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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Floquet calculations of atomic photo-electron spectra in intense laser fields

Day, Henry Clive January 1997 (has links)
We present the results of Floquet calculations of rates of photo-detachment from a short-range three-dimensional model atom in an intense high-frequency laser field. We find that beyond a certain intensity the atom becomes progressively more stable against ionisation and that at this intensity the ATI spectrum exhibits a plateau of the kind that has recently been reported in the literature [101]. We also discuss the angular distribution of the photo- electrons and examine the special case of a laser-induced degeneracy in the frequency-intensity plane. In the Floquet method one represents the time-dependent Schrodinger equation by an infinite series of coupled time-independent equations, although in practice one must truncate these to a system of finite size. We study the consequences of this truncation by performing a series of calculations for the rate of (resonant) multiphoton detachment from a one-dimensional model atom in a laser field. We find that if the wavefunction is modified to take full account of the truncation then the number of equations which must be retained in order to obtain accurate results is significantly reduced. In performing a Floquet calculation for a real atomic system it is generally assumed that the atom remains at all times in a single diabatic Floquet state, rather than in a superposition of such states. By constructing a suitable two- state model we investigate the validity of this approximation and discuss the usefulness of the Floquet method in modelling an actual experiment. We present results for the multiphoton ionisation of H(1s) by a monochromatic circularly polarised field and by a linearly polarised bichromatic field of commensurable frequencies. In the monochromatic case we draw qualitative comparisons with the predictions of Keldysh theory and use the concept of a propensity rule to explain why the angular distributions remain essentially perturbative at high intensities. In the bichromatic case we study the structure of the ATI spectrum and in particular the role played by a relative phase. The angular distributions are found to be strongly affected by the low- frequency field even when its intensity is too small to cause any appreciable ionisation of the system.
2

A Generalization of Sturmian Sequences: Combinatorial Structure and Transcendence

Risley, Rebecca N. 08 1900 (has links)
We investigate a class of minimal sequences on a finite alphabet Ak = {1,2,...,k} having (k - 1)n + 1 distinct subwords of length n. These sequences, originally defined by P. Arnoux and G. Rauzy, are a natural generalization of binary Sturmian sequences. We describe two simple combinatorial algorithms for constructing characteristic Arnoux-Rauzy sequences (one of which is new even in the Sturmian case). Arnoux-Rauzy sequences arising from fixed points of primitive morphisms are characterized by an underlying periodic structure. We show that every Arnoux-Rauzy sequence contains arbitrarily large subwords of the form V^2+ε and, in the Sturmian case, arbitrarily large subwords of the form V^3+ε. Finally, we prove that an irrational number whose base b-digit expansion is an Arnoux-Rauzy sequence is transcendental.
3

Bornes dynamiques pour des opérateurs de Schrödinger quasi-périodiques / Dynamical bounds for quasiperiodical Schrödinger operators

