Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are some of the most energetic events in the universe. Shocks occurring below the photosphere are likely radiation mediated shocks (RMSs) and are suspected to shape the spectra. Due to computational costs of simulating RMSs, models had not been fitted to data and a faster model was needed. The Kompaneets RMS Approximation (KRA) is an analog model of RMSs, creating spectra which are identical to full RMS simulation spectra and it is significantly faster. For a sample of short GRBs I found that spectra are very hard and close to a non-dissipative photosphere (NDP). Therefore any trace of energy dissipation is lost to thermalization and many KRA solutions are possible with statistics similar to the Band model. A sample of long GRBs have typical spectra, i.e. spectra much broader than a blackbody (BB) and the KRA can model these spectra very well. Statistically, KRA is as good as the Band model and significantly better for GRB211211. I also found two spectral shapes describing observed data equally well. First, a broadened BB for a steady-state outflow, and secondly, optically shallow shocks for a non steady-state outflow. To distinguish between these solutions, upcoming detectors with lower-energy data are important. In conclusion, the KRA can reproduce photospheric spectra altered by a RMS, and these spectra can explain observed GRB spectra. If the spectrum is not thermalized, information about the properties of the shock can be deduced from observed GRB spectra. / Gamma-blixtar är några av de mest energirika händelserna i universum. Chocker som uppkommer under fotosfären är troligtvis strålnings medlade chocker (RMSer) och misstänks forma spektra. Höga beräkningsmässiga kostnader för simuleringar av RMSer har lett till att modeller inte har anpassats till data. The Kompaneets RMS Approximation (KRA) är en analog modell av RMSer som skapar identiska spektra och är mycket snabbare. För ett urval av korta gamma-blixtar hittar jag väldigt hårda spektra, nära en icke-dissiperad fotosfär (NDP). Alla spår av dissipering har därför försvunnit p.g.a. termaliseringen och många olika KRA lösningar kan anpassa dessa spektra lika bra som Band modellen. Ett urval av långa gamma-blixtar har typiska spektra, d.v.s. spektra mycket bredare än svartkropp spektra och KRA kan anpassa dessa spektra väldigt bra. Statistiskt är KRA lika bra som Band modellen och t.o.m. mycket bättre för GRB211211. Jag har också hittat två olika former på spektra som anpassar data lika bra. Först, en breddad svartkropp för ett utflöde i jämvikt och den andra, optiskt grunda shocker för ett utflöde som inte är i jämvikt. För att urskilja mellan dessa lösningar är framtida detektorer med data för lägre energies viktiga. För att sammanfatta, KRA kan reproducera fotosfäriska spektra påverkade av en RMS och dessa spektra can förklara observerade gamma-blixt spektra. Om spektrumet inte är termaliserat kan information om chockens egenskaper hämtas från observerade gamma-blixt spektra.

<p>Dynamic properties of type-II superconductors have been experimentally studied in zero and low magnetic fields using SQUID magnetometry and <i>I–V</i> measurements.</p><p>In zero magnetic field close to the critical temperature, the physical properties of type-II superconductors are dominated by spontaneously created vortices. In three dimensions (3D) such vortices take the form of vortex loops and in two dimensions (2D) as vortex-antivortex pairs.</p><p>The 2D vortex dynamics has been probed using mutual inductance and flux noise measurements on YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO) and MgB₂ thin films in zero and low magnetic fields. In such measurements, information about vortex correlations is obtained through a temperature dependent characteristic frequency, below (above) which the vortex movements are uncorrelated (correlated). The results obtained in zero magnetic field indicate that sample heterogeneities influence the vortex physics and hinder the divergence of the vortex-antivortex correlation length.</p><p>In low magnetic fields the vortex dynamics is strongly dependent on the applied magnetic field and a power law dependence of the characteristic frequency with respect to the magnetic field is observed. The results indicate that there is a co-existence of thermally and field generated vortices.</p><p>The <i>I–V</i> characteristics of untwinned YBCO single crystals show that only a small broadening of the transition region influences the length scale over which the vortex movements are correlated. The dynamic and static critical exponents therefore exhibit values being larger in magnitude as compared to values predicted by relevant theoretical models. The results also suggest that the copper oxide planes in YBCO decouple slightly below the mean field critical temperature and hence, the system has a crossover from 3D to 2D behaviour as the temperature is increased. </p><p>From temperature dependent DC-magnetisation measurements performed on untwinned YBCO single crystals in weak applied fields, detailed information about the critical current density and the irreversibility line is obtained.</p>

