Eumelanin ist ein Fluorophor mit teilweise recht ungewöhnlichen spektralen Eigenschaften. Unter anderem konnten in früheren Veröffentlichungen Unterschiede zwischen dem 1- und 2-photonen-angeregtem Fluoreszenzspektrum beobachtet werden, weshalb im nichtlinearen Anregungsfall ein schrittweiser Anregungsprozess vermutet wurde. Um diese und weitere optische Eigenschaften des Eumelanins besser zu verstehen, wurden in der vorliegenden Arbeit vielfältige messmethodische Ansätze der linearen und nichtlinearen Optik an synthetischem Eumelanin in 0,1M NaOH verfolgt. Aus den Ergebnissen wurde ein Modell abgeleitet, welches die beobachteten photonischen Eigenschaften konsistent beschreibt. In diesem kaskadierten Zustandsmodell (Kaskaden-Modell) wird die aufgenommene Photonenenergie schrittweise von Anregungszuständen hoher Übergangsenergien zu Anregungszuständen niedrigerer Übergangsenergien transferiert. Messungen der transienten Absorption ergaben dominante Anteile mit kurzen Lebensdauern im ps-Bereich und ließen damit auf eine hohe Relaxationsgeschwindigkeit entlang der Kaskade schließen. Durch Untersuchung der nichtlinear angeregten Fluoreszenz von verschieden großen Eumelanin-Aggregaten konnte gezeigt werden, dass Unterschiede zwischen dem linear und nichtlinear angeregten Fluoreszenzspektrum nicht nur durch einen schrittweisen Anregungsprozess bei nichtlinearer Anregung sondern auch durch Unterschiede in den Verhältnissen der Quantenausbeuten zwischen kleinen und großen Aggregaten beim Wechsel von linearer zu nichtlinearer Anregung begründet sein können. Durch Bestimmung des Anregungswirkungsquerschnitts und der Anregungspulsdauer-Abhängigkeit der nichtlinear angeregten Fluoreszenz von Eumelanin konnte jedoch ein schrittweiser 2-Photonen-Anregungsprozess über einen Zwischenzustand mit Lebendsdauern im ps-Bereich nachgewiesen werden. / Eumelanin is a fluorophor with some special spectral properties. In earlier publications for instance a difference between 1- and 2-photons-excited fluorescence (OPEF and TPEF) was observed. Therefore in the nonlinear case a stepwise excitation process was supposed. In this thesis extensive linear and nonlinear optical examinations of synthetical Eumelanin / 0,1M NaOH were done in order to reach a better understanding of this and further optical properties. A theoretical model could be formulated that describes the measured fluorescence behaviour consistently. In this so called cascade model the photonic energy of the excited molecule relaxes by a stepwise energy transfer between a multitude of electronic states with continuously decreasing energy. Examination of the nonlinear excited fluorescence of different aggregate sizes showed, that differences between the spectra of linear and nonlinear excited fluorescence can not only be explained by an stepwise excitation process by nonlinear excitation but also by the difference in the relation of quantum yields between smaller and bigger aggregates by the change from linear to nonlinear excitation. In spite of this a stepwise 2-photons-excitation-process via an intermediate state with a lifetime in the picosecond-range had also been proved by determinations of the excitation cross section and the TPEF-intensity dependency on the pulse duration.

