The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic motion and mooring line tension of an in-situ single-point-mooring (SPM) net cage system, and then the field tension data were utilized to validate the numerical model for cages. This prototype SPM cage system was installed at water depth about 30 m in the north of Hsiao-Liu-Chiu Island. On the mooring line, a load cell was fixed so that the environmental loading on the net cage were sensed and recorded in the data log. In addition, an ADCP was bottom mounted near the concrete anchor to measure the sea states simultaneous. All of these data were analyzed and used as input for the numerical model of cage. This numerical model was based on the lump mass method to form a set of motion equations and adopted the Runge-Kutta fourth order method to simulate the cage¡¦s dynamic motion. The results shows that the sea surface is quite calm and the current speeds are usually less than a half knot at the tested site. If waves occurred, then its direction is always around 270¢X~360¢X which means the wave direction is usually normal to the shore line. During study period, a strong typhoon TALIM attacked the site on September 1st , 2005. The maximum mooring line tension of net cage 530 kg was recorded by the data log. However, it was much smaller than the breaking strength of mooring line which means that the cage system is quite safe for this typhoon event. The developed numerical model has been validated by good agreements between the numerical results and the field tension data. One more thing worthy to mention is the final position of net cage may drift to the on-shore direction just as the same direction of the incident waves.

The thesis is aimed at the development of Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPM). It describes design and development of modular controll electronics to be applied eectively on more microscopes SPM. Control electronics consist of stabilized power source, high–voltage amplier and probe signal amplier. The open–source project GXSM has been introduced. It contains a logic control unit which controls scanning, acquiring data and feedback control. GXSM provides a graphical user interface based on linux operation system. Second part of the thesis is aimed at design and development of interferometric deection sensing system for SPM cantilevers and applications at SPM in general. Designed interferometer has been assembled and tested. It can clearly distinguish a signal of amplitude 2 nm. At the end of the thesis the design of interferometric system implementation is presented.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-189). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.

A magnetic force microscope (MFM) is a special type of scanning force microscope which measures the stray field above a ferromagnetic sample with the help of a ferromagnetic cantilever. The aim of this project was to design and build a MFM head and interface it with a commercial scanning probe electronics controller with the help of an appropriate force sensor. The MFM head and the force sensor were to be designed to work at low temperatures (down to 4 K) and in high vacuum. During this work, a magnetic force microscope (MFM) head was designed. Its design is symmetrical and modular. Two dimensional views were prepared to ensure proper geometry and alignment for the various modules. Based on these views, individual parts in the various modules were manufactured and combined for the final assembly of the head. This MFM head has many essential and advanced features which were incorporated during the design process. Our MFM head has an outside diameter of 5 cm and thus has a low thermal mass. The head operates inside a 100 cm long vacuum can which is kept in a cold bath inside a superinsulated dewar. Other features of this MFM head include thermal compensation of the important parts, flexibility to use commercial MFM cantilevers and a large scan range compared to the previous designs. Some of the anticipated system specifications are: 1) room temperature scanning range of 175?? 175 ??m, 2) low temperature scanning range between 35-50 ??m, 3) smallest detectable magnetic force in the range of one pN and 4) smallest detectable magnetic force gradient in the range of 10-3 to 10 -5 N/m. This MFM head was interfaced to a commercial scanning probe electronics apparatus by designing a fiber-optic interferometer as the sensor for the detection of the cantilever deflection. The fiber-optic sensor also has features of its own such as stability, compactness and low susceptibility to noise because of all-fiber construction. With this MFM head, we hope to image many magnetic samples which were previously impossible to image at Texas A&M.

