We have simulated structure formation on cosmological-scales using N-body simulations run on the University of KwaZulu-Natal's cluster of computers and have used these simulations to investigate aspects of galaxy evolution. In particular, we focus on the rotation of dark matter halos identified in Cold Dark Matter (CDM) simulations. These halos are typical of those thought to surround galaxies. Understanding their morphology and kinematics will help with the interpretation of observations and will constrain models of galaxy formation and evolution. We have determined the mass function of our simulated halos and shown that this agrees well with other simulations and theoretical predictions of this function. We have also explored the evolution of the mass function with redshift, which clearly shows hierarchical structure formation. In considering the angular momentum of our sample of halos, we have found the spin distribution to be well fit by a log normal distribution. After removing all halos that have either recently undergone major mergers or contain a significant amount of substructure from our sample, 75% of the remaining halos were found to undergo coherent rotation over periods of three gigayears. The pattern speeds were found to follow a log normal distribution, with an average value of 0.13h radians per gigayear. The most rapidly rotating halo detected was found to have a pattern speed of 0.41h radians per gigayear. Many halos showed alignment between their rotation and minor axes. We found no correlation between halo properties, such as total mass, and the pattern speed. While the speeds observed were not sufficient to cause spiral structure, the rotation could be relevant for understanding other observations of galaxies. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005

Mr T. J. Sono, an MSc student during the period January 2001 to January 2003, developed an apparatus to measure the pressure and temperature dependence of the electric-field induced birefringence (or electro-optic Kerr effect) in gases. Mr Sono obtained experimental results for dimethyl ether at a wavelength of 632.8 nm resulting in polarizability tensor components, first and second Kerr hyperpolarizabilities, and second Kerr-effect virial coefficients for this particular molecular species. One of the primary concerns of this thesis has been to obtain new measured Kerr-effect data for dimethyl ether and for trifluoromethane over a range of temperature. The cell has been calibrated using hydrogen as a primary standard, and has been carefully aligned to avoid multiple reflections of the incident laser beam off the closely-spaced electrode surfaces. The data has been analyzed to extract values of the polarizability anisotropy and the second Kerr hyperpolarizability for these molecules. In addition, precise values for the second Kerr-effect virial coefficients have been obtained from measurements of the Kerr effect a function of pressure. The molecular-tensor theory of the second Kerr-effect virial coefficient BK is reviewed. This theory describes the effects of intermolecular interactions on the molar Kerr constant, and it has been used to compute BK for dimethyl ether and trifluoromethane over the experimental temperature range. Agreement between experiment and theory is generally good. BK for ammonia has also been calculated, and compared to recent measured data found in the literature. The theory of the Cotton-Mouton effect (the magnetic analogue of the Kerr-effect) in a dilute gas is reviewed, and a new molecular-tensor theory describing the effects of molecular pair-interactions is developed. Calculations for a test molecule, namely chloromethane, indicate that density-dependent effects for this molecule are extremely tiny (of the order of 1% for typical experimental pressures). This new theory could be profitably used in selecting molecules which might demonstrate a larger effect which might be more readily measured in the laboratory. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

In studies of triaxial elliptical galaxies, one of the least observationally studied phenomena is figure rotation. Figure rotation has important consequences for the orbital structure and could explain the survival of steep nuclear cusps. For this project, we thus wish to investigate the possibility of measuring the figure rotation of an elliptical galaxy for which the geometry is approximately known using the Tremaine-Weinberg (TW) method. Originally meant for measuring the pattern speed of barred disk galaxies, we test the validity of the method using NGC 5266, a minor-axis dust-lane elliptical. In the process, the galaxy's line-of-sight velocity distribution (LOSVD) is measured along several slit positions. Measurements of the velocity v, velocity dispersion a, skewness /J3, and kurtosis h^ are derived using the Fourier Correlation Quotient method and a Gauss-Hermite series. This work represents the most detailed stellar kinematic measurements of NGC 5266 to date and confirm that it is one of the fastest rotating elliptical galaxies known today (Varnas et al. 1987). We find a maximum velocity of about 167 km s_1 at both a PA of 274° and 304°. This is compared to a maximum of 212 ± 7kms~1 at a PA of 287° found elsewhere (Varnas et al. 1987). The TW method yields significantly different values for the pattern speed. These vary between -19 and 22kms Wcsec"1. The discrepancy between the results casts doubt on the ability to straightforwardly apply the TW method to elliptical systems, but the study provides some insight into how the method may be more successfully implemented in the future. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

