It is reported that terahertz radiation from 0.69 to 2.54 THz has been sensitively detected in a device consisting of bundles of carbon nanotubes containing single wall metallic carbon nanotubes, quasi-optically coupled through a lithographically fabricated antenna, and a silicon lens. The measured data are consistent with a bolometric detection process in the metallic tubes and the devices show promise for operation well above 4.2 K. Microwave measurements have also been done up to 20GHz. Voltage responsivity got here is comparable to that of the Schottky diode detector. The detection at microwave frequencies are consistent with the diode detection mode. S11 parameters of different devices were measured using microwave probing, and de-embedding process has been done to get the impedances of the SWNTs. A circuit model was fitted based on the measurement data, and different values of the elements of the circuit are extracted. Frequency response from the circuit model is consistent with the experimental data.

In this thesis, four different numerical techniques are implemented for the purpose of simulating resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs). The chosen methods were: piecewise constant transfer matrix (TMM-C), piecewise linear transfer matrix (TMM-L), quantum transmitting boundary method (QTBM), and the Crank-Nicolson method (CN). The numerical methods converged compared with the known analytic simulation for plane waves tunnelling through a single barrier. To better represent the semiconductor-based RTDs, the effective mass approximation was adopted with accompanying modifications to the Hamiltonian operators to ensure the continuity of the wave function and its derivative. Using the Tsu-Esaki formula, the current density was calculated as a function of bias voltage for two different RTD devices. The numerically obtained current density was of the same order of magnitude as referenced experimental values but differed significantly enough to require better models if engineering applications are decided. The models in this thesis were able to display resonant tunnelling and a negative differential resistance (NDR), giving them plausible educational value.

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As switching speeds for DC-DC converter applications keep becoming faster and faster and voltage requirements become smaller and smaller, the need for new device structures becomes more prevalent. Designers of these new structures will need to make sure they take into consideration the different power losses associated with the different structures and make modifications to reduce or if possible eliminate them. A new 30V LDMOS device has been created and is being implemented into a synchronous buck converter for future DC-DC conversions. This new lateral device has a Figure of Merit of 80mÙ*nC, representing a 50% reduction from the conventional trench MOSFET. The only draw back with this new device is that the body diode power loss has increased significantly. There are two principal goals of this research. The first is to reduce the body diode reverse recovery characteristics of a 30V LDMOS transistor without employing an additional Schottky diode, increasing the Figure of Merit, or decreasing the breakdown voltage past 30 volts. The second is to achieve 75% reduction in reverse recovery charge (Qrr) through each solution. Four solutions will be presented in this study and have been verified through extensive ISE-TCAD device and circuit simulation.

More power semiconductors are applying to the aircraft power system to make the system smaller, lighter and more reliable. Average models provide a good solution to system simulation and can also serve as the basis to derive the small signal model for system-level study using linear control theory. A new average modeling approach for three-phase and nine-phase diode rectifiers with improved ac and dc dynamics is proposed in this dissertation. The key assumption is to model the load current using its first-order Taylor Series expansion throughout the entire averaging time span. A thorough comparison in the time domain is given of this model and two additional average models that were developed based on different load current assumptions, using the detailed switching models as the benchmark. The proposed average model is further verified by experimental results. In the frequency domain, the output impedance of a nine-phase diode rectifier is derived, and the sampling effect in the average model is investigated by Fourier analysis. The feeder's impedance before the rectifier is modeled differently in the output impedance in contrast in the equivalent commutation inductance. The average model is applied to the resonance study in a system composed of a synchronous generator, a nine-phase diode rectifier and a motor drive. The Thevenin's and Norton's equivalent circuits are derived to construct a linearized system. The equivalent impedance are derived from the average models, and the source are obtained from the switching circuit by short-circuit or open-circuit. Transfer functions are derived from the harmonic sources to the bus capacitor voltage for resonance study. The relationship between the stability and the resonance is analyzed, and the effect of controllers on the resonance is investigated. Optimization is another system-level application of the average model. A half-bridge circuit with piezoelectric actuator as its load is optimized using genetic algorithm. The optimization provides the possibility to design the actuator and its driving circuit automatically. / Ph. D.

Yes / A tunable band-notch printed monopole antenna is presented, exhibiting a wide impedance bandwidth from 1.5 to 5.5 GHz with good impedance matching (VSWR ≤ 2) and a tunable rejected frequency band from 2.38 to 3.87 GHz. The band-notching is achieved by adding an inner chorded crescent element within a driven element of a similar shape. By varying the value of the varactor which is placed between the inner and outer arcs, the desired variable rejected can be obtained. Simulated and measured results show wide impedance bandwidth with a tunable band notch, stable radiation patterns, and consistent nearly constant gain. The antenna is suitable for mobile and portable applications.

