SuperCDMS, the next stage of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS), uses cylindrical germa- nium crystals as particle detectors to measure phonon and ionization signals resulting from particle interactions. The aim of CDMS is to identify and measure interactions from dark matter particles (WIMPs). Phonons produced during a particle interaction are absorbed by sensors on the detector surface and are measured through the change in the sensors' temperature dependent resistance. Electrodes on the detector surface create an electric eld causing charges released during an inter- action to drift through the detector and produce an ionization signal. Surface events, which are interactions that occur within a few m from the electrodes, cause a reduced ionization signal due to di usion of some of the initially hot charge carriers into the electrode. Because the ability of CDMS to discriminate between a WIMP interaction and background radiation is based on the ratio of phonon to ionization energies, surface events cause a signal similar to a WIMP interaction and are currently the largest source of background. A detector test facility at Queen's University has been commissioned to characterize detectors and test new detector technology. Multiple detectors have been characterized and many tungsten samples have been measured. Two sets of experiments were performed to test new detector designs. To possibly reduce surface events, an insulating layer was deposited on a germanium detector be- neath the electrode to prevent back di usion of charge into the electrode. To possibly simplify the phonon sensor production process, di erent cryogenic glues were used to attach silicon wafers with a tungsten lm to the crystal surface and phonon propagation through these glues was measured. The most e ective cryogenic glue for coupling tungsten samples to CDMS detectors was found to be Araldite epoxy. Both experiments were successful at measuring interactions. Energy calibrations were performed on both charge and phonon sensors. Further research is required to determine the success of reducing surface events with an insulating layer. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2011-05-30 10:39:02.976

The Dark Triad consists of three overlapping personality traits: Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and Narcissism, (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). This investigation examines two main research goals. The first aims to identify the common traits that occupy the core of the Dark Triad of personality. The literature suggests that the Dark Triad Core traits are low agreeableness (e.g., Jakobwitz & Egan, 2006), aggression (e.g., Kerig & Stellwagen, 2010), impulsivity (e.g., Thomaes, Bushman, De Castro, & Stegge, 2009), low emotional intelligence (e.g., Ali, Amorim & Chamorro-Premuzic, 2009), and potentially low neuroticism (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). The second research goal aims to identify a developmental trajectory of how early life risk factors influence each other and the Dark Triad. The literature suggests that being raised in a low SES environment (e.g., Chapple & Johnson, 2007), experiencing trauma (e.g., Tackett et al., 2009), and being the child of poor parenting styles (e.g., De Clercq et al., 2008), are related to the occurrence of the Dark Triad. An anxious or avoidant attachment style (Loeber & Hay, 1997) and low self-control (Gramzow et al., 2004) may also predict the Dark Triad. Using a sample of 546 adults, the first study demonstrated that the proposed Dark Triad Core traits represent a construct that is overlapping, but not equivalent to, the construct represented by the Dark Triad personality traits. Psychopathy, Machiavellianism, Narcissism, low agreeableness, and aggression load one factor, while aggression, impulsivity, low emotional intelligence, neuroticism, Narcissism and Machiavellianism load a second correlated factor. Using Structural Equation Modeling, several models were tested and a final model was generated that provides a preliminary developmental trajectory of the Dark Triad. This model indicates that poor parenting practices tend to increase the expression of anxious attachment in children. Furthermore, fathers’ poor parenting marginally decreases children’s self-control. Experiencing trauma also tends to increase anxious attachment and decrease self-control in victims. Then, anxious attachment and low self-control influence the expression of the Dark Triad. This line of research begins to define the core of the Dark Triad, while also defining the impact of childhood experiences and personal characteristics in the expression of the Dark Triad. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2012-08-30 14:58:10.637

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, School of Physics, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves [171]-185).

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Physics. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/12/07). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--New England College of Optometry, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-53).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Howard Baer, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Physics. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 27, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Supervisor: Paul R. Shapiro. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-09-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:03:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 sobreira_f_dr_ift.pdf: 3580340 bytes, checksum: 5b2c8fe81dd5d4ebcb30572e1f260ebc (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nesta tese estudamos previsões sobre os erros nos parâmetros cosmológicos usando a forma integral da função de correlação angular de dois pontos em diferentes cenários para o projeto Dark Energy Survey. O modelo adotado tem 26 parâmetros e inclui efeitos de distorção no redshift, erros gaussianos de redshift fotométrico, viés da distribuição de galáxias e matéria escura e não-linearidade no espectro de potência. A matriz de Fisher foi construída usando a matriz de covariância considerando a correlação entre diferentes faixas de redshift. Mostramos que, sobre alguma hipóteses, o Dark Energy Survey será capaz de vincular o parâmetro da equação de estado de energia escura w e o parâmetro da densidade de matéria escura fria 'Ω IND cdm' com incerteza de 21% e 13% respectivamente. Quando combinamos informações de outras observações a precisão na determinação destes parâmetros aumenta para 11% e 4% respectivamente / In this thesis, we study forecasts of cosmological parameters from the upcoming Dark Energy Survey project obtained using the full shape 2-point angular correlation function in different scenarios. The angular correlation function model adopted has 26 parameters and includes the effects of linear redshift space distortion, photometric redshift gaussian errors, galaxy bias and non-linearities in the power spectrum. The Fisher information matrix is constructed with the full covariance matrix, which takes into account the correlation between nearby redshift shells arising from the photometric redshift error. We show that under some resonable assumptions the Dark Energy Survey should be able to constrain the dark energy equation of estate parameter w and the cold dark matter density 'Ω IND cdm' with a precision of the order of 21% and 13% respectively from the full shape of the angular correlation function alone. When combined with priors from other observations the precision in the determination of these parameters increase to 11% and 4% respectively

abstract: The identity and origin of dark matter is one of the more elusive mysteries in the fields of particle physics and cosmology. In the near future, direct dark matter detectors will offer a chance at observing dark matter non-gravitationally for the first time. In this thesis, formalisms are developed to analyze direct detection experiments and to quantify the extent to which properties of the dark matter can be determined. A range of non-standard assumptions about the dark matter are considered, including inelastic scattering, isospin violation and momentum dependent scattering. Bayesian inference is applied to realistic detector configurations to evaluate parameter estimation and model selection ability. A complete set of simplified models for spin-0, spin-1/2 and spin-1 dark matter candidates are formulated. The corresponding non-relativistic operators are found, and are used to derive observational signals for the simplified models. The ability to discern these simplified models with direct detection experiments is demonstrated. In the near future direct dark matter detectors will be sensitive to coherent neutrino scattering, which will limit the discovery potential of these experiments. It was found that eleven of the fourteen non-relativistic operators considered produce signals distinct from coherent scattering, and thus the neutrino background does not greatly affect the discovery potential in these cases. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physics 2016