<p>Bonding techniques intended for assembling space microsystems are studied in this work. One of the largest problems in bonding pre-processed semiconductor wafers are the severe process restrictions imposed by material compatibility issues. Plasma processes have shown to be good for sensitive materials integration why the influence of different plasma parameters on the bondability of wafers is particularly studied. Conventional wet chemical and field-assisted methods are also examined. The resulting bond quality is assessed in terms of mechanical strength, homogeneity, and yield.</p><p>The effect of spaceflight environment on the reliability of wafer bonds is also investigated. Both high and low temperature annealed bonds are found to be very robust. Effects observed are that low temperature bonds are reinforced by thermal cycling in vacuum and that high temperature bonds degrade slightly by low dose γ irradiation.</p><p>Adhesion quantification is important for all bonding. Development of accurate quantification methods is considered necessary since most methods at hand are limited. This work includes the development of the blister test method. Former test structures are improved to be more practical to work with and to yield low experimental scatter. A physical stress model for the improved structure is suggested with which successful predictions of fracture for different test specimen configurations are made. The blister test method is used throughout this work to assess the strength of wafer bonds. The physics background and modelling of other common test methods are also thoroughly analysed. The methods’ practical capabilities and limitations are commented; origin and mitigation of measurement errors are discussed. It is shown that all methods can be significantly improved by small means.</p><p>Weibull statistics is introduced as a tool to characterise wafer bonds. This method is suitable to use in brittle materials design as the inherent variability in strength can be properly accounted for.</p>

Dynamic properties of type-II superconductors have been experimentally studied in zero and low magnetic fields using SQUID magnetometry and I–V measurements. In zero magnetic field close to the critical temperature, the physical properties of type-II superconductors are dominated by spontaneously created vortices. In three dimensions (3D) such vortices take the form of vortex loops and in two dimensions (2D) as vortex-antivortex pairs. The 2D vortex dynamics has been probed using mutual inductance and flux noise measurements on YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and MgB2 thin films in zero and low magnetic fields. In such measurements, information about vortex correlations is obtained through a temperature dependent characteristic frequency, below (above) which the vortex movements are uncorrelated (correlated). The results obtained in zero magnetic field indicate that sample heterogeneities influence the vortex physics and hinder the divergence of the vortex-antivortex correlation length. In low magnetic fields the vortex dynamics is strongly dependent on the applied magnetic field and a power law dependence of the characteristic frequency with respect to the magnetic field is observed. The results indicate that there is a co-existence of thermally and field generated vortices. The I–V characteristics of untwinned YBCO single crystals show that only a small broadening of the transition region influences the length scale over which the vortex movements are correlated. The dynamic and static critical exponents therefore exhibit values being larger in magnitude as compared to values predicted by relevant theoretical models. The results also suggest that the copper oxide planes in YBCO decouple slightly below the mean field critical temperature and hence, the system has a crossover from 3D to 2D behaviour as the temperature is increased. From temperature dependent DC-magnetisation measurements performed on untwinned YBCO single crystals in weak applied fields, detailed information about the critical current density and the irreversibility line is obtained.

Bonding techniques intended for assembling space microsystems are studied in this work. One of the largest problems in bonding pre-processed semiconductor wafers are the severe process restrictions imposed by material compatibility issues. Plasma processes have shown to be good for sensitive materials integration why the influence of different plasma parameters on the bondability of wafers is particularly studied. Conventional wet chemical and field-assisted methods are also examined. The resulting bond quality is assessed in terms of mechanical strength, homogeneity, and yield. The effect of spaceflight environment on the reliability of wafer bonds is also investigated. Both high and low temperature annealed bonds are found to be very robust. Effects observed are that low temperature bonds are reinforced by thermal cycling in vacuum and that high temperature bonds degrade slightly by low dose γ irradiation. Adhesion quantification is important for all bonding. Development of accurate quantification methods is considered necessary since most methods at hand are limited. This work includes the development of the blister test method. Former test structures are improved to be more practical to work with and to yield low experimental scatter. A physical stress model for the improved structure is suggested with which successful predictions of fracture for different test specimen configurations are made. The blister test method is used throughout this work to assess the strength of wafer bonds. The physics background and modelling of other common test methods are also thoroughly analysed. The methods’ practical capabilities and limitations are commented; origin and mitigation of measurement errors are discussed. It is shown that all methods can be significantly improved by small means. Weibull statistics is introduced as a tool to characterise wafer bonds. This method is suitable to use in brittle materials design as the inherent variability in strength can be properly accounted for.

