Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Non-destructive portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) were used to measure the elemental concentration of rock art fragment paintings. For pXRF the Amptek Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) and Niton XL3t spectrometers were used to perform the measurements. These two spectrometers use different spectrum analysis methods. The Peak Deconvolution (PD) analysis method is used for the Amptek SDD and an Inverse Overlap Matrix (IOM) method is used for the Niton XL3t spectrometer. The pXRF methods were validated by using alloys, coins and rock standards. The validation is important to establish if the pXRF technique is properly understood and used and to advance the investigation to more complex rock art paintings, with heterogeneous and layered properties. The elemental concentrations obtained for the Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), which were used for the validation, were in good agreement with that of the known concentration of the SRMs. The two rock art fragments which were analysed from the Mount Ayliff and Ha Khotso caves were part of larger rock art painting prior to it being naturally exfoliated from the rock. For the Mount Ayliff rock art, seven paint points, two unpainted rock (varnish) point adjacent to the paint and the back of the rock were analysed. The colour of the paint ranged from black, shades of brown and shades of red. The black paint is due to manganese or charcoal. The red colour is due to iron oxide and the red-brown colour is due to Hematite (a type of ferrous oxide) [1]. For the Ha Khotso fragment the paint on the front of the rock and the rock substrate (back of the rock) were analysed. For the Mount Ayliff rock art fragment the results for both pXRF spectrometers indicated that the elemental concentration was uniform across the fragment. This is due to the formation of a uniform layer of minerals such as silica and calcium introduced by the seepage of water through the cracks of the cave. Therefore no correlation could be established between the colour of the rock art paint and the elements detected, as was found with the work done by Peisach, Pineda and Jacobson [1]. For the Ha Khosto rock fragment a relation between the Ca composition and the cream colour of the rock art paint was established. Both the PIXE and pXRF techniques were used to identify the compound concentrations of the Ha Khotso rock art fragment. The comparison between the two techniques highlights the complexity of rock art paint analysis. The results from the PIXE elemental mapping indicated the non-uniform distribution of the elements in the analysed region. From the rock art fragment measuring the analysed points 5 times and obtaining the same results, indicated that the particle size and inhomogeneities did not have much effect on the compound compositions. In order to obtain high accuracy results with pXRF, sound scientific methodology with specific knowledge and expertise, not only about the XRF technique, but also about the sample under investigation is required. For alloy analysis pXRF is well suited, the analysis of geological material however more complex, since they are composed predominately of low atomic elements e.g. silicon, aluminium, magnesium, sodium, oxygen and carbon – all of which are excited with very low efficiencies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie-beskadigended X-straal Fluoresensie (pXRF) en Deeltjie Geinduseerde X-straal emmissie (PIXE) was gebruik om die elementêre konsentrasie van die rotstekeninge in hierdie studie te bepaal. Vir die pXRF-tegniek is die “Amptek Silicon Drift Detector (SDD)” en die “Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t” spektrometers gebruik gemaak om die metings uit te voer. Die twee spektrometers maak gebruik van verskillende spektrum analiseringsmetodes.Die “Peak Deconvolution (PD)” analiseringsmetode is gebruik vir die “Amptek SDD” en die “Inverse Overlap Matrix (IOM)” analiseringsmetode is gebruik vir die “Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t” spektrometer. Vir die validasie van die pXRF-metode is van allooie, muntstukke en rots standaarded gebruik gemaak. Die validasie is belangrik om vas te stel of die pXRF tegniek behoorlik verstaan en gebruik word en om die ondersoek te bevorder na meer komplekse rotstekeninge, met heterogene en lae eienskappe. Die element konsentrasies wat vir die “Standard Reference Material (SRM)” wat gebruik is vir die validasie, was in 'n goeie ooreenkoms met die van die konsentrasie van die SRM, wat bekend is. Die twee rotstekeninge wat ontleed is van die Mount Ayliff en Ha Khotso grotte en was deel van 'n groter rots kuns skildery voordat hul natuurlik afgebreek het. Vir die Mount Ayliff rotskuns, is sewe verf punte, twee ongeverfde rots (vernis) punte aangrensend aan die verf en die agterkant van die rots ontleed. Die kleur van die verf het gewissel van swart, skakerings van bruin en skakerings van rooi. Die swart verf kan toegeskryf word aan mangaan of houtskool. Die rooi kleur is