Marin, Laurent 23 November 2009 (has links)
Nous nous intéressons dans ce travail à la dynamique des opérateurs de Schrödinger unidimensionnels, discrets, associés à un potentiel sturmien quasi-périodique. Le résultat principal de cette thèse est une borne supérieure pour les exposants de transport qui mesurent la vitesse de propagation du système. Cette borne, valide pour presque tous les potentiels sturmiens, est sous balistique pour une force de couplage suffisante. La validité de la borne est couplée à une condition diophantienne liée au nombre irrationnel qui définit le potentiel. Cette condition est vraie presque sûrement. Nous exhibons par ailleurs un exemple d’irrationnel pour lequel une borne supérieure sous balistique est impossible indépendamment de la force de couplage. Nous faisons l’étude de la dimension fractale du spectre de l’opérateur qui minore sous certaines conditions les exposants de transport. Nous obtenons une nouvelle borne inférieure pour la dimension de boîte du spectre grâce aux propriétés connues sur la forme du pseudo spectre. Les restrictions pour obtenir une borne dynamique à partir de notre résultat sont d’avoir une condition initiale cyclique standard et que le potentiel soit associé à un irrationnel à densité bornée. Enfin dans la dernière partie de ce travail, nous démontrons que le spectre de l’opérateur associé au nombre d’argent ß = [2, 2, . . . ] possède une structure hyperbolique. L’expression du pseudo spectre peut être vu comme un système dynamique. Nous conjuguons ledit système à une dynamique symbolique abstraite selon la méthode dite des partitions de Markov. Le système se comporte comme un fer à cheval de Smale. Nous dérivons de l’hyperbolicité des propriétés pour les dimensions fractales du spectre. Dimensions dont l’attrait dynamique a été rappelé dans la partie précédente. Nous déduisons notamment l’égalité des dimensions de Hausdorff et de boîte pour cet opérateur. / In this thesis, we study the dynamics of discrete, one-dimensional, sturmian Schrödinger operators. The main result is a dynamical bound from above for transport exponents that valuate speed of the wavepacket spreading. This bound is true for almost every sturmian potential and is sub-ballistic for a coupling constant big enough. This bound is valid with respect to a diophantine condition on the irrational number that define the potential. This condition is true for almost every irrational numbers. We show an example of irrational number with ballistic motion at any coupling constant. We study the fractal dimension of the spectrum of these operators which can bound from below, under more restrictive assumptions, transport exponents.We get a new bound from below for the box dimension of the spectrum. Assumptions needed to use this bound on dynamical purpose are the initial condition to be cyclic and the potential associated to a bounded means irrational number. In the last part of the thesis, we show that the spectrum of the operator associated to the so-called silver mean ß = [2, 2, . . . ] has a hyperbolic structure. The spectrum can be express as the non wandering set of a dynamical system. Using Markov partition method, we conjugate its dynamics to a symbolic one. The dynamical system behave like a Smale horseshoe. We derive from hyperbolicity spectral information, especially on fractal dimension. For example, we get that Hausdorff and box dimensions coincide for this operator.
4