<p>Svenskt Stål Aktiebolag (SSAB) Oxelösund AB, Division Grovplåt ingår i koncernen SSAB Svenskt Stål AB och är nordens största tillverkare av grovplåt. Detta examensarbete handlar om hur utvalda medarbetare på SSAB Oxelösund AB tillägnat och befäst sina kunskaper, då det är tänkt att de i förlängningen ska föra vidare sina kunskaper inom företaget. Examensarbetet fokuserar på hur medarbetarna uppfattar sitt lärande och hur det de tillskansat sig dem.</p><p>Medarbetarna uttrycker att deras erfarenhet omvandlats till kunskap i samband med reflektion över nyupplevda händelser. De beskriver att lärandet är en kontinuerlig process som sker över tid samt att de lär sig i gemenskapen med andra människor. Medarbetarna har befäst sina kunskaper då de antingen formulerat och verbaliserat eller praktiserat sina kunskaper. De har på så sätt bekräftat och synliggjort sina kunskaper för i första hand sig själva men även för sin omgivning.</p><p>För att SSAB Oxelösund AB så småningom ska kunna överföra medarbetarnas erfarenheter och kunskap vidare till andra medarbetare krävs att de själva ges tid att reflektera över sina kunskaper. De måste bli medvetna om både vilka kunskaper de besitter och vilka kunskaper de skall dela med sig av för att de ska kunna lyckas med kunskapsdelningen.</p> / <p>The Swedish steel manufacturer Oxelösund AB is a member of the SSAB Swedish Steel Group and is the largest Nordic manufacturer of heavy steel plate. This thesis is about how selected employees at SSAB Oxelösund AB acquire and consolidate their knowledge, when it is supposed that they, in the future, will pass their knowledge on within the company. The thesis focuses on how employees perceive and gain their learning.</p><p>The employees expresses that their experience transforms into knowledge when they reflect upon recently perceived events. They describe that learning is a continuous process that is achieved over time and that they learn in their meeting with other people. Those employees were consolidating their knowledge when they both formulated and expressed themselves in words or when they practiced their skills. Thus they have confirmed and have made their knowledge visible, primarily for themselves but also for their surroundings.</p><p>For SSAB Oxelösund AB, to gradually will be able to transfer the employees experience and knowledge to other employees, it is essential to give them time to reflect upon their own knowledge. They must become aware of both the knowledge they possess and what skills are to be shared, to succeed in sharing their knowledge.</p> / QC 20100707

