de ceux donnés par la méthode P3 avec des temps de calcul modestes. L’intérêt de ce modèle est qu’il est facilement intégrable dans des codes numériques existants : une seule équation différentielle du second ordre stationnaire à résoudre en 3D / The aim of this study is to propose an adapted model for the simulation of mould filling that must be a compromise solution between computational time and results accuracy. The double difficulty is to take into account the filling phenomenon that is a complex problem due to the presence of free boundaries and to the Glass specificities: viscosity that is highly thermal dependant and high melting temperature that requires taking into account radiation effects. Chapter I is devoted to the melting Glass flow. The numerical libraries Aquilon/Thétis, adapted for solving such type of problems and the thermal coupling between Air/Glass/Walls, has been used. (V.O.F method for front tracking, Augmented Lagrangian/Vector Projection methods for solving Pressure/Velocity coupling). For radiative aspect, different approaches are proposed: equivalent radiative conductivity (Chapter II), direct explicit method for validation (Chapter III) and spherical harmonics method or PN method (Chapter IV). In the Chapter V, the selected PN method is validated through simple cases and is then applied in other cases with convective coupling in complex geometries including semi-transparent inclusions (1D, 2D and 3D, 2D axi-symmetric and non grey medium). A P1 modified version is presented. The results are close to those given by P3 method but with reduced computational time. The main interest of this model is that it can be easily implemented in existing numerical codes: a single stationary second order partial differential equation to solve in 3D

Jiang (1997) 首先提出多變量d轉換與其性質。利用多變量d轉換，我們可以定義新式的特徵函數，並且稱它們是多變量d特徵函數。在這篇論文中，我們將使用多變量d特徵函數來證明在普通的條件下，Dirichlet隨機向量的線性組合會分配收斂（converge in distribution）到一個對稱的分配。此外，當給定一個分配函數的多變量d特徵函數，我們將建構一個方法來決定此分配函數。另一方面，我們將證明多變量d特徵函數擁有很多類似傳統的特徵函數的性質。 / A multivariate d-transformation and its properties were first given by Jiang (1997). By means of the multivariate d-transformations, we can define new kinds of characteristic functions and call them multivariate d-characteristic functions. In this thesis, we will use the multivariate d-characteristic function to show that the linear combinations of Dirichlet random vectors, under regularity conditions, converge in distribution to a spherical distribution. Moreover, We will construct a method for constructing the distribution function with a given multivariate d-characteristic function. In addition, we will show that the multivariate d-characteristic function has many properties which are similar to those of the traditional characteristic function.

In a Minkowski three dimensional space, whose metric is based on a strictly convex and centrally symmetric unit ball , we deal with ruled surfaces Φ in the sense of E. Kruppa. This means that we have to look for Minkowski analogues of the classical differential invariants of ruled surfaces in a Euclidean space. Here, at first – after an introduction to concepts of a Minkowski space, like semi-orthogonalities and a semi-inner-product based on the so-called cosine-Minkowski function - we construct an orthogonal 3D moving frame using Birkhoff’s left-orthogonality. This moving frame is canonically connected to ruled surfaces: beginning with the generator direction and the asymptotic plane of this generator g we complete this flag to a frame using the left-orthogonality defined by ; ( is described either by its supporting function or a parameter representation). The plane left-orthogonal to the asymptotic plane through generator g(t) is called Minkowski central plane and touches Φ in the striction point s(t) of g(t). Thus the moving frame defines the Minkowski striction curve S of the considered ruled surface Φ similar to the Euclidean case. The coefficients occurring in the Minkowski analogues to Frenet-Serret formulae of the moving frame of Φ in a Minkowski space are called “M-curvatures” and “M-torsions”. Here we essentially make use of the semi-inner product and the sine-Minkowski and cosine-Minkowski functions. Furthermore we define a covariant differentiation in a Minkowski 3-space using a new vector called “deformation vector” and locally measuring the deviation of the Minkowski space from a Euclidean space. With this covariant differentiation it is possible to declare an “M-geodesicc parallelity” and to show that the vector field of the generators of a skew ruled surface Φ is an M-geodesic parallel field along its Minkowski striction curve s. Finally we also define the Pirondini set of ruled surfaces to a given surface Φ. The surfaces of such a set have the M-striction curve and the strip of M-central planes in common