Mathematical methods in atomic physics = Métodos matemáticos en física atómica

Del Punta, Jessica A. 17 March 2017 (has links)
Los problemas de dispersión de partículas, como son los de dos y tres cuerpos, tienen una relevancia crucial en física atómica, pues permiten describir diversos procesos de colisiones. Hoy en día, los casos de dos cuerpos pueden ser resueltos con el grado de precisión numérica que se desee. Los problemas de dispersión de tres partículas cargadas son notoriamente más difíciles pero aún así algo similar, aunque en menor medida, puede establecerse. El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a la comprensión de procesos Coulombianos de dispersión de tres cuerpos desde un punto de vista analítico. Esto no solo es de fundamental interés, sino que también es útil para dominar mejor los enfoques numéricos que se actualmente se desarrollan dentro de la comunidad de colisiones atómicas. Para lograr este objetivo, proponemos aproximar la solución del problema con desarrollos en series de funciones adecuadas y expresables analíticamente. Al hacer esto, desarrollamos una serie de herramientas matemáticas relacionadas con funciones Coulombianas, ecuaciones diferenciales de segundo orden homogéneas y no homogéneas, y funciones hipergeométricas en una y dos variables. En primer lugar, trabajamos con las funciones de onda Coulombianas radiales y revisamos sus principales propiedades. Así, extendemos los resultados conocidos para dar expresiones analíticas de los coeficientes asociados al desarrollo, en serie de funciones de tipo Laguerre, de las funciones Coulombianas irregulares. También establecemos una nueva conexión entre los coeficientes asociados al desarrollo de la función Coulombiana regular y los polinomios de Meixner-Pollaczek. Esta relación nos permite deducir propiedades de ortogonalidad y clausura para estos coeficientes al considerar la carga como variable. Luego, estudiamos las funciones hipergeométricas de dos variables. Para algunas de ellas, como las funciones de Appell o las confluentes de Horn, presentamos expresiones analíticas de sus derivadas respecto de sus parámetros. También estudiamos un conjunto particular de funciones Sturmianas Generalizadas de dos cuerpos construidas considerando como potencial generador el potencial de Hulthén. Contrariamente al caso habitual, en el que las funciones Sturmianas se construyen numéricamente, las funciones Sturmianas de Hulthén poseen forma analítica. Sus propiedades matem´aticas pueden ser analíticamente estudiadas proporcionando una herramienta única para comprender y analizar los problemas de dispersión y sus soluciones. Además, proponemos un nuevo conjunto de funciones a las que llamamos funciones Quasi-Sturmianas. Estas funciones se presentan como una alternativa para expandir la solución buscada en procesos de dispersi´on de dos y tres cuerpos. Se definen como soluciones de una ecuación diferencial de tipo-Schrödinger, no homogénea. Por construcción, incluyen un comportamiento asintótico adecuado para resolver problemas de dispersión. Presentamos diferentes expresiones analíticas y exploramos sus propiedades matemáticas, vinculando y justificando los desarrollos realizados previamente. Para finalizar, utilizamos las funciones estudiadas (Sturmianas de Hulthén y Quasi-Sturmianas) en la resolución de problemas particulares de dos y tres cuerpos. La eficacia de estas funciones se ilustra comparando los resultados obtenidos con datos provenientes de la aplicación de otras metodologías. / Two and three-body scattering problems are of crucial relevance in atomic physics as they allow to describe different atomic collision processes. Nowadays, the two-body cases can be solved with any degree of numerical accuracy. Scattering problem involving three charged particles are notoriously difficult but something similar –though to a lesser extentcan be stated. The aim of this work is to contribute to the understanding of three-body Coulomb scattering problems from an analytical point of view. This is not only of fundamental interest, it is also useful to better master numerical approaches that are being developed within the collision community. To achieve this aim we propose to approximate scattering solutions with expansions on sets of appropriate functions having closed form. In so doing, we develop a number of related mathematical tools involving Coulomb functions, homogeneous and non-homogeneous second order differential equations, and hypergeometric functions in one and two variables. First we deal with the two-body radial Coulomb wave functions, and review their main properties. We extend known results to give in closed form the Laguerre expansions coefficients of the irregular solutions, and establish a new connection between the coefficients corresponding to the regular solution and Meixner-Pollaczek polynomials. This relation allows us to obtain an orthogonality and closure relation for these coefficients considering the charge as a variable. Then we explore two-variable hypergeometric functions. For some of them, such as Appell and confluent Horn functions, we find closed form for the derivatives with respect to their parameters. We also study a particular set of two-body Generalized Sturmian functions constructed with a Hulth´en generating potential. Contrary to the usual case in which Sturmian functions are numerically constructed, the Hulth´en Sturmian functions can be given in closed form. Their mathematical properties can thus be analytically studied providing a unique tool to investigate scattering problems. Next, we introduce a novel set of functions that we name Quasi-Sturmian functions. They constitute an alternative set of functions, given in closed form, to expand the sought after solution of two- and three-body scattering processes. Quasi-Sturmian functions are solutions of a non-homogeneous second order Schr¨odinger-like differential equation and have, by construction, the appropriate asymptotic behavior. We present different analytic expressions and explore their mathematical properties, linking and justifying the developed mathematical tools described above. Finally we use the studied Hulth´en Sturmian and Quasi-Sturmian functions to solve some particular two- and three-body scattering problems. The efficiency of these sets of functions is illustrated by comparing our results with those obtained by other methods
5

A reinterpretation, and new demonstrations of, the Borel Normal Number Theorem

Rockwell, Daniel Luke 09 September 2011 (has links)
The notion of a normal number and the Normal Number Theorem date back over 100 years. Émile Borel first stated his Normal Number Theorem in 1909. Despite their seemingly basic nature, normal numbers are still engaging many mathematicians to this day. In this paper, we provide a reinterpretation of the concept of a normal number. This leads to a new proof of Borel's classic Normal Number Theorem, and also a construction of a set that contains all absolutely normal numbers. We are also able to use the reinterpretation to apply the same definition for a normal number to any point in a symbolic dynamical system. We then provide a proof that the Fibonacci system has all of its points being normal, with respect to our new definition. / Graduation date: 2012
6

Limites dinâmicos para operadores de Schrödinger com potenciais Sturmianos / Dynamical bounds for Sturmian Schrödinger operators