<p>Today radars are used to measure the distance to almost anything. It is used to determine the position of airplanes as well as the level of an oiltank. To achieve high precision in level gauging radars high quality components are demanded. This makes them expensive.</p><p>In this project we evaluate the possibility to use relatively cheap components, used in radio communication, to measure distances with an OFDM-modulated signal. The components are cheap due to large production volumes rather than low performance.</p><p>To do this we started with working out the theory needed for length estimation. At our disposal we had the SDR SFF Development Platform from Lyrtech. A simulation model of the platform was built in MatLab. This model was used to verify the theory developed. Finally our algorithms was implemented on the development platform.</p><p>Both simulations and real life measurements show that OFDM can be used to measure distances. Even though the hardware used in this project is not dedicated for this application we managed to perform measurements with good accuracy at short range. We believe that with more suitable hardware OFDM-radars will be able to compete with todays high end level gauging radars at all ranges.</p> / <p>Nu för tiden används radar för att mäta avstånd i en rad olika sammanhang. Det används till allt från att bestämma positionen på flygplan till att mäta nivån i oljetankar. För att uppnå den höga precision som krävs vid nivåmätning ställs höga krav på de ingående komponenterna. Detta gör att radarn blir dyr.</p><p>I detta examensarbete utvärderar vi möjligheten att använda relativt billiga komponenter, som används inom radiokommunikation, för att mäta avstånd med hjälp av en OFDM-modulerad signal. Dessa komponenter är billiga till följd av stora tillverkningsvolymer, inte för att de är dåliga.</p><p>Till att börja med tog vi fram den teori som behövdes för att skatta avstånd. Till vårt förfogande hade vi Lyrtechs SDR SFF Developmemt Platform. En simuleringsmodell av platformen gjordes i MatLab vilken användes för att verifiera teorin. Slutligen implementerades algoritmerna på utvecklingsplattformen.</p><p>Både simuleringar och riktiga mätningar visar att OFDM kan användas för att mäta avstånd. Trots att hårdvaran som användts under examensarbetet inte är anpassad för avståndsmätning blev mätresultaten goda för korta avstånd. Vi är övertygade om att med en, för ändamålet, mer anpassad hårdvara kommer en OFDM-radar upppnå samma precision som dagens högpresterande nivåmätareäven för längre avstånd.</p>

<p>Ett centralt processteg för sågverk är att sönderdela stockar med olika sågmönster. Vid sönderdelning uppstår ett visst råvaruspill, men genom att använda rätt sågmönster till varje enskild stock kan detta spill minimeras. Som ett steg i att göra detta försorteras därför timmer i ett antal timmerklasser som samlar stockar med liknande egenskaper. Råvarustyrning innebär att välja vilka mönster varje klass ska sågas med, hur stor andel av varje klass som ska sågas med dessa mönster samt att bestämma hur stockar sorteras till klasserna.</p><p>I detta arbete utvecklas ett optimeringsverktyg som angriper problemet att optimera råvarustyrningen med avseende på de framställda produkternas försäljningsvärde. Problemet delas upp i två nivåer där linjärprogrammering kan användas i den ena nivån med syfte att, givet en uppsättning klasser, optimera valen av sågmönster. Linjärprogrammering används eftersom kubikmeterpriset på de sågade trävarorna antas vara konstant med avseende på producerad volym. Den andra problemnivån innebär att optimera timmersorteringen och för detta ändamål implementeras och utvärderas fyra lokalsökningsalgoritmer.</p><p>Genom ett gränssnitt mot användare och databaser kan sågverk ladda in timmerdata, simulerade produktutfall när timmer sågas med olika sågmönster, samt lägsta och högsta tillåtna produktvolymer. Utöver optimering av råvarustyrning kan optimeringsverktyget användas som stöd för att skapa väl underbyggda kundofferter vid nya orderingångar eller väntade förändringar av råvarufördelning.</p><p>Optimeringsverktyget klarar alltid av att hitta det optimala valet av postningar och postningsandelar givet en uppsättning klasser om det existerar minst <em>ett</em> val som uppfyller bivillkoren på framställda produktvolymer. Emellertid visar tester att denna beräkningsrutin gör anspråk på för mycket tid, men sannolikt kan den effektiviseras tillräckligt mycket för att användas skarpt i praktiken. Den bästa lokalsökningsalgoritmen fungerar tillfredsställande i tester, men det krävs mer utvecklingsarbete för att den ska rubriceras som helt klar. Främst i form av att möjliggöra för algoritmen att finna en lösning om sågverkets grundinställda klasser inte kan uppfylla bivillkoren på produktvolymer.Testdatat som används kommer från ett verkligt sågverk, men på grund av brister i detta data kan inga slutsatser dras angående ökad lönsamhet för sågverket genom användning av optimeringsverktyget.</p> / <p>A key process step in sawmills is the sawing of logs into wood, using various sawing patterns. A certain amount of waste always results when sawing, but by using the right sawing pattern for each individual log this waste can be minimized. One way to address this is to presort the incoming logs into a number of sawing classes, where all of these collect logs with similar properties. Raw material control at sawmills involves choosing the patterns to be used on each class, the share of each class to be sawn with the various patterns and also deciding the way logs are assigned to the sawing classes.</p><p>In this work an optimization tool is constructed that addresses the problem of optimizing the raw material control with respect to the sales value of the manufactured products. The problem is divided into two sub-problems where linear programming can be used for one of these sub-problems with purpose to optimize the choices of sawing patterns given a set of classes. Linear programming can be used because the unit price of sawn goods is assumed to be constant with respect to the volume produced. The second sub-problem is to optimize the sorting of logs and in order to do this four different local search algorithms are implemented and evaluated.</p><p>Through an user and database interface the sawmill can access sawlog data, simulated product outcomes and constraints for product volumes. In addition to optimization of the raw material control the optimization tool can help the user to create well-founded quotations whenever new orders arrive or the anticipated raw material distribution changes.</p><p>The optimization tool always manages to find the optimal choice of sawing patterns and shares for a set of sawing classes given the existence of at least one choice that fulfills the constraints for manufactured product volumes. Tests show however, that this computational step requires too much time, but it can probably be streamlined enough to be used in practice.The best local search algorithm serves satisfactory in tests, but needs more development in order to be labeled as finished. Foremost by enabling the algorithm to find a solution even if the sawmill's default sawing classes can not fulfill the product volume constraints. The test data used when evaluating the algorithms come from a real sawmill, but due to shortcomings in the data no conclusions about increased profit for the sawmill can be drawn.</p>