During the period January 2001 to January 2003, M Sc student Mr Tleyane Jonas Sono developed an apparatus to measure the pressure- and temperature-dependence of the electro-optic Kerr effect (electric-field-induced birefringence) in gases. Mr Sono presented experimental results for dimethyl ether at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, extracting polarizability tensor components, first and second Kerr hyperpolarizabilities, and second Kerr-effect virial coefficients for this molecular species. This thesis has been primarily concerned with a thorough re-investigation of the Keneffect for the dimethyl ether molecule. Of primary concern is the reproducibility of the measured data, which depend upon precise and accurate knowledge of various experimental parameters. These include calibrations of the high-voltage power supply which is used to establish the electric field across the medium, the pressure transducer, the platinum thermistors, as well as the Faraday cell which forms the heart of the compensator. There is also a possibility of the 316-stainless-steel electrodes buckling and warping as they are cycled over ±200°C, leading to variations in the applied field and a consequent hysteresis in the results. In essence, we have been loath to publish our Kerr-effect investigation of dimethyl ether before making a thorough investigation of the reproducibility of our measured data. Here we present our investigations, and compare our new Kerr virial coefficients and the molecular (hyper)polarizability data extracted from them against the previous work of Sono. It will become apparent agreement is excellent, and that the findings for dimethyl ether are now ready for publication. The molecular-tensor theory of the Kerr-effect; including the second Kerr-effect virial coefficient BK, which describes the effects of intermolecular collisions on the molecular Kerr constant; is reviewed. The computed data is compared with the experimental data, yielding good agreement over the full experimental temperature range of 280 to 450 K. Attempts to obtain measured data at 260 K proved fruitless in the present study, though efforts are underway to complete this task. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

There has been a great deal of research, both locally and abroad, conducted on the learning practices of students at school and at tertiary levels. In an attempt at improving the status of education, some educators have looked towards the use of computer-aided learning tools as a possible panacea for the discrepancy between what is being learnt and what is being taught in traditional educational environments. The Physics Undergraduate Learning Programme (PULP), is a research-based instructional software package that tests the effectiveness of computers in physics education. The program was specifically designed to identify and address the difficulties experienced by first year introductory physics students enrolled at the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg). The research is based on an iterative process of assessment through tests and interviews, and subsequent modifications to the program. The results obtained from these methods of investigation are reported and this dissertation concludes with a discussion on the usefulness and limitations ofcomputers in physics education. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

The objective of this project is to design a facility that will characterize the electrical and optical properties of both tubular and the more recent compact fluorescent tubes. The first stage of this project, which is the subject of this dissertation, was to design, build, test, and model a cylindrical light integrating chamber. An integrating chamber capable of measuring 2-metre long fluorescent tubes was built at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To approximate an infinitely long tube, precisely mounted planar mirrors were placed at opposite ends of the cylinder. The reflectance of diffusive reflective paint and mirrors enter into calculations and were investigated experimentally using a Jarrel-Ash optical spectrometer. The light flux was finally measured for various chamber lengths and compared with a mathematical model. Total light power output from the lamp was calculated and compared with the electrical power input, and the lamp efficiency deduced. Accurate calculations required that the light field surrounding a cylindrical diffuse source be modeled mathematically. The reflection coefficients of the mirrors were not unity and the equations had to be modified to include this effect. The mathematical model was solved using a combination of analytical and numerical techniques. The model results were compared with measurements. The final result includes a mathematical description of the integrating chamber, and a flux-density plot of the space surrounding the fluorescent tube. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2008.