The Professorship of Digital Signal Processing and Circuit Technology of Chemnitz University of Technology conducts research in the field of three-dimensional space measurement with optical sensors. In recent years this field has made major progress. For example innovative, active techniques such as the “structured light“-principle are able to measure even homogeneous surfaces and find its way into the consumer electronic market in terms of Microsoft’s Kinect® at the present time. Furthermore, high-resolution optical sensors establish powerful, passive stereo vision systems in the field of indoor surveillance. Thereby they induce new application domains such as security and assistance systems for domestic environments. However, the constraint field of view can be still considered as an essential characteristic of all these technologies. For instance, in order to measure a volume in size of a living space, two to three deployed 3D sensors have to be applied nowadays. This is due to the fact that the commonly utilized perspective projection principle constrains the visible area to a field of view of approximately 120°. On the contrary, novel fish-eye lenses allow the realization of omnidirectional projection models. Therewith, the visible field of view can be enlarged up to more than 180°. In combination with a 3D measurement approach, thus, the number of required sensors for entire room coverage can be reduced considerably. Motivated by the requirements of the field of indoor surveillance, the present work focuses on the combination of the established stereo vision principle and omnidirectional projection methods. The entire 3D measurement of a living space by means of one single sensor can be considered as major objective. As a starting point for this thesis chapter 1 discusses the underlying requirement, referring to various relevant fields of application. Based on this, the distinct purpose for the present work is stated. The necessary mathematical foundations of computer vision are reflected in Chapter 2 subsequently. Based on the geometry of the optical imaging process, the projection characteristics of relevant principles are discussed and a generic method for modeling fish-eye cameras is selected. Chapter 3 deals with the extraction of depth information using classical (perceptively imaging) binocular stereo vision configurations. In addition to a complete recap of the processing chain, especially occurring measurement uncertainties are investigated. In the following, Chapter 4 addresses special methods to convert different projection models. The example of mapping an omnidirectional to a perspective projection is employed, in order to develop a method for accelerating this process and, hereby, for reducing the computational load associated therewith. Any errors that occur, as well as the necessary adjustment of image resolution, are an integral part of the investigation. As a practical example, an application for person tracking is utilized in order to demonstrate to which extend the usage of “virtual views“ can increase the recognition rate for people detectors in the context of omnidirectional monitoring. Subsequently, an extensive search with respect to omnidirectional imaging stereo vision techniques is conducted in chapter 5. It turns out that the complete 3D capture of a room is achievable by the generation of a hemispherical depth map. Therefore, three cameras have to be combined in order to form a trinocular stereo vision system. As a basis for further research, a known trinocular stereo vision method is selected. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that, applying a modified geometric constellation of cameras, more precisely in the form of an equilateral triangle, and using an alternative method to determine the depth map, the performance can be increased considerably. A novel method is presented, which shall require fewer operations to calculate the distance information and which is to avoid a computational costly step for depth map fusion as necessary in the comparative method. In order to evaluate the presented approach as well as the hypotheses, a hemispherical depth map is generated in Chapter 6 by means of the new method. Simulation results, based on artificially generated 3D space information and realistic system parameters, are presented and subjected to a subsequent error estimate. A demonstrator for generating real measurement information is introduced in Chapter 7. In addition, the methods that are applied for calibrating the system intrinsically as well as extrinsically are explained. It turns out that the calibration procedure utilized cannot estimate the extrinsic parameters sufficiently. Initial measurements present a hemispherical depth map and thus con.rm the operativeness of the concept, but also identify the drawbacks of the calibration used. The current implementation of the algorithm shows almost real-time behaviour. Finally, Chapter 8 summarizes the results obtained along the studies and discusses them in the context of comparable binocular and trinocular stereo vision approaches. For example the results of the simulations carried out produced a saving of up to 30% in terms of stereo correspondence operations in comparison with a referred trinocular method. Furthermore, the concept introduced allows the avoidance of a weighted averaging step for depth map fusion based on precision values that have to be calculated costly. The achievable accuracy is still comparable for both trinocular approaches. In summary, it can be stated that, in the context of the present thesis, a measurement system has been developed, which has great potential for future application fields in industry, security in public spaces as well as home environments.