Rocha, Vinícius Lourenço da [UNESP] 10 February 2016 (has links)
Submitted by VINÍCIUS LOURENÇO DA ROCHA null (vinicius.oczrocha@hotmail.com) on 2016-02-17T17:19:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Final - Vinícius Rocha.pdf: 840133 bytes, checksum: 2e5f5a0242c53770984cfe1fd7c71089 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Manzano de Almeida (smanzano@marilia.unesp.br) on 2016-02-17T18:15:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rocha_vl_me_prud.pdf: 840133 bytes, checksum: 2e5f5a0242c53770984cfe1fd7c71089 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-17T18:15:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rocha_vl_me_prud.pdf: 840133 bytes, checksum: 2e5f5a0242c53770984cfe1fd7c71089 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-10 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Baseando-se em trabalhos recentes da literatura, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar limites dinâmicos para operadores de Schrödinger discretos, unidimensionais, com potenciais Sturmianos (modelos quase-periódicos). Tais limites são obtidos das taxas de propagação do pacote de ondas associado a uma partícula sobre a rede unidimensional Z. Utilizando um método desenvolvido por Damanik e Tcheremchantsev, obtém-se um limite dinâmico superior não-trivial para uma família grande de operadores Sturmianos, associados a números de rotação irracionais. Além disso, apresenta-se um limite inferior global para a dimensão fractal superior do espectro desses operadores, o qual é usado para obter um limite dinâmico inferior para tais operadores Sturmianos associados a números irracionais de densidade limitada. Serão utilizados resultados sobre o traço das matrizes de transferência associadas aos operadores de Schrödinger Sturmianos e também propriedades espectrais destes operadores. / By following recent papers in the literature, the present work aims to study dynamical bounds for one dimensional discrete Schrödinger operators with Sturmian potentials by bounding the rates of propagation of the wavepacket. By a method developed by Damanik and Tcheremchantsev, is obtained a non trivial upper bound for almost all Sturmian Schrödinger operator associated with irrational numbers. Moreover, it presents a global lower bound for the upper box counting dimension of the spectrum of these operators, which is used to obtain a lower dynamical bound for such Sturmian Schrödinger operators associated with bounded density irrational numbers. Will be used results about the traces of transfer matrices and spectral properties of Sturmian Schrödinger operators. / FAPESP: 2014/04321-9
7

Mots de retours et pavages dans les plans sturmiens / Return words in discrete planes

Simonet, Matthieu 12 October 2012 (has links)
Les mots sturmiens sont une façon de coder les droites discrètes apériodiques. Ils ont été étudiés depuis la fin du 19ème siècle et disposent de nombreuses caractérisations. L'une d'elles, obtenue par Vuillon, est centrée sur la notion de mot de retour.Cette thèse a pour objet l'étude des mots sturmiens en dimension 2 vus comme codages des plans discrets apériodiques. L'objectif est d'aller vers une caractérisation des mots sturmiens bi-dimensionnels analogue à celle obtenue par Vuillon en dimension 1.Mais des problèmes propres à la dimension 2 rendent cette étude délicate, tels l'absence de concaténation de mots ou la difficulté à localiser un facteur au sein d'un mot. Afin d'y faire face, nous introduisons en dimension 2 les notions de motifs, motifs pointés, mots de localisation et mots de retour. Nous obtenons ainsi un prolongement à la dimension 2 d'un théorème de Morse et Hedlund concernant certains mots de retour dans un mot sturmien.Ce résultat nous permet d'établir un nouvel algorithme de fractions continues et nous permet de proposer, dans un cadre restreint, une notion de suite dérivée. / Sturmian words are a way to encode aperiodic discrete lines. They have been studied since the end of the 19th century and can be characterized in many ways. One of these characterizations, obtained by Vuillon, centers around the notion of return words.This thesis aims to study 2-dimensional Sturmian words as encodings of aperiodic discrete planes. It is a first step towards a characterization of 2-dimensional Sturmian words analogous to that of Vuillon in dimension 1.However, concerns specific to dimension 2, such as the impossibility to concatenate words or the difficulty to locate a factor inside a word make the study much trickier. To tackle this, we introduce in dimension 2 notions of patterns, pointed patterns, localization words and return words.We obtain a 2-dimensional version of a theorem of Morse and Hedlund concerning certain return words in a Sturmian word. This result enables us to establish a new continued-fractions algorithm and to introduce, in a restricted setting, a notion of derived sequence.
8

Application of Generalized Sturmian Basis Functions to Molecular Systems / Applications de bases Sturmiennes généralisées à des systèmes moléculaires

