<div>Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) can induce numerous biophysical phenomena, especially perturbation of the outer and inner membranes, that may be used for applications that include nonthermal pasteurization, enhanced permeabilization of tumors to improve the transport of chemotherapeutics for cancer therapy, and enhanced membrane permeabilization of individual cells to enhance RNA and DNA delivery for gene therapy. The applied electric field and pulse duration determine the density, size, and reversibility of the created membrane pores. PEFs with durations longer than the outer membrane’s charging time will induce pore formation with the potential for application in irreversible electroporation for cancer therapy and microorganism inactivation. Shorter duration PEFs, particularly on the nanosecond timescale (nsPEFs), induce a larger density of smaller membrane pores with the potential to permeabilize intracellular membranes, such as the mitochondria, to induce programmed cell death. Thus, the PEFs can effectively kill multiple types of cells, dependent upon the cells. This thesis assesses the ability of nsPEFs to kill different cell types, specifically microorganisms with and without antibiotics as well as varying the parameters to affect populations of immortalized leukemia cells (Jurkats).</div><div>Antibiotic resistance has been an acknowledged challenge since the initial development of penicillin; however, recent discoveries by the CDC and the WHO of microorganisms resistant to last line of defense drugs combined with predictions of potential infection cases reaching 50 million a year globally and the absence new drugs in the discovery pipeline highlight the need to develop novel ways to combat and overcome these resistance mechanisms. Repurposing drugs, exploring nature for new drugs, and developing enzymes to counter the resistance mechanisms may provide potential alternatives for addressing the scarcity of antibiotics effective against gram-negative infections. One may also leverage the abundance of drugs effective against gram-positive infections by using nsPEFs to make them effective against gram-negative infections, including bacterial species with multiple natural and acquired resistance mechanisms. Numerous drug and microbial combinations for different doses and pulse treatments were tested and presented here.</div><div>Low intensity PEFs may selectively target cell populations at different stages of the cell cycle (quiescence and mitosis) to modify cancer cell population dynamics. Experimental studies of cancer cell growth when exposed to a low number of nsPEFs, while varying pulse duration, field intensity and number of pulses reveals a threshold beyond which cell recovery is not possible, but also a point of diminishing returns if cell death is the intention. A theory comprised of coupled differential equations representing the proliferating and quiescent cells showed how changing PEF parameters altered the behavior of these cell populations after treatment. These results may provide important information on the impact of PEFs with sub-threshold intensities and durations on cell population growth and potential recurrence.</div>

The aim of this master thesis is to design a high voltage source for the generation of bipolar pulses, which are suitable for the process of reversible and irreversible electroporation. Further design is electronic control. The first part of the thesis analyzes the theoretical knowledge about the process of electroporation, the second part describes the principles of realization of such sources, the next part deals with the design of the source and its control. The penultimate part is a description of the user manual and the last part is dedicated to the measurement.

This Master’s project deals with general aspects and possible solution of effective shielded cover and cell/chamber shielding measurement for needs of electromagnetic compatibility EMC on the basis of available norms and standards. Electromagnetic shielding is one of the most anticlutter means of EMC. Its main task is reduction of disturbing emission at the side of sources of disturbing signals as well as electromagnetic resistance increase at the side of disturbing signal receivers. Shielding is considered to be an important structural means to reduce electromagnetic field referring to a defined space part. Technical means for achieving the given goals are called shielded covers or shielded cells/chambers. Shielding is one of highly effective methods related to electromagnetic protection, for instance against power/output disturbance. To express the shielding quality so called shielding effectiveness SE is used. It represents logarithmic rate of shielding coefficient that is defined by the intensity ratios of electric and magnetic fields in a certain point of the shielded space to electric or magnetic field intensity incident/impinging on the shielded screen or wall.

The aim of this master thesis is to design a power source for generating pulsed electric field for the needs of the technological process of electroporation of fruit musts and mashes. To design further the network of switched capacitors and inductors based on the required pulse and to design and implement the basic control unit together with the switching transistors. The thesis will include calculations and simulations used in the draft, also design solutions and measured values. This thesis is divided into several basic parts. In the first part there is discussed in detail the theoretical knowledge of electroporation and the desired characteristics of generated pulses are chosen according to this knowledge. Each part of electroporation workplace is described in the second part of this thesis, beginning from the source through the control system to the electrode chamber. For each of these parts are given different possible alternatives. In the next chapter is already proceeded to the design of the source. There are listed required parameters of the pulses and according to them calculations and the design are gradually carried out. Another chapter deals with the simulations, which are used to verify the calculated values and conditions in the electroporated sample. Last but one part discusses the mechanical design of the workplace. There are described all problems of the construction and commissioning of the product. The last section is dedicated to the workplace measurement and analysis of the measured results.