as gevolg van ysteroksied en die rooi-bruin kleur is as gevolg van Hematiet ('n tipe van yster oksied) [1]. Vir die Ha Khotso rotskuns is die verf aan die voorkant van die rots en die rots substraat (agterkant van die rots) ontleed. Vir die Mount Ayliff rotstekening het die resultate vir beide pXRF spektrometers aangedui dat die elementele konsentrasie uniform oor die rotstekening is. Dit is as gevolg van die vorming van 'n uniforme lagie van silica en kalsium, wat deur die sypeling van water deur die krake van die grot na die oppervlak van die rotstekening beweeg het. Daarom kon geen korrelasie tussen die kleur van die rotstekening en die elemente wat gemeet is bepaal word nie, soos gevind deur die werk van Peisach, Pineda en Jacobson [1]. Vir die Ha Khotso rotstekening is ‘n verband tussen die room kleur van die rotstekening verf en Ca konsentrasie gevind. Beide die PIXE en pXRF tegnieke is gebruik om die konsentrasies van die Ha Khotso rotstekening te identifiseer. Die vergelyking tussen die twee tegnieke beklemtoon die kompleksiteit van rotstekening verf analise. Die resultate van die PIXE elementele karakterisering het aangedui die nie-eenvormige verspreiding van die elemente in die ontlede area. Deur die meting van die ontlede punte 5 keer te herhaal, en dieselfde resultate verkry, is ‘n aanduiding dat die deeltjie grootte en inhomogeniteite nie veel invloed op die elementele konsentrasies het nie. Ten einde 'n hoë akkuraatheid resultate te kry met pXRF, moet goeie wetenskaplike metode toegepas word met spesifieke kennis en kundigheid, nie net oor die XRF tegniek, maar ook oor die rotstekening wat ondersoek word vereis. pXRF is wel geskik vir die ontleding van allooie, die ontleding van geologiese materiaal is egter meer kompleks, aangesien die materiaal hoofsaaklik bestaan uit lae atoomgetal elemente bv silikon, aluminium, magnesium, natrium, suurstof en koolstof - wat almal met lae doeltreffentheid opgewek en baie afgerem word in die materiaal.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of the synthesis or manufacturing of controlled structures on submicron scales as well as experimental developments enabling the investigation of physics in speci c biological systems at extremely small length scales underlines the need for dealing with the statistical physics of small systems which are geometrically con ned. A typical example of a system for which physical questions can be answered by means of theoretical modelling is the virus, where polymer genetic material is encapsulated in a protein shell. In this project the role of con nement on polymer chains will be investigated. We investigate how the translocation of polymer from one region to another through a small opening depends on various electrolytic, polymer concentration and wall interaction conditions. This is an extension of the simple, purely entropic, picture in that the interaction terms enter the picture. We employ a variational scheme in deriving our results. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sowel die moontlikheid van beheerbare sintese of vervaardiging van strukture op sub-mikrometer lengteskale asook die koms van eksperimentele metodes vir die ondersoek van biologiese stelsels op baie klein lengteskale onderstreep hoe nodig dit is om die statiestiese sika van klein stelsels met geometriese beperkings te verstaan. 'n Tipiese voorbeeld waar teoretiese metodes vir siese vrae aangewend word is 'n virus, waar die polimeriese genetiese materiaal in 'n proteïen skil beweeg. In die huidge projek word die rol van 'n spesi eke geometriese beperking op polimeerkettings ondersoek. Ons ondersoek hoe die oorplasing van 'n polimeer deur 'n klein opening van een gebied na die ander deur verskillende elektrolietiese, polimeer-konsentrasie en wandinteraksie eienskappe afhang. Dit is 'n uitbreiding van die eenvoudige, volledig entropiese beeld vir oorplasing deurdat wisselwerkings ingesluit word. 'n Variasiebeginsel word aangewend om die resultate af te lei.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The large band gap (approximately 11.5-12.1 eV) and high transmission of calcium fluoride (CaF2) crystal in the ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region makes it an important material for optics for laser applications in UV. However, CaF2 degrades during long exposure to UV irradiation due to defect generation. The formation of selftrapped excitons (STE) is considered the first step in defect generation. In this project the possibility of observing STE states in CaF2 using a narrow bandwidth tunable VUV laser source is investigated. This is the first spectroscopy study of an alkaline earth fluoride using VUV tunable laser radiation instead of a fixed wavelength laser. The use of a VUV tunable laser source has potential for determining the energies of the STE states, which are unknown. Our main objective is addressed by developing techniques to measure absorption spectra of pure and doped CaF2 samples, using a VUV scanning monochromator and a tunable VUV laser, and by doing a literature study. The results obtained with