High efficiency tandem selective solar absorber materials of carbon in nickel oxide (C-NiO) composite were fabricated on an aluminium substrate using a simple and cost effective sol-gel process. The process involved preparation of carbon and nickel oxide precursor sols which were homogeneously mixed to form a final C-NiO precursor sol. The carbon precursor sol was prepared by dissolving sucrose (SUC) in 8 ml of distilled water. The NiO precursor sol was prepared by dissolving 7.5 g nickel acetate in 50 ml ethanol, then adding 6.3 g diethanol amine (DEA) to stabilise the solution followed by addition of a structure directing template of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The final C-NiO precursor sol was spin coated on pre-cleaned aluminium substrate to form thin films which were then heat treated in nitrogen ambient inside a tube furnace. The final heat treatment temperature of the sols was determined by thermal studies using thermo gravimetric analytic (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) techniques. TGA and DSC studies of the final precursor sol showed that the weight loss of the precursors stabilised at around 450 °C. The impact of the sol-gel process parameters namely heat treatment temperature, PEG content, SUC content as well as spin coating speed on the optical properties i.e. solar absorptance (αsol) and thermal emittance (εtherm) was investigated. It was found that the optical properties as well as photo-thermal conversion efficiency, η = αsol - εtherm, improved with an increase in heat treatment temperature in the range studied (300-550 °C). This is in good agreement with the results obtained from thermo-gravimetric analysis which showed the weight loss of the precursor to stabilise around a temperature of 450 °C. Results obtained from the Raman studies showed a progressive increase in the graphitic domain in C-NiO samples with an increase in temperature. Heat treatment temperatures above 450 °C gave the best optical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that samples that did not have PEG in the precursor sol were compact and an addition of PEG in the precursor sol caused an increase in the size and density of pores in the films produced which affected the optical properties. As a result, the optical properties increased with an increase in PEG content from 0 g to 2 g then decreased with further increase in PEG content. It was found that addition of SUC of up to 8 g in the sol did not change the optical properties of the fabricated materials because SUC contributed little carbon to the final composite material. Further increase in SUC content resulted in materials with poor photo-thermal conversion efficiency. An increase in spin coating speed did not change the absorptance of the materials but it improved their thermal emittance. The best spin coating speed was found to be 7000 RPM. A solar absorptance of 0.81 and thermal emittance of 0.06 have been achieved for an optimum sample in this study yielding a photo-thermal conversion efficiency of 0.75. The optimum sample fabricated in this study showed superior optical properties compared to the widely used commercial solar absorber paint. This suggests that the C-NiO composite material has the potential for possible use as a selective solar absorber in a solar collector. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) employs the laws of quantum mechanics for the purpose of cryptography. Two parties, commonly called Alice and Bob, are able to share a random key which is used to encrypt a message. Any eavesdropper trying to intercept their key will have to make measurements, thereby disturbing the system. This can be detected by Alice and Bob and they will then discard their key. Polarisation encoded QKD protocols use the polarisation of single photons as qubits to generate a cryptographic key. This can be implemented using a fibre optic link between Alice and Bob but the polarisation of light is altered when passed through a fibre due to birefringence caused by asymmetries in the fibre. This causes refractive differences for orthogonal components of the state of polarisation of light, so the polarisation is rotated as the photon is transmitted through the fibre. If the fibre is fixed, the change of polarisation will be unique and constant. This can be compensated by rotating each photon appropriately to its original state. Under typical environmental conditions, such as temperature changes and vibrations, the birefringence effects vary and should be compensated in real time. Therefore, an active polarisation controller is needed in order to maintain the state of polarisation of each qubit. An investigation was done to first track how the state of polarisation changes over time in a natural environment. Both wavelength-division multiplexing and time-division multiplexing were investigated as testing methods for the compensation system. A time-division multiplexed system was developed to compensate the changes in polarisation. Since QKD protocols such as BB84 and B92 utilise two non-orthogonal bases, two polarisation controllers are usually used for compensation. However, by using a search algorithm, one polarisation controller was able to isolate the plane on the Poincaré sphere that passes through both bases, thus compensating non-orthogonal states with one device. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We investigate the procedure of assigning probabilities to logical statements. The simplest case is that of equilibrium statistical mechanics and its fundamental assumption of equally likely states. Rederiving the formulation led us to question the assumption of logical independence inherent to the construction and speci cally its inability to update probability when data becomes available. Consequently we replace the assumption of logical independence with De Finetti's concept of exchangeability. To use the corresponding representation theorems of De Finetti requires us to assign prior distributions for some general parameter spaces. We propose the use of stability properties to identify suitable prior distributions. The combination of exchangeable likelihoods and corresponding prior distributions results in more general evidence distribution assignments. These new evidence assignments generalise the Shannon entropy to other entropy measures. The goal of these entropy formulations is to provide a general framework for constructing models. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons ondersoek the prosedure om waarskynlikhede aan logiese stellings toe te ken. Die eenvoudigste geval is die van ewewig-statistiese meganika en die ooreenkomstige fundamentele aanname van ewekansige toestande. Hera eiding van die standaard formulering lei ons tot die bevraagtekening van die aanname van logiese onafhanklikheid en spesi ek die onmoontlikheid van opdatering van waarskynlikheid wanneer data beskikbaar raak. Gevolglik vervang ons die aanname van logiese onafhanklikheid met De Finetti se aanname van omruilbaarheid. Om die ooreenkomstige voorstelling stellings te gebruik moet ons a priori verdelings konstrueer vir 'n paar algemene parameter-ruimtes. Ons stel voor dat stabiliteits-eienskappe gebruik moet word om geskikte a priori distribusies te identi seer. Die kombinase van omruilbare aanneemlikheids funksies en die ooreenkomstige a priori verdelings lei ons tot nuwe toekennings van getuienis-verdelings. Hierdie nuwe getuienesverdelings is n veralgemening van Shannon se entropie na ander entropie-maatstawwe. Die doel van hierdie entropie formalismes is om 'n raamwerk vir modelkonstruksie te verskaf.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We investigate a model system for particle diffusion in elastically coupled one-dimensional narrow channels. The elastic coupling of the channels is such that channels mutually affect the stochastic dynamics of particles. This kind of constrained and coupled stochastic diffusion may occur in supramolecular lattices where pore occupancy by guest particles may induce a reversible mechanical deformation of the lattice hence, affecting particle evolution in neighbouring pores. The model is explored first for out-of-equilibrium conditions, where we look mainly at the kinetic properties of the system, and thereafter under equilibrium conditions, where we try to understand the nature of dynamic correlation within the coupled channel system. For an out-of-equilibrium version of the model the focus is placed on the steady state behaviour of the two elastically coupled finite channels. The channels are kept in contact with particle reservoirs at the boundaries. Three current-density regimes of different distinct behaviour are identified using a simulation experiment. The sensitivity of the system mean occupancy profile and the steady state particle flux to small and large coupling parameter strength are explored. We find that, for small coupling strength, the system steady state profile and flux behaviour can be approximated by a simple mean field theory ignoring density-density correlations. We present the analytic description of the system using a cellular automaton formalism and then we generalize the theory for a multi-coupled channel system using a hopping particle dynamics approach. For small coupling parameter values, the analytic results are confirmed by the stochastic simulation. From the equilibrium perspective, we