The aim of this work is to simulate the electric field in the space of busbar HV switchgear. More precisely, the aim is to find a place with the most critical value of the electric field, the design of measures to reduce the size of the field at this point. The simulation was performed using the finite element method program. The simulation found the most critical area. Using the basic physical principles it has been proposed solution. This solution reduced twice the magnitude the electric field in this area.

L'application de champ électrique est connue pour avoir la capacité d'améliorer significativement la stabilité des flammes. A ce sujet, un modèle mathématique permettant de modéliser la combustion en présence d'un champ électrique a été développé. Les équations de l'aérothermochimie sont couplées à des équations de bilan pour les densités des espèces chargées, et une équation de Poisson pour le potentiel électrique est résolue. Une situation principale est étudiée pendant la thèse ; elle concerne la stabilisation de flammes de diffusion par application d’un champ électrique continu ou alternatif.Les résultats obtenus montrent que la présence du champ électrique améliore significativement la stabilisation de la flamme. L’ampleur de cette amélioration dépend de l’intensité et de la polarité de la tension appliquée. Si la tension appliquée est alternative, un facteur supplémentaire s’ajoute pour influencer la stabilisation ; il s’agit de la fréquence. Une interprétation des mécanismes permettant la stabilisation est proposée. / The application of electric field is known to have the ability to improve significantly the flame stability. In this regard, a mathematical approach to model combustion in the presence of an electric field was developed. The Navier-Stokes equations along with transport equations for charged species and the electric potential Poisson’s equation are solved. A main situation, that concerns the stabilization of diffusion flames by applying a direct or alternating electric field, is studied. The results show that the presence of the electric field improves the flame stabilization. The magnitude of this improvement depends on the intensity and polarity of the applied voltage. If the applied voltage is alternating, an additional factor, which is the frequency of the electric current, influences also the extent of the flame stabilization improvement. An interpretation of the stabilization mechanisms is proposed.

Le travail de thèse portant sur « le rôle d’un champ électrique intense sur les phénomènes thermodynamiques et cinétiques mis en jeu au cours de la croissance cristalline d’oxydes », consiste à mettre en œuvre une nouvelle voie de croissance de monocristaux d’oxydes aux propriétés remarquables. A travers l’utilisation d’un champ électrique intense au cours du processus de solidification, nous souhaitons agir sur les équilibres thermodynamiques propres à la cristallisation ainsi que moduler les conditions cinétiques de formation des cristaux dans le but d’obtenir des phases nouvelles, des structures particulières et ainsi obtenir des matériaux aux propriétés nouvelles, exacerbées ou contrôlées. Pour cela, un dispositif spécifique a été conçu dans le but d’introduire, au sein d’un bâti de croissance existant (le four à image), une source de champ électrique intense (plusieurs kV/cm). Des études de modélisation, des observations in situ à la croissance et des analyses de la microstructure et des propriétés des matériaux ont été menées en vue d’appréhender les mécanismes d’influence du champ électrique sur les processus de germination-croissance des cristaux. Ces études soulèvent la grande complexité des interactions entre le champ électrique externe et les milieux ioniques solide et liquide portés à hautes température (conducteurs polarisables). Une influence particulière de l’énergie électrostatique sur les équilibres de phases a été démontrée, notamment à travers une élévation significative de la température de fusion des matériaux en présence du champ électrique [1]. Les résultats associés révèlent que les modèles établis jusqu’à présent [2-4], à savoir une perturbation de l’énergie libre à travers la polarisation des milieux, ne rendent pas compte de l’ensemble des mécanismes sous-jacents à la présence du champ électrique externe. Un modèle de double couche électrique à l’interface de croissance où un champ local intense est créé par des distributions surfaciques de charges semble correspondre au mieux à la description de la nouvelle organisation chimique induite sous champ électrique de manière à rétablir l’équilibre électrostatique. De fait, à l’interface de croissance, les potentiels chimiques des espèces sont principalement influencés par la différence de potentiel électrique locale, déterminée par la nature de la double couche. Par ailleurs, les analyses des microstructures de croissance, notamment ciblées sur l’étape de germination, révèlent que des mécanismes dynamiques de transport de charges couplés aux transferts de chaleur (effets thermoélectriques) agissent très certainement sur les conditions de formation des cristaux. Des analyses élémentaires de cristaux dopés formés sous champ électrique démontrent la capacité de ce dernier à agir sur la ségrégation des espèces et donc, sur les conditions d’équilibres électrostatiques à l’interface de croissance. On distingue ici la possibilité de contrôler, dans une certaine mesure, la stœchiométrie des cristaux formés ainsi que l’incorporation d’espèces qui confèrent aux matériaux des propriétés particulières. En outre, des effets observés sur des orientations de croissance privilégiées sous champ électrique ou encore la formation de défauts par la création de charges d’espace laissent à penser qu’une polarisation in situ de matériaux piézoélectriques ou ferroélectriques serait un objectif atteignable à terme. / This thesis work named “Role of an intense electric field on thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of oxides' crystal growth” lies on the elaboration of a novel way to conduct crystal growth of bulk functional oxides. With the use of an intense electric field during growth, we wish to act on the thermodynamic equilibria taking place during the solidification process and to modulate the kinetic conditions of crystals’ formation with the aim to achieve new crystal phases and structures in order to produce materials with novel, enhanced or controlled properties. Therefore, a specific device of intense electric field production (several kV/cm) that fits inside a mirror furnace has been conceived. The interactions between the external electric field and the ionic solid and liquid media have been investigated through modeling studies, growth in situ observations and analysis of materials’ structure that reveal a complex situation where multiple mechanisms of influence act on the nucleation and growth processes. A notable impact of the electrostatic energy on thermodynamic equilibria has been evidenced, especially on materials’ melting temperature [1]. Moreover, results suggest that the existing models that describe the shifts in thermodynamic equilibria due to displacements of phases’ free energies through a polarization mechanism [2-4] are not sufficient because of the variety of mechanisms that are in stake. The picture of an electric double layer formed at the growth interface where an intense local electric field is created by surface charge distributions seems to be the most reliable conceptualization of the induced chemical organization taking place in order to restore the electrostatic equilibrium under the influence of an external electric field. Thus, at the growth front, the chemical potential of species is mostly influence by the local electric potential that depends upon the electric double layer’s nature. Besides, analysis of the growth microstructures, especially during the nucleation process, reveal that coupling of dynamic charges and heat transports, therefore thermoelectric flux, act upon the growth conditions of crystals. Chemical analysis of doped crystals grown under electric field show that the latter is capable of influencing the segregation of species, which reveals its action on the electrostatic conditions of equilibrium at the interface. Herein, we notice the possibility to control, in a certain extent, the stoichiometry of crystals and the incorporation of chemical elements that impart crystals particular properties. Moreover, some observations of enhanced growth orientations under electric field or some defects formation creating space charges give insights on the possibilities to, at term, conduct in situ polarization of piezoelectric or ferroelectric materials throughout growth under electric field. Finally, an opening on hydrodynamic effects bound to the external electric field reveal the great potentials of the use of an external electric field as an additional parameter to the crystal growth of functional oxides.