the scanning monochromator show absorption features in 126-180 nm range of all our samples. These vary for different samples and correlate with information from the supplier on the samples’ fluorescence spectra. Total absorption of the VUV light by CaF2 in the 115-126 nm range is observed. With the narrow bandwidth tunable laser light, absorption spectra were obtained in the range of 143-146.7 nm of all our CaF2 samples. No significance peaks which can be related to the STE states in CaF2 were observed in the VUV laser absorption spectra, but the results are valuable to improve the technique. The conclusion is that either a different spectral range or fluorescence detection can be investigated in future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot bandgaping (ongeveer 11.5-12.1 eV) en hoë transmissie van kalsiumfluoried (CaF2) kristal in die ultraviolet (UV) en die vakuum ultraviolet (VUV) gebied maak dit ’n belangrike materiaal vir optika vir laser toepassings in die UV. CaF2 degradeer egter gedurende langdurige blootstelling aan UV lig as gevolg van die generering van defekte. Die vorming van ’n elektron-holte paar wat deur die kristalstuktuur gestabiliseer word teen rekombinasie (self-trapped excitons, afgekort STE) word beskou as die eerste stap in defek generering. In hierdie projek word die moontlikheid ondersoek om STE toestande in CaF2 waar te neem deur die gebruik van ’n afstembare VUV laserbron met emissie in ’n smal spektrale band. Dit is die eerste spektroskopiese studie van ’n aardalkali-fluoried deur die gebruik van afstembare VUV laserlig in plaas van ’n vaste golflengte laser. Die gebruik van ’n afstembare VUV laserbron het potensiaal vir die bepaling van die energieë van die STE teostande, wat onbekend is. Ons hoofdoel word aangespreek deur die ontwikkeling van tegnieke vir die meet van absorpsie spektra van suiwer en gedoteerde CaF2 monsters met behulp van ’n VUV skanderende monochromator en ’n afstembare VUV laser, en deur ’n literatuurstudie. Die resultate wat behaal is met die skanderende monochromator toon die absorpsieprofiele van al ons monsters in die 126-180 nm spektrale gebied. Die absopsieprofiele varieer vir die verskillende monsters en korreleer met die inligting van die verskaffer oor die fluoressensie spektra van die monsters. Totale absorpsie van die VUV lig deur CaF2 in die 115-126 nm gebied is waargeneem. Met die smalband afstembare laserlig is absorpsie spektra in die 143-146.7 nm gebied vir al ons CaF2 monsters verkry. Geen beduidende pieke wat verband hou met die STE toestande in CaF2 is waargeneem in die VUV laser absorpsie spektra nie, maar die resultate is waardevol vir die verbetering van die tegniek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat of ’n ander spektraalgebied of fluoressensiedeteksie in die toekoms ondersoek kan word.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organic molecular salts have a wide range of physical properties which can be chemically tailored by minor variations of their substituents. These characteristics include high degrees of anisotropy, electrical conductivity ranging from superconducting to insulating, and structural changes in the crystal lattice during first order phase transitions brought about by minimal changes in temperature, effective pressure, and in some cases even light. Hence, these materials are particularly interesting for the development of molecular electronics and also as study materials in solid state physics. The family of copper-dimethyl-dicyanoquinone-diimine (Cu(DMe-DCNQI)2) salts forms part of the radical anion salt subclass of organic molecular crystals and is of particular interest due to its extraordinarily high conductivity compared to other quasi one-dimensional organic conductors. Its metal-to-insulator phase transition is characterised by conductivity jumps across several orders of magnitude within a few kelvin. Over the past three decades the metallic and insulating phases, as well as the transition behaviour have been investigated extensively utilising a broad spectrum of methods amongst others electrical conductivity, electron spin resonance, and re ectivity measurements, x-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and dilatometry. Fast light-switching between phases has been observed in partially deuterated forms of Cu(DCNQI)2 on sub-100-ps time scales. Furthermore, the phase transition is believed to be induced by a deformation of the crystalline lattice and a charge density wave formation which are detectable in diffraction images. Therefore we want to investigate this metal-to-insulator phase transition structurally and temporally via ultrafast electron diffraction. The technique of ultrafast electron diffraction employs the fundamentals of pump-probe spectroscopy: One of the two femtosecond pulsed laser beams excites the thin, crystalline sample, while the other - after being converted into a pulsed electron beam via the photoelectric effect - forms a diffraction image of the sample's lattice structure. The arrival time of the two pulses at the sample can be varied by