Infrared absorption spectra can provide analytically useful information on a large variety of compounds, ranging from small ions to large biological molecules. In fact, all analytes that possess a dipole moment that changes during vibration are infrared-active. The infrared (IR) spectrum can be subdivided into far-, mid- and near- regions. The focus of attention in this thesis is the mid-IR region, in which the fundamental vibrations of most organic compounds are located, thus providing scope for positive structural identification. However, while such near-ubiquitous signals can be very useful for monitoring simple molecules in simple systems, they can be increasingly disadvantageous as the number of analytes and/or the complexity of the sample matrix increases. Thus, hyphenation to a separation system prior to detection is desirable. Paper I appended to this thesis presents (for the first time) the on-line hyphenation between Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR, and capillary zone electrophoresis, CZE. CZE is a highly efficient separation technique that separates ionic analytes with respect to their charge-to-size ratio. It is most commonly performed in aqueous buffers in fused silica capillaries. Since these capillaries absorb virtually all infrared light an IR-transparent flow cell had to be developed. In further studies (Paper II) the applicability of CZE is expanded to include neutral analytes by the addition of micelles to the buffer, and micellar electrokinetic chromatography, MEKC, was successfully hyphenated to FTIR for the first time. Paper III describes an application of the on-line CZE-FTIR technique in which non-UV-absorbing analytes in a complex matrix were separated, identified and quantified in one run. Measuring aqueous solutions in the mid-IR region is not straightforward since water absorbs intensely in this region, sometimes completely, leaving no transmitted, detectable light. For this reason, quantum cascade lasers are interesting. These lasers represent a new type of mid-IR semiconducting lasers with high output power due to their ingenious design. The laser action lies within one conduction band (intersubband) and can be tailored to emit light in the entire mid-IR region using the same semiconducting material. To investigate their potential to increase the optical path length in aqueous solutions, these lasers were used with an aqueous flow system (Paper IV), and the experience gained in these experiments enabled hyphenation of such lasers to a CZE system (Paper V).

Les éléments constituant la chaîne de traction sont le plus souvent dissociés et indépendants entre eux (pack de batteries, convertisseur de traction et moteur). L'utilisation des convertisseurs en cascade en tant que convertisseurs de traction a été le coeur de ces travaux de thèse. Les performances énergétiques des convertisseurs en cascade et de l'onduleur de tension classique ont été comparées sur un cycle de conduite normalisé pour différentes configurations sur les convertisseurs de puissance (niveaux de tension mis en jeu dans la chaîne de traction, variation du nombre d'onduleurs connectés en série pour les convertisseurs en cascade et variation du nombre de semi-conducteurs en parallèle pour réaliser la fonction des interrupteurs de puissance dans les convertisseurs). D'autres convertisseurs d'électronique de puissance sont nécessaires pour le bon fonctionnement d'un véhicule électrique. L'un de ces convertisseurs est le chargeur de batteries qui puise l'énergie du réseau électrique pour venir recharger les batteries du véhicule. Un autre est le système de monitoring des batteries qui permet d'assurer un équilibrage et un état de charge uniforme entre les différentes cellules qui composent le pack de batteries du véhicule. Dans une optique de mutualisation de fonction du convertisseur de puissance, les convertisseurs en cascade ont été étudiés pour assurer les fonctions de charge et d'équilibrage lorsque la traction du véhicule n'est pas utilisée.

Le point central des travaux exposés dans cette thèse est l'étude des réseaux métalliques de surface appliqué au cas des lasers à cascade quantique (LCQ) émettant dans le moyen infrarouge. Nous avons compris les phénomènes physiques mis en jeu dans ce type de structure au moyen de modèles simples qui ont été des outils puissants d'aide à la conception des composants. Les résultats sont confirmés par les études numériques utilisant le formalisme, plus complexe, des matrices S. L'étude de ces réseaux a abouti à plusieurs réalisations : o L'élaboration de sources monomodes avec un contrôle précis des longueurs d'onde. L'originalité de ces dispositifs réside dans l'interaction, accompagnée de faibles pertes, du champ électromagnétique avec le métal, ce qui a rendu possible la réalisation de LCQs à contre réaction répartie (DFB) fonctionnant en régime continu, à température ambiante. o Le développement de nouveaux dispositifs, de faible divergence, basés sur une combinaison des réseaux métalliques du premier et second ordre. o La démonstration du fort potentiel d'un LCQ couplé optiquement avec une cavité de haute finesse (OF-CEAS : Optical-Feedback Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy) pour la spectroscopie moléculaire de haute sensibilité. Tous ces développements ont démontrés le degré de maturité des réseaux métalliques de surface, bien adaptés aux lasers à cascade quantique pour leur utilisation dans des systèmes de spectroscopie.