<p> A detailed experimental and theoretical study has been performed on several different photochemical systems. Lead-salt tunable diode lasers operating in the infrared region have been used as diagnostic tools to probe the molecules in these gaseous systems. Knowledge of these systems is expected to be useful in evaluating future schemes of laser isotope separation.</p> <p> In the course of this work a computerized digital technique has been developed that allows molecular parameters such as linestrength and linewidth to be obtained by measuring the infrared absorption on vibrational-rotational transitions of the molecule. Molecular concentrations can then be determined enabling one to gain valuable insight into the chemical processes occurring in the system.</p> <p> The digital technique was first tested on CO2 gas in a multi-pass White cell to verify the validity of the measurements. Subsequently, measurements were performed on mixtures of NH3/N2, NH3/Ar, HTO/H2O, and HTO/air. Those NH3 measurements that could be compared to previous measurements were found to be very accurate. For the HTO system, no previous measurements on linestrength and linewidth for the transitions examined have been performed.</p> <p> Described next is the application of the tunable diode laser diagnostic system to the investigation of infrared multiphoton dissociation of deuterated chloroform immersed in a chloroform bath. The sensitivity of the technique allowed for the measurement of the few parts per million of DCl formed by the photolysis of natural abundance CDCl3 in CHCl3.</p><p> In addition, the feasibility of transient detection with tunable diode lasers was examined. High fluence CO2 laser pulses were used to dissociate C3F6 or C2F3Cl and create CF2 radicals. Current-modulation of the tunable diode laser made it possible to monitor the transient CF2 radicals as they were formed, and as they subsequently decayed. The sensitivity of the transient detection technique was found to be limited by detector noise.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) capable of single photon detection are promising optical sensors for use as receivers in optical wireless communication (OWC) systems. In SPAD-based receivers, the intersymbol interference (ISI) effect caused by dead time is an important drawback that limits performance. In this thesis, we propose two novel SPAD operation receivers to reduce the ISI effect in SPAD-based OWC. To validate the feasibility of these two modes, we design a free-running SPAD front-end circuit with post-layout transient simulation results. This SPAD circuit is improved by a novel mixed passive-active quench and reset front-end circuit that achieves a very short dead time. Based on the traditional free-running mode, we design the clock-driven mode and time-gated mode to reduce the ISI effect through time-controlled operating signals. In this work, we develop a new simulation system to assess the ISI effect in On-Off Keying (OOK) modulated communication and pulse position modulated (PPM) communication. To accurately evaluate these three modes, we build a OWC platform to test our proposed SPAD receiver manufactured by TSMC 65 nm process. The Test results demonstrate that the clock-driven mode and time-gated mode receivers can improve the bit error rate (BER) performance in low data rate communication and high data rate high optical power communication, respectively. Moreover, compared to the free-running mode, the two proposed time-controlled modes achieve higher data rate communication and better noise tolerance ability in SPAD-based OWC. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Optical communication involves using light as a signal to transmit information, and it is currently a highly popular field of research. However, optical receivers used in this type of communication often require specific conditions, which can limit the overall performance of the communication system. To address this issue, we have developed an optical sensor tailored for optical communication. This sensor boasts exceptional sensitivity, allowing it to detect individual particles of light, thereby substantially reducing the demand for signal intensity in the optical communication system. Moreover, we have devised three operational circuits that enhance the sensor's responsiveness to signals under specific communication conditions. We have created a mathematical model to evaluate the proposed optical sensor and the designed circuits, and subsequently manufactured the optical sensor. Both the simulation results and the actual test outcomes unequivocally demonstrate that our proposed sensor has the potential to enhance the performance of optical communication systems.

Light-emitting diode (LED) is an improved light delivery technology that provides better energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and the ability to select a specific wavelength of light. We evaluated the effect of blue and red-LED on performance, behavior, egg quality, hormonal concentration, and prevalence of Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) like E. coli in pullets and laying hens raised in cageree housing system. Results showed that birds raised in blue-LED during the pullet phase had higher body weight and earlier onset of early lay. Red-LED increased the yolk percentage, illustrating that red-LED can stimulate reproduction. Red-LED also decreased the relative spleen percentage, which is an indication of decreased immunity. Overall egg production was not affected by the light treatment. Irrespective of the light treatment, a higher prevalence of APEC like E. coli was found in colonies isolated from the trachea suggesting a possible route of transmission in cageree housing system.

An active core fiber optic gas sensing technique has been developed by using a photonic crystal (PC) hollow core fiber (HCF) as a transducer and a tunable diode laser as a light source for multi-gas sensing. The intrinsic optical absorption signal of an analyte molecule in the near nfrared region is monitored for sensing C2H2,CO2 and NH3. Although the overtone absorptions are known to have low absorption cross-sections, this sensor can detect these gas components down to the parts-per-million (ppm) level by using a 1-meter hollow core fiber as a transducer. This sensor is an example of application of PC-HCF to gas sensor design. The sensitivity of this gas sensing technique can be improved by introducing periodic openings along the fiber, decreasing the hole diameter down to 0.5 mm and using a longer hollow optical fibers. Other advantages of this gas sensing technique include less interference, fast response and potential applications like high temperature, remote and corrosive gas sensing.