a few femtoseconds with respect to each other enabling the resolution of ultrafast structural dynamics of the crystal's atomic lattice via electron diffraction. During the work presented in this thesis the sample preparation and characterisation leading to a successful introduction of Cu(DCNQI)2 into our ultrafast electron diffraction setup is presented. A diffraction pattern of comparable quality to that of a commercially available transmission electron microscope was recorded of the metallic state of partially deuterated d6 Cu(DCNQI)2. Subsequent analysis of the obtained diffraction data and further studies of the low temperature state { including simulations as well as experiments { have narrowed down the factors still making the diffraction pattern evasive. Possible solutions to experimental challenges are proposed to make the documentation of structural ultrafast dynamics in these organic molecular salts an attainable goal in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organiese molekulêre soute het `n wye verskeidenheid van fisiese eienskappe wat chemies verander kan word deur geringe variasie in die samestelling van die sout. Hierdie eienskappe sluit in `n hoë graad van anisotropie, elektriese geleidingsvermoë wat strek van supergeleiding tot elektriese isolasie, en strukturele veranderinge in die kristalstruktuur tydens eerste orde fase-oorgange wat veroorsaak word deur geringe veranderinge in temperature, effektiewe druk en in sommige gevalle selfs lig. Gevolglik is hierdie material besonder interessant vir die ontwikkeling van molekulêre elektronika en ook as studiemateriaal in vastetoestandfisika. Die familie van koperdimetieldisianokinoondiimien (Cu(DMe-DCNQI)2) soute vorm `n deel van die radikaal-anioon-sout subklas van organiese molekulêre kristalle en is van besondere belang as gevolg van hulle buitengewone hoë elektriese geleidingsvermoë in vergelyking met ander kwasi-eendimensionele organiese geleiers. Die metaal-na-isolator fase-oorgang van hierdie kristal word gekenmerk deur die verandering van die geleidingsvermoë met verskeie ordegroottes binne `n paar kelvin. Gedurende die laaste drie dekades is die metaal en isolator fases, asook die oorgangsgedrag deeglik ondersoek met behulp van `n wye verskeidenheid van metodes wat onder andere elektriese geleidingsvermoë, elektron-spin resonans en reeksiemetings, x-straal fotoelektron en infrarooi spektroskopie, x-straal diffraksie en dilatometrie insluit. Vinnige skakeling tussen fases is waargeneem in gedeeltelik gedeuteerde vorms van Cu(DCNQI)2 op `n sub-100-ps tydskaal. Daar word verder geglo dat die fase-oorgang geïnduseer word deur `n deformasie van die kristalstruktuur en die vorming van `n ladingsdigtheidgolf wat meetbaar is in elektrondiffraksiebeelde. Om hierdie rede wil ons die metaal-na-isolator fase-oorgang se struktuur- en tydafhanklikheid ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van ultra-vinnige elektron diffraksie. Die tegniek van ultra-vinnige elektron diffraksie maak gebruik van die beginsels van pomp-toets spektroskopie: Een van die twee femtosekonde laserpulse wek die dun kristallyne monster op, terwyl die ander na omskakeling in `n elektronpuls via die foto-elektriese effek `n diffraksiebeeld van die monster se kristalstruktuur vorm. Die aankomtyd van die twee pulse by die monster kan met `n paar femtosekondes ten opsigte van mekaar verander word om die tydresolusie van die ultra-vinnige strukturele dinamika van die kristal se atoomstruktuur deur elektrondiffraksie moontlik te maak. In hierdie tesis word die monstervoorbereiding en karakterisering wat gelei het tot suksesvolle eksperimente op Cu(DCNQI)2 in ons ultra-vinnige elektron diffraksie opstelling behandel. `n Diffraksie patroon waarvan die kwaliteit vergelykbaar is met die van `n kommersiëel beskikbare transmissie elektron mikroskoop is gemeet vir die metaalfase van gedeeltelik gedeuteerde d6 Cu(DCNQI)2. Daaropvolgende analiese van die gemete diffraksiedata en verdere studies van die lae temperatuur toestand wat simulasies sowel as eksperimente insluit het `n klein aantal faktore uitgewys wat steeds die deteksie van die isolatorfase se ladingsdigtheidgolf se kenmerkende diffraksiepatroon verhoed. Moontlike oplossings tot eksperimentele uitdagings word voorgestel om die dokumentering van strukturele ultra-vinnige dinamika in hierdie organiese molekulêre soute `n haalbare toekomstige doelwit te maak.