Granados Castro, Carlos Mario 18 February 2016 (has links)
Dans cette thèse nous implémentons une approche Sturmienne, qui se sert de fonctions Sturmiennes généralisées (GSFs, en anglais), pour étudier l'ionisation de molécules par collisions de photons ou d'électrons. Comme l'Hamiltonian de la cible est non central, la description de l'ionisation des molécules n'est pas simple. En plus, puisque l'orientation spatiale de la molécule n'est généralement pas déterminée lors des expériences, une question importante à considérer est l'orientation aléatoire de la cible. Dans la littérature, des nombreuses méthodes théoriques ont été proposées pour traiter les molécules ; néanmoins, la plupart sont adaptées pour étudier, principalement, des états liés. Une description précise des états non-liés (continuum) des molécules reste un défi. Ici, nous proposons d'attaquer le problème avec les GSFs qui ont, par construction, un comportement asymptotique approprié au système étudié. Cette propriété permet de faire des calculs d'ionisation de façon plus efficace. Dans une première partie, nous validons l'implémentation de notre approche Sturmienne par l'étude de la photo-ionisation (PI) d'atomes. Différents potentiels effectifs sont utilisés pour décrire l'interaction de l'électron éjecté avec la cible ionisée. Les sections efficaces de PI sont calculées dans les jauges de longueur et de vitesse. Pour l'atome d'hydrogène la comparaison avec la formule analytique, indique qu'une convergence très rapide est obtenue avec un nombre modéré de GSFs. Pour He et Ne, nos résultats montrent, également, un très bon accord avec d'autres résultats théoriques et expérimentaux. Dans le cas des molécules, nous avons abordé l'orientation aléatoire avec deux stratégies : une utilise un potentiel moléculaire modèle (non-central), et l'autre un potentiel moyenné (central). Nous étudions la PI de CH4, NH3 et H2O à partir des orbitales de valence extérieure et intérieure, et aussi de SiH4 et H2S à partir des orbitales extérieures. Les sections efficaces de PI et les paramètres d'asymétrie (obtenus à partir des distributions angulaires) sont comparés avec ceux publiés dans la littérature. Nos résultats sont globalement satisfaisants et reproduisent les caractéristiques principales de ce processus d'ionisation. Dans une deuxième partie de la thèse, nous utilisons l'approche Sturmienne pour étudier l'ionisation de molécules par impact d'électrons. Pour le processus (e,2e), les sections efficaces triplement différentielles (TDCSs) sont examinées dans la première et deuxième approximation de Born, également en traitant de deux façons l'orientation aléatoire des molécules. Nous avons testé la méthode en comparent nos TDCSs pour l'atome d'hydrogène, montrant aussi son efficacité. Enfin, nous l'avons apliqué à l'ionisation de CH4, H2O et NH3, et nous avons comparé les résultats avec des données expérimentales et théoriques disponibles dans la littérature. Dans la plupart des cas, nos TDCSs sont en accord satisfaisant avec ces données, en particulier pour H2O et pour des électrons lents dans le cas de CH4 / In this PhD thesis we implement a Sturmian approach, based on generalized Sturmian functions (GSFs), to study the ionization of molecules by collision with photons or electrons. Since the target Hamiltonian is highly non-central, describing molecular ionization is far from easy. Besides, as the spatial orientation of the molecule in most experimental measurements is not resolved, an important issue to take into account is its random orientation. In the literature, many theoretical methods have been proposed to deal with molecules, but many of them are adapted to study mainly bound states. An accurate description of the unbound (continuum) states of molecules remains a challenge. Here we propose to tackle these problems using GSFs, which are characterized to have, by construction, the correct asymptotic behavior of the studied system. This property allows one to perform ionization calculations more efficiently. We start and validate our Sturmian approach implementation by studying photoionization (PI) of H, He and Ne atoms. Different model potentials were used in order to describe the interaction of the ejected electron with the parental ion. We calculated the corresponding PI cross sections in both length and velocity gauges. For H atom, the comparison with the analytical formula shows that a rapid convergence can be achieved using a moderate number of GSFs. For He and Ne we have also an excellent agreement with other theoretical calculations and with experimental data. For molecular targets, we considered two different strategies to deal with their random orientation: one makes use of a molecular model potential (non-central), while the other uses an angular averaged version of the same potential (central). We study PI for CH4, NH3, and H2O, from the outer and inner valence orbitals, and for SiH4 and H2S from the outer orbitals. The calculated PI cross sections and also the asymmetry parameters (obtained from the corresponding angular distributions) are compared with available theoretical and experimental data. For most cases, we observed an overall fairly good agreement with reference values, grasping the main features of the ionization process. In a second part of the thesis, we apply the Sturmian approach to study ionization of molecules by electron collisions. In the so-called (e,2e) processes, fully differential cross sections are investigated within both the first- or the second-Born approximations. Again, we show how to include in the description the random orientation of the molecule. We start with H atom, as a test system: the comparison of the calculated triple differential cross sections (TDCSs) with analytical results illustrates, similarly to the PI case, the efficiency of our GSF method. It is then applied to ionization of CH4, H2O and NH3, and comparisons are made with the few theoretical and experimental data available in the literature. For most cases, our TDCSs can reproduce such data, particularly for H2O and for slow ejected electrons in CH4
9