Durant ce travail de thèse, nous avons étudié l’effet d’un champ électrique intense (>3 kV.cm-1) sur des matériaux à structures pérovskites, le ferroélastique CaTiO3 et le ferroélectrique BaTiO3. Un tel champ agit comme une force extérieure dans la sélection, l’orientation et la distribution des domaines. Son application durant la croissance modifie la nucléation, le coefficient de partage des espèces et la possible modification du diagramme de phase du matériau considéré. En effet les ions dans un champ électrique voient leur énergie changer ce qui implique un nouvel équilibre thermodynamique. La première partie est dédiée à la croissance cristalline de CaTiO3 lorsque plusieurs paramètres de croissance sont modifiés (vitesse de croissance vG et potentiel électrique V). En faisant varier ces paramètres, nous montrons que nous pouvons contrôler la morphologie du cristal et ainsi altérer l’orientation cristalline des domaines. Des résultats similaires sont retrouvés avec BaTiO3.Plusieurs techniques expérimentales ont été employées dans le but d’étudier la microstructure des composés notamment la microscopie électronique miroir (MEM) et la microscopie électronique à faible énergie (LEEM) afin de caractériser les domaines et parois de domaines à la surface du titanate de calcium. La polarité de ces parois ayant été récemment prouvée, nous avons étudié et comparé le potentiel de surface entre les échantillons qui ont été élaborés sous et sans champ électrique. / In this work, we investigate electric field effect (>3 kV.cm-1) on perovskite compound, CaTiO3 (ferroelastic) and BaTiO3 (ferroelectric). This electric field acts like an external force in selection, orientation and distribution of piezoelectric/ferroelastic domains. The electric field can act on nucleation, the partition coefficient of species and the possible modification phases diagrams of a material during its growth. Indeed ions within an electric field see their energy changing which implies a new thermodynamic equilibrium.In the first part, we discuss about crystal growth of CaTiO3 with different growth parameters (velocity of cristal growth vG, electric potential V). By varying this parameters, we can control crystal shape and can alter the crystalline orientation of domains. Same results are found with BaTiO3.In a second step, we used Mirror Electron Micrsocopy (MEM) and Low Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM) to caracterize domains walls at the surface of calcium titanate. Polarity of domains walls have been prooved recently, and so we have investigated surface potential between samples grown under or without electric field.