model the elastically coupled channel system as a system of infinite narrow channels having a uniform guest particle occupancy and we calculate density fluctuation correlation functions. The elastic coupling between channels is modelled as short range interacting potential and the particle evolution is modelled through Langevin dynamics. The dynamics are cast into the functional integral formalism expressed in terms of the collective particle number density, current density and the associated density response fields. The resulting generating functional takes these fields into consideration within the random phase approximation (RPA) up to second order. For a short range interaction potential, we uncover the behaviour of the system by looking at the influence of the inter-channel interaction strength on the dynamic density-density correlation functions. We conclude that the system long time limit effective friction coefficient is reduced with increase in the coupling parameter values while the strength of thermal forces for the effective system becomes renormalized. We also find out that the RPA breaks down under certain conditions, signalling a transition to a behaviour that is no longer characterised by a homogeneous density. The work presented here provides the beginnings for microscopic insights into the filling, filtering and storage processes for which certain types of microporous materials can be utilised. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons ondersoek ’n modelstelsel vir die diffusie van deeltjies in elasties gekoppelde, eendimensionele nou kanale. Die elastiese koppeling is sodanig dat die stogastiese dinamika wedersyds be¨ınvloed word. Hierdie gekoppelde en aan dwangvoorwaardes onderhewig diffusie kan in supermolekulˆere roosters gebeur waar die besetting van holtes deur deeltjies ’n omkeerbare meganiese vervorming van die kristalrooster kan veroorsaak en sodoende die tydontwikkeling in ’n aangrensende porie be¨ınvloed. Die model word eers vir nie-ewewig toestande ondersoek, waar ons hoofsaaklik die kinetiese eienskappe van die stelsel beskou, en daarna word dit vir ewewig ondersoek, waar ons die aard van die dinamiese korrelasie binne die gekoppelde kanaalstelsel probeer verstaan. Vir die nie-ekwilibrium weergawe van die model word die fokus op die gedrag van twee gekoppelde en eindige kanale se bestendige toestand gerig. Die porie¨e bly aan hulle eindpunte in kontak met reservoirs van deeltjies. Daar word drie deeltjiestroom-digtheid gebiede ge¨ıdentifiseer met behulp van ’n simulasieeksperiment. Die sensitiewiteit van die stelsel se gemiddelde deeltjiebesettingsprofiel en die deeltjievloed in ’n bestendige toestand is ondersoek vir groot en klein koppelingsparameters. Vir klein koppelingsterkte vind ons dat die stelsel se bestendige toestand deeltjiebesettingspofiel en deeltjievloed deur ’n eenvoudige gemiddelde-veld teorie beskryf kan word, waar digtheid-degtheids korrelasies verontagsaam kan word. Ons bied die analitiese beskrywing aan vir die gekoppelde stelsel deur van ’n sellulˆere outomaat-formalisme gebruik te maak, en om dan die teorie te veralgemeen vir ’n stelsel bestaande uit vele aanmekaar gekoppelde porie¨e ,deur gebruik te maak van ’n formalisme waarin deeltjies tussen holtes hop. Die analtiese resultate word vir kleine waardes van die koppelingsparameter deur ’n rekenaarsimulasie bevestig. Vir die ekwilibrium gesigspunt modelleer ons die gekoppelde stelsel van kanale as oneindig nou, met ’n homogene verdeling van die deeeltjiebesetting en ons bereken digtheids-korrelasiefunksies. Die elastiese vebinding tussen porie¨e word deur ’n kortrykwydte potensiaal gemodelleer en die deeltjies se dinamika met behulp van Langevindinamika. Die dinamika word met behulp van die funksionaal integraalformalisme uitgedruk in terme van die deeltjiegetaldigtheid-, stroomdigtheid- en meegaande antwoordvelde. Die resulterende genererende funksionaal neem hierdie hoeveelhede tot tweede order binne die “random field approximation” (RPA). Vir ’n potensiaal met kort rykwydte, ondersoek ons die stelsel se gedrag deur die dinamiese digtheid-digtheidskorrelasie te ondersoek. Ons lei af dat die stelsel se langtyd effektiewe wrywingsko¨effisi¨ent afneem met die toename in die koppelingsparameter se waardes terwyl die sterkte van die termiese kragte vir die effektiewe stelsel renormeer word. Ons vind ook dat die RPA onder sekere omstandighede sy geldigheid verloor, wat ’n oorgang kan beteken wat nie meer deur ’n homogene digtheid beskryf kan word nie. Die werk wat hier aangebied word dui die eerste stappe aan vir hoe mikroskopiese insigte vir vul-, filter- en stoorprosesse vir sekere tipes mikroporeuse materiale gebruik kan word.