<p>Part I of this thesis is a theoretical background to parts II and III.</p><p>Part II treats the phenomenon of decreased visibility through a glazing due to external water condensation, dew, on the external surface. Some simulations are presented where it is shown that under certain circumstances condensation can be expected. A combination of coatings on the external surface is suggested to overcome the problem of external condesation. It consists of both a coating which decreases the emissivity of the surface and a hydrophilic coating which reduces the detrimental effects to the view through the window.</p><p>Fresnel calculations of the optical properties are used to discuss the feasibility of using different coatings. A new test box was used to verify that the proposed window coatings perform as expected.</p><p>Part III is a study on the angular dependence of solar absorptance in windows. Optical properties vary with the angle of incidence of the incoming light. The variation is different from one window pane to another. </p><p>A model is proposed to approximate the angular variation of the solar absorptance in window panes. The model is semi-empirical and involves dividing the wide range of windows into nine groups. To which group a window belongs, depends on how many panes it has and on the features of the outer pane. The strength of the model is that it can be used without knowing the exact optical properties of each pane of the window. This makes it useful in the many cases when these data are not given by the manufacturer and Fresnel calculations to get the optical properties of the window are not feasible. The model is simple and can be added as an appendix to existing standards for measuring optical properties of windows.</p>

When paraffin wax melts it exhibits a large, relatively incompressible volume expansion. This can be used in microactuators for strong and large displacements, a rare combination among actuators. Furthermore, paraffin is inexpensive, inert and environmentally friendly, as well as easily processed and actuated. Together, these properties give paraffin actuators great potential for use in both low-cost and high-performance applications. In microfluidics, the miniaturization of various analysis systems decreases the volumes of samples and reagents needed, as well as the analysis throughput time. Using on-chip micropumps increases the efficiency of the microfluidic system, but a challenge for such pumps is the high back-pressure associated with separation, filtration or narrower channels. The objective of this thesis is to increase the understanding of paraffin in microactuators, as well as to further explore its possibilities and limitations. The main application area has been on-chip micropumps. For low-cost applications, actuators, pumps and dispensers have been fabricated in plastics and then evaluated. The dispenser is intended for on-chip storage and dispensing of liquids in a lab-on-a-chip that could be used in, e.g., point-of-care testing (POCT). For high-performance applications, metallic actuators, pumps and dispensers have been accomplished. The micropump is the world’s strongest mechanical micropump in sub-cubic centimetre size, capable of pressures of above 5 MPa. Possible applications are strong microhydraulics, on-chip chromatography, or medical microdosage systems. A limitation of paraffin is the relatively slow thermal actuation. In this thesis the thermal properties have also been turned into an advantage: Directional solidification is used to accomplish multiple stable states of the actuator displacement, withheld without any power consumption. For the future, the high-pressure capability may be improved by new designs. Optimization of speed and power consumption can be made by further work on modelling as well as on drive and control of the heating.