This thesis explores the use of nonlinear crystals from theKTiOPO4(KTP) family with the aim to extend the possibleapplications for laser sources and to gain more knowledge aboutthe material’s benefits and limits. The work focussed onoptical parametric oscillators (OPOs) and optical parametricamplifiers (OPAs), which employ second order nonlinearprocesses. Both devices transfer energy from a laser beam at aparticular wavelength to a different wavelength, which istuneable. In OPOs two new beams at different wavelengths aregenerated, whereas in OPAs an existing weak beam is amplified.The essential part of these devices, which enables theoccurrence of the energy conversion, is a nonlinear crystal. Inthis work the ferroelectric crystals KTP and RbTiOPO4(RTP) have been utilized. By modifying the material’s structure,quasi-phasematching can be obtained, which is a crucialrequirement for achieving efficient energy conversion betweenthe incident and the generated waves. The fabrication ofquasi-phasematched crystals is dependent on the controlledreversion of the material’s spontaneous polarisation,which is accomplished by periodic electric field poling. Nanosecond pulses of more than 200 kW were generated in the“eye-safe”region by employing a double pass OPA.Small signal gains exceeding 75 dB were obtained for anessentially diffraction limited beamwithout spectralbroadening of the seed. By subsequent signal coupling intofibres substantial broadening was accomplished. A systematicmeasurement series of several RTP crystals allowed us toaccurately determine the wavelength and temperature dispersionof the refractive index, which are two essential requirementsfor further employment of this material. The OPOs based on RTPwere widely tuneable by controlling the temperature. It wasalso concluded that RTP behaves similar to KTP in parametricdevices, thus being a material, which can sustain high powers,possesses large nonlinear coefficients and can operate in abroad wavelength region.Efficient Raman oscillation concurrent with parametricoscillation was observed and analysed in several KTP samples.This gave further insight into the processes taking placeinside the material when performing as a frequency converter,if the generated idler lies in the absorption band.This thesis also covers the investigation of afemtosecond optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier.Temporally stretched seed pulses were amplified to 85 µJ,resulting in a gain above 60 dB, and subsequent recompressionresulted in 270 fs pulses. <b>Keywords:</b>nonlinear optics, KTiOPO4, optical parametric oscillator, optical parametricamplifier, RbTiOPO4, quasi-phasematching, electric field poling,stimulated Raman scattering. / NR 20140805

Dans cette thèse de doctorat, des simulations numériques basées sur un modèle fluide 2D sont utilisées pour caractériser des jets de plasma d’Hélium pulsés. Le modèle pour les jets de plasma d’Hélium est développé pour décrire des jets qui s’écoulent dans des atmosphères de N2 et O2 et interagissent avec des cibles. La dynamique de la décharge dans les jets d’Hélium impactant une cible métallique à la masse est analysée pour des polarités positive et négative de la tension appliquée. Les évolutions temporelles et spatiales de champ électrique associées au premier front d’ionisation et au front de rebond sont en bon accord qualitatif avec des mesures récentes de champ électrique. Puis, l’interaction plasma cible entre une décharge positive et une cible diélectrique en BSO est examinée en détail et les résultats sont directement comparés aux expériences. Un bon accord est obtenu entre les simulations et les expériences sur les évolutions temporelles et spatiales de champ électrique. Des valeurs maximales de champ électrique dans la cible de 5 kV.cm−1 ont été obtenues expérimentalement et numériquement. Le champ électrique dans le plasma de l’ordre de quelques dizaines de kV.cm−1 est fortement diminué par le changement de permittivité de la cible. Le champ électrique dans la cible est presque exclusivement dû aux fortes valeurs de charges de surface déposées sur la surface de la cible. Finalement, l’influence des évolutions de champ électrique sur la production d’espèces actives près des cibles est évaluée. On démontre qu’avec des cibles métalliques la synergie entre le premier front et le front de rebond augmente la production d’espèces près de la cible. / In this PhD thesis numerical simulations based on a 2D fluid model are used to characterize pulsed Helium plasma jets. The model for He plasma jets is developed to describe He jets flowing in N2 and O2 atmospheres and interacting with targets. The discharge dynamics in He jets impacting a grounded metallic target is analyzed with both positive and negative polarities of applied voltage. The temporal and spatial evolutions of electric field associated to the first and rebound ionization fronts are in good qualitative agreement with recent electric field measurements. Then, the plasma-target interaction occurring between a positive discharge and a BSO dielectric target is investigated in detail and results are directly compared with experiments. A good agreement is obtained between simulations and experiments concerning the temporal and spatial profiles of electric field. Maximum values of electric field inside the target of 5 kV.cm−1 are found. The high electric field in the plasma of the order of dozens of kV.cm−1 is severely depleted by the change of permittivity. As a result, the electric field experienced inside the target is almost exclusively originated by the high values of surface charge deposited on the target surface. Finally, the influence of the electric field evolutions on the production of chemically active species close to the targets is evaluated. It is shown that with metallic targets the synergy between the first and rebound fronts increases species production close to the target.