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Trilayered transition metal dichalcogenides such as our sample (1T-TiSe2) have been studied for many years as systems with strong electron-electron and electron-phonon correlations. The main attraction to this family of compound is its potential to exhibit ground state phenomena known as charge density waves whose detailed physical origin has been controversially determined. In this study, we have used an ultrafast femtosecond laser based on a pump-probe technique, namely ultrafast electron diffraction, to investigate these exotic features associated with the crystal. A pump laser pulse photo-excites the crystal from its ground state and the probe pulse (ultrashort electron pulse) takes the snapshot of the evolution of the lattice generating an electron diffraction pattern of the crystal. Hence the dynamical structural behaviour can be observed in time with a subpicosecond temporal resolution. As a hexagonal close-packed structure, its signature is expected to be seen in the diffraction pattern in both a steady-state and electron time-resolved femtosecond electron diffraction. In addition, simulations of electron diffractions pattern for room and low temperature structural data via a software called Simulation and Analysis of Electron diffraction (SAED) have been carried out. Clear signatures of charge density waves were seen at low temperature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Drie-laag oorgangsmetaal dikhalkogeniedes soos ons voorbeeld (1T-TiSe2), word reeds vir baie jare bestudeer as sisteme met sterk elektron-elektron en elektron-fonon korrelasies. Die hoof aantrekkingskrag van hierdie sisteme is die verskynsel van ladingdigtheidsgolwe in die grondtoestand. Die fisiese oorsprong van hierdie ladingdigtheidsgolwe was bepaal te midde van verskeie teenstrydighede. In hierdie studie, maak ons gebruik van die ultravinnige femtosekonde laser gebaseerde aktiveer-interogeer tegniek, genaamd ultravinnige elektron diffraksie (UED) om unicke eienskappe wat met die kristal geassosieer is te bestudeer. In UED wek ’n ultravinnige laserpuls (aktivering) die kristal op vanaf die grondtoestand waartydens n ultravinnige elektronpuls (interogering) ’n foto neem van die evolusie van die elektron diffraksiepatroon wat deur die kristalrooster gegenereer word. Hierdie wisselwerking van die interogerings elektronpuls en die sisteem kan gevolglik teen verskeie vasgetelde tye toegelaat word. Dus kan die dinamiese strukturele gedrag waargeneem word met ’n tydresolusie in die orde van die elektronpuls (sub-pikosekondes). Siende dat die kristal ’n diggepakte-heksagonale struktuur vorm, behoort die kenmerkende diffraksiepatroon daarvan waarneembaar te wees in beide die bestendige diffraksie en femtosekonde elektron diffraksie tegnieke. In hierdie konteks was duidelike tekens van ladingdigtheidsgolwe waargeneem. Benewens was daar ook simulasies uitgevoer om die elektron diffraksiepatrone asook die strukturele data by kamer en lae temperature vas te pen. Die sagteware wat hiervoor gebruik word is genaamd Simulasie en Ontleding van Elektronendiffraksie (SAED) - Simulation and Analysis of Electron Diffraction (SAED).

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The tools of perturbative Quantum Field Theory are by now a standard part of the theoretical physicist's arsenal. In this thesis we investigate the spectral method, an approach that uses tools from the quantum theory of scattering to calculate the O(~) corrections to fields. Speci cally, we investigate whether the approach can be extended to deal with two interacting scalar elds with a mass gap in (1+1) dimensions. To achieve this we need to verify the analyticity of the appropriate Jost function. All the machinery to do so is introduced during the course of the thesis. This includes the eld theoretic formalism which describes such a system, and the derivation of a number of di erential equations from which the density of states can be constructed. The numerical method is also outlined. Concrete results are presented to verify that the approach reproduces known results. Arguments related to Levinson's theorem are then presented that suggest that the Jost function is indeed analytic, with some caveats. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gereedskap van perturbatiewe Kwantumveld-teorie is teen di e tyd al `n standaard-deel van die teoretiese sikus se werkskis. In hierdie tesis ondersoek ons die spektrale metode, `n benadering wat gereedskap van die kwantumteorie van verstrooing gebruik om die O(~) korreksie van velde te bereken. Ons ondersoek spesi ek of die metode uitgebrei kan word om toepaslik te wees in die geval van twee wisselwerkende skalaarvelde met `n massa-gaping in (1+1) dimensies. Vir hierdie doel moet ons bepaal of die toepaslike Jost-funksie analities is of nie. Al die masjinerie om dit te bepaal word deur die loop van hierdie tesis ingevoer. Dit sluit in die veld-teorietiese formalisme wat so `n stelsel beskryf, en die a eiding van `n aantal di erensiaal vergelykings wat gebruik kan word om die digtheid van toestande te konstrueer. Die numeriese metode word ook beskryf. Konkrete resultate wat bevestig dat die metode die korrekte antwoorde in `n analities bekende geval weergee, word verskaf. Argumente wat verband hou met Levinson se stelling word gebruik om te bevestig dat die Jost-funksie inderdaad analities is, met sekere voorbehoude.