Nonlinearities in quantum cascade lasers (QCL¡¯s) have wide applications in wavelength tunability and ultra-short pulse generation. In this thesis, optical nonlinearities in InGaAs/AlInAs-based mid-infrared (MIR) QCL¡¯s with quadruple resonant levels are investigated. Design optimization for the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of the device is presented. Performance characteristics associated with the third-order nonlinearities are also analyzed. The design optimization for SHG efficiency is obtained utilizing techniques from supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) with both material-dependent effective mass and band nonparabolicity. Current flow and power output of the structure are analyzed by self-consistently solving rate equations for the carriers and photons. Nonunity pumping efficiency from one period of the QCL to the next is taken into account by including all relevant electron-electron (e-e) and longitudinal (LO) phonon scattering mechanisms between the injector/collector and active regions. Two-photon absorption processes are analyzed for the resonant cascading triple levels designed for enhancing SHG. Both sequential and simultaneous two-photon absorption processes are included in the rate-equation model. The current output characteristics for both the original and optimized structures are analyzed and compared. Stronger resonant tunneling in the optimized structure is manifested by enhanced negative differential resistance. Current-dependent linear optical output power is derived based on the steady-state photon populations in the active region. The second-harmonic (SH) power is derived from the Maxwell equations with the phase mismatch included. Due to stronger coupling between lasing levels, the optimized structure has both higher linear and nonlinear output powers. Phase mismatch effects are significant for both structures leading to a substantial reduction of the linear-to-nonlinear conversion efficiency. The optimized structure can be fabricated through digitally grading the submonolayer alloys by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). In addition to the second-order nonlinearity, performance characteristics brought by the third-order nonlinearities are also discussed, which include third-harmonic generation (THG) and intensity dependent (Kerr) refractive index. Linear to third-harmonic (TH) conversion efficiency is evaluated based on the phase-mismatched condition. The enhanced self-mode-locking (SML) effect over a typical three-level laser is predicted, which will stimulate further investigations of pulse duration shortening by structures with multiple harmonic levels.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the problem of offer pricing and share issuing in the issuer with a dynamic model. The result shows: First, the correlation between discount and the prosperity of the market is not a linear function. Thus, ¡¥the IPO¡¦s timing¡¦ should be the key issue of issuing firm, which can reasonably explain the fluctuations in underpricing over time. Second, we also discover that the relationship between the ownership structure and the prosperity of the market is not a liner function as what Bolton and Thadden (1998) have claimed. Third, the firm with low quality prefers to release issuing shares in IPO when the market is booming. Fourth, the less the IPO discount in traditional industry, the more the share releasing. Finally, the more the phenomena of subscription, the more the investors subscribe blindly and generate an effect of the cascade. One of the contributions in this model comprises the views between the prosperity of the market and IPO discount in the literature to integrate a profound viewpoint by dividing the IPO discount into the offer pricing error and the market pricing error. Another finding is that the offer pricing error will decrease subject to the prosperity of the market. This is consistent with the viewpoint of Chemmanur (1993) that when the market is booming, the issuers can decrease the cost of adverse choice. As for the non-linear relation between the market pricing error and the prosperity of the market is coordinate with what Ma(1999) has claimed that IPO discount is influenced by the offer pricing and the market pricing. Besides, the non-linear relationship between ownership structure and the prosperity of market can reasonably account for the real situation. Besides, the benefit of controlling authority is better than the value of the cash flow of the released shares owing to the depression of the market, even the market is turning booming. Therefore, the issuers will minimize releasing share. However, the issuers will increasing released shares up to the market is keeping booming and the value of the cash flow of the released shares is better than the benefit of controlling authority. An auction model is established to analyze the choice of firms between fixed-price offerings and auctions. Chemmanur and Liu(2003) stated that obtaining the auction information is more advanced; however, the cost is high so that it can not catch enough investors to produce information which does not favor the discovery of the secondary market price. On the contrary, we proclaim that the information transmitting effect produced by auction will be helpful to the discovery of the secondary market price. Thus, a profitable company but suffers from high levels of information asymmetry prior to the IPO might expect the secondly market price to reflect its real value by auction. Moreover, the choice of underwriting mechanisms lies in the prosperity of the market, the reputation of the company and the degree of the releasing shares. The result of the empirical study is consistant with the expectation of our model.