A magnetic force microscope (MFM) is a special type of scanning force microscope which measures the stray field above a ferromagnetic sample with the help of a ferromagnetic cantilever. The aim of this project was to design and build a MFM head and interface it with a commercial scanning probe electronics controller with the help of an appropriate force sensor. The MFM head and the force sensor were to be designed to work at low temperatures (down to 4 K) and in high vacuum. During this work, a magnetic force microscope (MFM) head was designed. Its design is symmetrical and modular. Two dimensional views were prepared to ensure proper geometry and alignment for the various modules. Based on these views, individual parts in the various modules were manufactured and combined for the final assembly of the head. This MFM head has many essential and advanced features which were incorporated during the design process. Our MFM head has an outside diameter of 5 cm and thus has a low thermal mass. The head operates inside a 100 cm long vacuum can which is kept in a cold bath inside a superinsulated dewar. Other features of this MFM head include thermal compensation of the important parts, flexibility to use commercial MFM cantilevers and a large scan range compared to the previous designs. Some of the anticipated system specifications are: 1) room temperature scanning range of 175?? 175 ??m, 2) low temperature scanning range between 35-50 ??m, 3) smallest detectable magnetic force in the range of one pN and 4) smallest detectable magnetic force gradient in the range of 10-3 to 10 -5 N/m. This MFM head was interfaced to a commercial scanning probe electronics apparatus by designing a fiber-optic interferometer as the sensor for the detection of the cantilever deflection. The fiber-optic sensor also has features of its own such as stability, compactness and low susceptibility to noise because of all-fiber construction. With this MFM head, we hope to image many magnetic samples which were previously impossible to image at Texas A&M.

Scanning probe microscopy was employed to characterize the piezotronic effect in both longitudinal and transverse force sensing modes in CdSe, and GaN nanowires, respectively. Both experimental results show exponential response of their conductivity change to applied forces. Theoretical models are also presented to explain this mechanism and quantify the relationship, where strain induced piezoelectric polarization changes the metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier height. An in-situ method based on SPM is developed to characterize the triboelectric process, including tribo-charge intensity, multi-cycle friction effect, as well as its surface diffusion. Beyond that, effect of external electric field was investigated as an approach to manipulate the polarization and intensity. Finally, a concept of self-powered motion sensing technology is developed and demonstrated experimentally with nanometer resolution, long working distance as well as high robustness. It provides a promising solution for application areas that need ultra-low power consumption devices.

No description available.

Nanoscale science and technology demand novel approaches and new knowledge to further advance. Nanoscale fabrication has been widely employed in both modern science and engineering. Micro/nano lithography is the most common technique to deposit nanostructures. Fundamental research is also being conducted to investigate structural, physical and chemical properties of the nanostructures. This research contributes fundamental understanding in surface science through development of a new methodology. Doing so, experimental approaches combined with energy analysis were carried out. A delicate hardware system was designed and constructed to realize the nanometer scale lithography. We developed a complete process, namely laser-assisted scanning probe alloying nanolithography (LASPAN), to fabricate well-defined nanostructures in gold-silicon (Au-Si) system. As a result, four aspects of nanostructures were made through different experimental trials. A non-equilibrium phase (AuSi3) was discovered, along with a non-equilibrium phase diagram. Energy dissipation and mechanism of nanocrystalization in the process have been extensively discussed. The mechanical energy input and laser radiation induced thermal energy input were estimated. An energy model was derived to represent the whole process of LASPAN.

Nanoscale science and technology demand novel approaches and new knowledge to further advance. Nanoscale fabrication has been widely employed in both modern science and engineering. Micro/nano lithography is the most common technique to deposit nanostructures. Fundamental research is also being conducted to investigate structural, physical and chemical properties of the nanostructures. This research contributes fundamental understanding in surface science through development of a new methodology. Doing so, experimental approaches combined with energy analysis were carried out. A delicate hardware system was designed and constructed to realize the nanometer scale lithography. We developed a complete process, namely laser-assisted scanning probe alloying nanolithography (LASPAN), to fabricate well-defined nanostructures in gold-silicon (Au-Si) system. As a result, four aspects of nanostructures were made through different experimental trials. A non-equilibrium phase (AuSi3) was discovered, along with a non-equilibrium phase diagram. Energy dissipation and mechanism of nanocrystalization in the process have been extensively discussed. The mechanical energy input and laser radiation induced thermal energy input were estimated. An energy model was derived to represent the whole process of LASPAN.