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis, a femtosecond electron diffraction (FED) set-up that is capable of investigating the photo-induced switching of Cu(DCNQI)2 from being an insulator to being a conductor is presented. Movies of atomic structural changes with temporal resolution within the typical photo-switching transition timescales (sub-picoseconds) are obtainable with this set-up by employing a femtosecond laser. The experimental technique and the design of a crucial instrument of the machine, the electron gun, are extensively described and characterised both numerically and experimentally. The interest in observing atomic structural changes of Cu(DCNQI)2 in real time is because of the rich variety of the radical salts available that show alloy-specific Charge Density Wave (CDW) transitions. Valuable insights about the driving mechanisms behind these structural changes that are responsible for a change in conductivity are obtainable, as well as the relation between crystal alloys and their transition characteristics. Electron diffraction patterns of crystals in their metallic phase (room temperature) are shown in this thesis, but diffraction patterns of cryo-cooled Cu(DCNQI)2 in its insulating phase are still to be acquired. The temporal resolution of the atomic movie can be improved by recompression of electron pulses that are debunched due to Coulomb repulsion and electron energy spread within a pulse. Numerical and preliminary experimental results presented in this work expose the potential of a simple compression technique. In this way, more electrons in a single electron pulse can be afforded which allows to perform experiments at shorter integration time or lower repetition rate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word ’n femtosekonde elektron diffraksie opstelling aangebied wat daartoe in staat is om die foto-geïnduseerde omskakeling in Cu(DCNQI)2 van nie-geleier tot geleier te ondersoek. Deur gebruik te maak van ’n femtosekonde laser in hierdie opstelling, is ’rolprente’ van strukturele veranderinge op atoomskaal met ’n tyd resolusie beter as die tipiese foto-omskakelings tydskaal (sub-pikosekonde) verkrygbaar. Die eksperimentele tegniek en die ontwerp van ’n noodsaaklike instrument van die masjien, die elektron geweer, word breedvoerig beskryf en numeries en eksperimenteel gekenmerk. Die belangstelling om strukturele veranderinge in Cu(DCNQI)2 op atoom skaal in reële tyd waar te kan neem is as gevolg van die ryke verskeidenheid van radikale soute, wat allooispesifieke ladings digtheid golf (CDW) oorgange toon, wat beskikbaar is. Waardevolle insigte oor die meganismes wat hierdie strukturele veranderinge wat ’n verandering in geleiding veroorsaak dryf is verkrygbaar, sowel as die verwantskap tussen die kristal allooi en die oorgang kenmerke. Diffraksie patrone van kristalle in die metaalagtige fase (kamer temperatuur) word in hierdie tesis getoon, maar diffraksie patrone van cryo-verkoelde Cu(DCNQI)2 in die niegeleier fase moet nog verkry word. Die tyd resolusie van die atomiese rolprent kan verbeter word deur die elektron puls — wat deur Coulomb afstoting en elektron energie spreiding versprei is — weer saam te pers. Numeriese en voorlopige eksperimentele resultate toon die potensiaal van ’n eenvoudige kompressie tegniek. Hierdeur kan meer elektrone in ’n elektron puls gegun word en so die integrasie tyd of die herhalingstempo van die eksperimente verkort kan word.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Terahertz (THz) radiation is often used in many promising applications such as information and communication technology and airport security. Optimized and adapted terahertz fields hold huge promise for leading this technology further. This study is focused on terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). In THz-TDS the electric field is measured, therefore both amplitude and phase information of the THz pulse can be obtained. We used the pump-probe technique in order to measure a THz pulse from the photoconductive antenna. A pulsed fiber laser with FWHM of ' 100 fs was used for this. The frequency spectrum of the measured THz pulse was obtained via a fast Fourier transform. We studied the principles of the THz pulse generation as well as detection, with a photoconductive antenna as emitter and detector. In this study terahertz spectroscopy has been used to investigate the refractive index and absorption coefficient of different types of materials in the terahertz region. The last part of this study deals with a simple process for material parameter extraction of a polymer sample using commercial software called Teramat1.0. It uses the sample thickness, the reference THz pulse and the transmitted THz pulse to retrieve the complex refractive index of the sample. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Terahertz (THz) straling word gereeld gebruik vir belowende toepassings soos inligting en kommunikasie tegnologie en lughawe sekuriteit. Geoptimeerde en aangepaste terahertz velde dra by tot die bevordering van die tegnologie. Hierdie studie fokus op terahertz tyd domein spektroskopie (THz-TDS). In THz-TDS word die elektriese veld gemeet en dus word beide amplitude en fase inligting van die THz puls verkry. Ons gebruik ’n pomp en toets tegniek om die THz puls deur ’n fotogeleidende antenna te bepaal. ’n Gepulseerde vesel laser met FWHM van 100 fs word hiervoor benut. Die frekwensie spektrum van die gemete THz puls word bereken deur ’n vinnige Fourier transvorm te bereken. Die beginsels van die generering en deteksie van THz pulse is bestudeer met ’n fotogeleidende antenna as sender en ontvanger. In die studie is terahertz spektroskopie gebruik om die brekingsindekse en die absorpsie koeffisiënte van verskillende materiale in die terahertz gebied te bepaal. Die laaste gedeelte van die studie handel oor ’n eenvoudige proses om die materiaal parameters van ’n polimeer te bepaal deur gebruik te maak van kommersiële sagteware Teramat 1.0. Die monster dikte, die THz verwysingspuls en die deurgelate puls word gebruik om die komplekse brekingsindeks van die materiaal te bereken.