Modeling of nonlinear systems based on special Hammerstein forms has been considered. In Hammerstein system modeling a static nonlinearity is connected to a dynamic linearity in cascade form. Fundamental contributions of this work are: 1) Introduction of Bezier curve nonlinearity representations / 2) Introduction of B-Spline curve nonlinearity representations instead of polynomials in cascade modeling. As a result, local control in nonlinear system modeling is achieved. Thus, unexpected variations of the output can be modeled more closely. As an important demonstration case, a model is developed and named as Middle East Technical University Neural Networks and Cascade Model (METU-NN-C). Application examples are chosen by considering the Near-Earth space processes, which are important for navigation, telecommunication and many other technical applications. It is demonstrated that the models developed based on the contributions of this work are especially more accurate under disturbed conditions, which are quantified by considering Space Weather parameters. Examples include forecasting of Total Electron Content (TEC), and mapping / estimation of joint angle of simple forced pendulum / estimation of joint angles of spring loaded inverted double pendulum with forced table / identification of Van der Pol oscillator / and identification of speakers. The operation performance results of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001), METU Neural Networks (METU-NN) and METU-NN-C models are compared qualitatively and quantitatively. As a numerical example, in forecasting the TEC by using the METU-NN-C having Bezier curves in nonlinearity representation, the average absolute error is 1.11 TECu. The new cascade models are shown to be promising for system designers and operators.

In this study, Window-based computer program, named Synthesis Software, is developed for designing filters with equal-ripple or maximally flat passbands and general stopbands by using cascade synthesis technique in transformed frequency domain. Synthesis technique is applicable to lumped element and commensurate line distributed element filters with Lowpass, Highpass or Bandpass characteristics. Singly or Doubly terminated filters can be synthesized. friendly environment for typing in the parameters of the filter to be designed. This part uses Synthesis and Plot parts as modules. This software is based on the previous softwares developed in EEE Department of Middle East Technical University. All the previous softwares were gathered in the well-known software Filpro, which is in DOS environment, in Pascal. Thus, the new software is actually a conversion of Synthesis part of Filpro from DOS environment into Windows environment in the language C#, with some improvements in root finding algorithms for numerical conditioning. Synthesis Software is has three parts. The first and main part is the implementation of synthesis technique by using object oriented programming technique. In this way, synthesis technique implementation is isolated from other parts of Synthesis Software and it can be used by other filter design programs as a module. The second part of the program is responseplotting section. In this part Insertion Loss, Return Loss, Time Delay, Phase and Smith Chart responses are calculated and displayed. The last part is User Interface, which provides user

This study presents the results of an experimental study that investigates the effects of uniform/waveform tip injection along the camberline on the total pressure loss characteristics downstream of a row of Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) blades. The experiments are performed in a low speed cascade facility. This injection technique involves spanwise jets at the tip that are issued from a series of holes along the camber line normal to the freestream flow direction. The injection mass flow rate from each hole is individually controlled using computer driven solenoid valves and therefore the flow injection geometrical pattern at the tip can be adjusted to any desired waveform shape, and can be uniform as well as waveform along the camber. Measurements involve Kiel probe traverses for different injection scenarios 0.5 axial chords downstream of the blades. Results show that, instead of performing uniform mass injection along the camberline, by selecting an appropriate waveform injection pattern one can reduce the total loss levels of the blade, including the tip leakage loss as well as the wake losses.

This thesis presents the results of an experimental study that investigates the effects of steady vortex generator jets (VGJs) integrated to a low pressure turbine blade to control the laminar separation bubble occurring on the suction surface of the blade at low Reynolds numbers. The injection technique involves jets issued from the holes located near the suction peak of the test blade which is in the middle of a five-blade low speed linear cascade facility. Three injection cases are tested with different blowing ratio values ranging from low to high. Surface pressure and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are performed. The results show that steady VGJ is effective in eliminating the laminar separation bubble. Also it is observed that to have fully developed attached boundary layer, blowing ratio should be chosen accordingly since a very thin separation zone still exists at low blowing ratios.