In this thesis, an adapted form of dynamic Electrostatic Force Microscopy is presented as an alternative technique for non-contact dynamic characterization of beam resonators. The actuation of the test resonant beam was accomplished by applying a modulated signal to a probe cantilever that was positioned closely above the resonant beam. The frequency response of the coupled electrostatic interaction between the conductive beams was studied close to the resonance of the test beams. Modulation of the input signal allowed the test resonator to be actuated without requiring on-chip circuitry, and the probing frequency range kept independent of the resonant frequency of the probe cantilever. The resonant response of three test cantilever beams were experimentally characterized using two softer probe cantilevers. A model was constructed to describe the coupled electrostatic interaction and simulations were performed to compare predictions from the model to experimental data. The amplitude response shape, resonant frequency and quality factor from the model fit well with experimental results, showing that the resonant response of a resonator can be characterized using this technique. However, the phase and voltage variation responses were not well characterized, indicating further work to develop the force expressions in the model is needed. / October 2006

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisor: Michael D. Bryant. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

This work was carried out to investigate the mechanisms of solid-solid separation in electrostatic precipitators. The separation of mixture of pure compounds from each other and the components of an industrial dust has been studied in a wire-and-duct type laboratory-scale electrostatic precipitator. Particle size distribution affected the separation most, but both the dielectric constant and electrical resistivity of the dust can be important. Operating voltage and air velocity in the precipitator also affected the separation along the precipitator length. The SRI computer model of precipitator performance gave reasonable predictions of separation under conditions of negligible re-entrainment. / An apparently unique relationship between separation and recovery was experimentally observed with components which do not re-entrain appreciably; a similar behaviour is theoretically predicted from the Deutsch Equation of collection efficiency or the SRI model.

No description available.

In this thesis, an adapted form of dynamic Electrostatic Force Microscopy is presented as an alternative technique for non-contact dynamic characterization of beam resonators. The actuation of the test resonant beam was accomplished by applying a modulated signal to a probe cantilever that was positioned closely above the resonant beam. The frequency response of the coupled electrostatic interaction between the conductive beams was studied close to the resonance of the test beams. Modulation of the input signal allowed the test resonator to be actuated without requiring on-chip circuitry, and the probing frequency range kept independent of the resonant frequency of the probe cantilever. The resonant response of three test cantilever beams were experimentally characterized using two softer probe cantilevers. A model was constructed to describe the coupled electrostatic interaction and simulations were performed to compare predictions from the model to experimental data. The amplitude response shape, resonant frequency and quality factor from the model fit well with experimental results, showing that the resonant response of a resonator can be characterized using this technique. However, the phase and voltage variation responses were not well characterized, indicating further work to develop the force expressions in the model is needed.

In this thesis, an adapted form of dynamic Electrostatic Force Microscopy is presented as an alternative technique for non-contact dynamic characterization of beam resonators. The actuation of the test resonant beam was accomplished by applying a modulated signal to a probe cantilever that was positioned closely above the resonant beam. The frequency response of the coupled electrostatic interaction between the conductive beams was studied close to the resonance of the test beams. Modulation of the input signal allowed the test resonator to be actuated without requiring on-chip circuitry, and the probing frequency range kept independent of the resonant frequency of the probe cantilever. The resonant response of three test cantilever beams were experimentally characterized using two softer probe cantilevers. A model was constructed to describe the coupled electrostatic interaction and simulations were performed to compare predictions from the model to experimental data. The amplitude response shape, resonant frequency and quality factor from the model fit well with experimental results, showing that the resonant response of a resonator can be characterized using this technique. However, the phase and voltage variation responses were not well characterized, indicating further work to develop the force expressions in the model is needed.

No description available.

Thesis (Diploma)--University of the Witwatersrand.