Thesis (PhD (Physics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Carbon monoxide (CO) is a diatomic molecule of particular interest in astrophysics, due to its high abundance in interstellar space. The Fourth Positive System A1Π−X1Σ+ of CO is an important feature in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum in astronomical observations, especially in high-resolution spectra recorded by satellite-based spectrographs. The interpretation of these astronomically detected spectra requires accurate laboratory wavelengths to serve as rest wavelengths and to resolve possible Doppler-shifts. Such rest wavelengths are known for the 12C16O, 13C16O and 12C18O isotopomers for all astronomically observed spectral lines of the Fourth Positive System. The only laboratory wavelengths currently available for the Fourth Positive System of the 12C17O isotopomer have been determined in a previous work carried out in our laboratory for the vibronic band A1Π(v0 = 3)−X1Σ+(v00 = 0). The present study continues this work for the other vibronic bands which have been detected astronomically, namely A1Π(v0 = 2 − 5)−X1Σ+(v00 = 0). The A1Π(v0 = 0− 1)−X1Σ+(v00 = 0) vibronic bands have also been investigated due to their probability for future astronomical detection. Rotationally-resolved spectra of these six vibronic bands were obtained by selective rovibronic laser excitation, and subsequent detection of the undispersed fluorescence, observed as a function of the excitation wavelength in the VUV. A tunable narrow-bandwidth VUV laser source is used for excitation, and the CO gas sample is introduced by supersonic expansion. Flow-cooling in the supersonic expansion to rotational temperatures roughly corresponding to temperatures in the interstellar medium simplifies and aids the spectral analysis of the spectral lines of interest. The cold conditions in the supersonic expansion facilitates a high sensitivity for detection of the low-J lines, and allows the detection of rare isotopomers of CO in natural abundance. The experimental setup has been improved in the present study by the addition of a vacuum monochromator, facilitating an improved characterisation of the VUV source. Furthermore, a number of experimental conditions have been optimised for the detection of rare CO isotopomers, significantly increasing the signals of these lines in the spectra. The combination of this increase in sensitivity and the addition of the vacuum monochromator to the experimental setup, allowed the simultaneous detection of absorption spectra with the fluorescence spectra as an additional source of information in spectral analysis. The increased sensitivity also contributed to the detection of a large number of spectral lines of interest, with some additional lines identified in the previously studied vibronic band. Spectral lines of 12C16O, 13C16O, 12C18O and 12C17O were detected in each vibronic band, allowing accurate calibration of the spectra. A total of 29 new lines of 12C17O were recorded in the six vibronic bands investigated. Additionally, 10 new singlet-triplet lines of 12C16O were recorded in the wavelength regions investigated. The new wavelengths of 12C17O have been applied to calculate consistent heliocentric velocities of a gas cloud toward the star X Persei, obtained from spectra of the different CO isotopomers taken by the Hubble space telescope.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / 175 Leaves printed single pages, preliminary pages i-xiii and 147 numberd pages. Includes bibliography. List of figures, List of tables. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study forms part of a larger investigation which has as a primary objective the development of a comprehensive theoretical description of all the processes which contribute to the continuum in the interaction of 12C and 16O with nuclei. Previous investigations of 12C and 16O induced reactions on targets with mass close to A = 100 have shown that the experimental excitation functions and recoil range distributions of heavy residues can be reproduced satisfactorily by means of a theoretical model which takes relatively few dominant reaction mechanisms into account. These include the complete fusion of the projectile with the target, the incomplete fusion of break-up α-type fragments (i.e. single α particles, 8Be fragments and for