Mathematical methods in atomic physics / Métodos matemáticos en física atómica / Méthodes mathématiques en physique atomique

Del Punta, Jessica A. 17 March 2017 (has links)
Les problèmes de diffusion de particules, à deux et à trois corps, ont une importance cruciale en physique atomique, car ils servent à décrire différents processus de collisions. Actuellement, le cas de deux corps peut être résolu avec une précision numérique désirée. Les problèmes de diffusion à trois particules chargées sont connus pour être bien plus difficiles mais une déclaration similaire peut être affirmée. L’objectif de ce travail est de contribuer, d’un point de vue analytique, à la compréhension des processus de diffusion Coulombiens à trois corps. Ceci a non seulement un intérêt fondamental, mais est également utile pour mieux maîtriser les approches numériques en cours d’élaboration au sein de la communauté de collisions atomiques. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous proposons d’approcher la solution du problème avec des développements en séries sur des ensembles de fonctions appropriées et possédant une expression analytique. Nous avons ainsi développé un nombre d’outils mathématiques faisant intervenir des fonctions Coulombiennes, des équations différentielles de second ordre homogènes et non-homogènes, et des fonctions hypergéométriques à une et à deux variables / Two and three-body scattering problems are of crucial relevance in atomic physics as they allow to describe different atomic collision processes. Nowadays, the two-body cases can be solved with any degree of numerical accuracy. Scattering problem involving three charged particles are notoriously difficult but something similar -- though to a lesser extent -- can be stated. The aim of this work is to contribute to the understanding of three-body Coulomb scattering problems from an analytical point of view. This is not only of fundamental interest, it is also useful to better master numerical approaches that are being developed within the collision community. To achieve this aim we propose to approximate scattering solutions with expansions on sets of appropriate functions having closed form. In so doing, we develop a number of related mathematical tools involving Coulomb functions, homogeneous and non-homogeneous second order differential equations, and hypergeometric functions in one and two variables
10

On Sturmian and Episturmian words, and related topics

Glen, Amy Louise January 2006 (has links)
In recent years, combinatorial properties of finite and infinite words have become increasingly important in fields of physics, biology, mathematics, and computer science. In particular, the fascinating family of Sturmian words has become an extremely active subject of research. These infinite binary sequences have numerous applications in various fields of mathematics, such as symbolic dynamics, the study of continued fraction expansion, and also in some domains of physics ( quasicrystal modelling ) and computer science ( pattern recognition, digital straightness ). There has also been a recent surge of interest in a natural generalization of Sturmian words to more than two letters - the so - called episturmian words, which include the well - known Arnoux - Rauzy sequences. This thesis represents a significant contribution to the study of Sturmian and episturmian words, and related objects such as generalized Thue - Morse words and substitutions on a finite alphabet. Specifically, we prove some new properties of certain palindromic factors of the infinite Fibonacci word; establish generalized ' singular ' decompositions of suffixes of certain morphic Sturmian words; completely describe where palindromes occur in characteristic Sturmian words; explicitly determine all integer powers occurring in a certain class of k-strict episturmian words ( including the k-bonacci word ) ; and prove that certain episturmian and generalized Thue - Morse continued fractions are transcendental. Lastly, we begin working towards a proof of a characterization of invertible substitutions on a finite alphabet, which generalizes the fact that invertible substitutions on two letters are exactly the Sturmian morphisms. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Mathematical Sciences, 2006.

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