the 16O induced reactions also 12C fragments) with the target and single-nucleon transfer at incident energies above about 15 MeV/nucleon. The mean-field interaction is mainly responsible for these interactions. The thermalization of the intermediate excited nuclei produced in this first stage of the reaction is described by an intranuclear interaction cascade, during which pre-equilibrium emission of particles and clusters may occur, followed by evaporation after statistical equilibrium has been attained. The model also included the probability that break-up α particles may escape with a large fraction of their initial energy after only a few interactions with individual target nucleons following their initial incomplete fusion. The theory also predicted an enhanced isobaric yield for residues with mass similar or near to that of the target. The subsequent analysis of the emission spectra of intermediate mass fragments in these reactions, however, indicated that two additional aspects need to be considered as well in order to reproduce the experimental data. The first is that the projectile may lose a substantial amount of energy in an initial-state interaction before breaking up, which can be described as a friction dissipative process. The second is that several other incomplete fusion channels of “non-α-cluster”- type fragments should also be included in a more complete description of these reactions as their contributions are not negligible. The present study has two main objectives. Firstly, to investigate the isobaric yield in the neartarget mass region by measuring production cross sections for 103Pd, 103mRh and 103Ru. Previous studies only provided data for 103Ag, which constitute only a few percent of the A = 103 isobaric yield. The new data constitute more than 80% of the A = 103 isobaric yield, which provide experimental confirmation of the enhanced isobaric yield in the near-target mass region. The second objective is to perform extensive new calculations of the excitation functions and recoil ranges in order to investigate the predictive power of the extended model in a priori calculations for the entire available data set. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie maak deel uit van ‘n meer omvattende ondersoek wat as ‘n primêre doelwit die beskrywing van al die bydraende prosesse tot die kontinuum in die interaksie van 12C en 16O met kerne behels. In vorige ondersoeke van 12C en 16O geïnduseerde reaksies op skywe met massa naby A = 100 kon die eksperimentele opwekkrommes van swaar reskerne en reikwydte distribusies van terugslagkerne bevredigend gereproduseer word met behulp van ‘n teoretiese model wat slegs enkele dominante reaksiemeganismes in berekening bring. Hierdie sluit in die volledige versmelting van die projektiel met die skyfkern, die onvolledige versmelting van opbreek α-tipe fragmente (d.w.s. α- deeltjies, 8Be fragmente, en in die geval van 16O geïnduseerde reaksies ook 12C fragmente) met die skyfkern, en enkel-nukleon oordrag by invalsenergië wat hoër is as ongeveer 15 MeV/nukleon. Die gemiddelde-veld interaksie is hoofsaaklik verantwoordelik vir bogenoemde reaksie meganismes. Die oorgang na termiese ewewig van die opgewekte tussenkerne wat in hierdie eerste stadium van die reaksie gevorm word, word beskryf deur ‘n intrakern interaksie kaskade wat gekenmerk word deur die voorewewigs emissie van deeltjies en klonte van deeltjies, gevolg deur verdamping nadat statistiese ewewig bereik is. Dié model sluit ook die waarskynlikheid in dat opbreek α-deeltjies kan ontsnap met ‘n betekenisvolle fraksie van hul aanvanklike energie na slegs enkele interaksies met individuele skyfnukleone nadat hulle aanvanklik onvolledig versmelt het. In latere studies van die emissiespektra van intermediêre massa fragmente in hierdie reaksies het dit egter geblyk dat twee addisionele aspekte ook in berekening geneem moet word om die eksperimentele data te reproduseer. Eerstens kan die projektiel ‘n substansiële hoeveelheid energie verloor in ‘n aanvangstoestand interaksie voordat dit opbreek, wat beskryf kan word as ‘n wrywingdissipatiewe proses. Tweedens kan verskeie ander onvolledige versmeltingskanale van fragmente met ‘n nié-α-karakter ook betekenisvol bydra en kan hulle dus nie verwaarloos word in ‘n meer volledige beskrywing van hierdie reaksies nie. Die huidige studie het twee hoofdoelwitte. Eerstens word die isobariese opbrengs in die nabyskyfgebied ondersoek deur die produksie kansvlakke van 103Pd, 103mRh en 103Ru te meet. In vorige studies is slegs data verkry vir 103Ag, wat net ‘n klein persentasie van die A = 103 isobariese opbrengs verteenwoordig. Die nuwe data verteenwoordig meer as 80% van die A = 103 isobariese opbrengs, wat eksperimetele bevestiging verleen dat ‘n verhoging in die isobariese opbrengs in die nabyskyfgebied bestaan. Die tweede doelwit is om ‘n volledige stel nuwe a priori berekeninge te doen vir al die opwekkrommes van reskerne en reikwydte distribusies van terugslagkerne wat tans beskikbaar is om sodoende die voorspellings van die nuwe uitgebreide teoretiese model te toets.