The discretization of the stationary diffusion equation with random parameters by the Stochastic Finite Element Method requires the solution of a highly structured but very large linear system of equations. Depending on the stochastic properties of the diffusion coefficient together with the stochastic discretization we consider three solver cases. If the diffusion coefficient is given by a stochastically linear expansion, e.g. a truncated Karhunen-Loeve expansion, and tensor product polynomial stochastic shape functions are employed, the Galerkin matrix can be transformed to a block-diagonal matrix. For the solution of the resulting sequence of linear systems we study Krylov subspace recycling methods whose success depends on the ordering and grouping of the linear systems as well as the preconditioner. If we use complete polynomials for the stochastic discretization instead, we show that decoupling of the Galerkin matrix with respect to the stochastic degrees of freedom is impossible. For a stochastically nonlinear diffusion coefficient, e.g. a lognormal random field, together with complete polynomials serving as stochastic shape functions, we introduce and test the performance of a new Kronecker product preconditioner, which is not exclusively based on the mean value of the diffusion coefficient.

Die Realstruktur des perowskitischen Modellsystems SrTiO3, welches in der Raumgruppe Pm-3m kristallisiert, wird durch die Sauerstoffvakanz als wichtigstem Defekt dominiert. Durch Temperaturbehandlung unter reduzierenden Bedingungen können Sauerstoffvakanzen in die Kristallstruktur eingebracht werden. Aufgrund ihrer positiven Ladung relativ zum Kristallgitter bewegen sie sich im elektrischen Feld entlang des TiO6-Oktaedernetzwerkes. Die Elektroformierung folgt dabei einem Arrheniuszusammenhang, wobei sowohl die Aktivierungsenergie als auch die Mobilität eine deutliche Abhängigkeit von der Kristallorientierung zeigen. Die Umverteilung der Sauerstoffvakanzen führt zu lokalen reversiblen Strukturänderungen, welche die Ausbildung einer neuen migrationsinduzierten feldstabilisierten polaren (MFP) Phase verursachen. In Abhängigkeit von der elektrischen Feldstärke zeichnet sie sich strukturell durch eine tetragonale Verzerrung der ursprünglich kubischen Elementarzelle aus und geht mit dem Verlust der Inversionssymmetrie einher. Die Polarisation in der Struktur wird durch die erwiesene Pyroelektrizität bestätigt und gilt als Grundlage, um anhand eines kristallographischen Symmetrieabstieges die Herleitung der Raumgruppe P4mm zu ermöglichen. Der durch die Migration hervorgerufene intrinsische Defektkonzentrationsgradient ruft eine elektromotorische Kraft hervor, deren Verwendung in einem elektrochemischen Energiespeicher experimentell nachgewiesen wurde. Diese neuen Funktionalitäten sind durch die Anwendung defektchemischer und kristallphysikalischer Konzepte infolge gezielter Materialmodifizierung unter Einfluss von Temperatur und elektrischem Feld zu verstehen. / The real structure of the perovskite-type model system SrTiO3, crystallizing in space group Pm-3m, is dominated by oxygen vacancies as most important defects. They are introduced in the crystal structure through heat-treatment under reducing conditions. Because of their positive charge relative to the crystal lattice, oxygen vacancies move in an electric field along the TiO6 octahedron network. This electroformation process follows an Arrhenius behavior. Both the activation energy and the mobility show an obvious dependence on the crystal orientation. Redistribution of oxygen defects causes local reversible structural changes, which involve the formation of a migration-induced field-stabilized polar (MFP) phase. In dependence on the electric field strength, this is structurally marked by a tetragonal distortion of the original cubic unit cell and accompanied by a loss of inversion symmetry. The polarisation in the crystal structure is confirmed by the proven pyroelectricity and serves for the argumentation to derive the space group P4mm by means of a crystallographic symmetry descent. The migration-induced intrinsic concentration gradient of oxygen vacancies leads to an electromotive force, whose application as electrochemical energy storage was proven experimentally. These new functionalities are explainable using defect chemistry and crystal physics in consequence of specific material modifications under the influence of temperature and external electric fields.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Einfluss klimarelevanter Parameter (Temperatur und Sonneneinstrahlung) auf die Reduzierung der Infiltrationskapazität untersucht. Des Weiteren wurde getestet, inwieweit sich die Infiltrationskapazität nach Entfernen der oberen, kolmatierten Bodenschicht im Infiltrationsbecken wiederherstellen lässt. Darüber hinaus wurden Methoden auf Grundlage des Bodenwassergehaltes entwickelt, mit denen eine Abschätzung des fortschreitenden Kolmatierungszustandes möglich ist. Um diese Ziele zu erreichen, wurden drei Versuchseinheiten im Feld und Labor aufgebaut.:Abstract Zusammmenfassung Resumen Acknowledgments List of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acronyms 1 Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Thesis structure 2 Theoretical background 2.1 Managed aquifer recharge 2.2 Clogging in MAR 2.3 Management of clogging 2.4 MAR-relevant soil parameters 2.4.1 Hydraulic conductivity 2.4.2 Soil water content 2.4.3 Electrical conductivity 2.5 MAR-relevant climate properties 2.5.1 Solar irradiance 2.5.2 Temperature 3 Site description 3.1 Study area 3.2 Climate 3.3 Elbe River 3.4 Hydrogeology 4 Methodology 4.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basin recharge 4.1.1 Temperature 4.1.2 Solar irradiance 4.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 4.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 4.3.1 Tracer method 4.3.2 Libardi method 4.3.3 Root mean square method 4.3.4 Water content method 4.3.5 Trigger time method 5 Results and discussion 5.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basins 5.1.1 Temperature 5.1.2 Solar irradiance 5.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 5.2.1 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in field unit 5.2.2 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in lab units 5.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 5.3.1 Tracer method 5.3.2 Libardi method 5.3.3 Root mean square method 5.3.4 Water content method 5.3.5 Trigger time method 5.3.6 Validation process 6 Conclusions 7 Limitations and outlook 8 Bibliography A.1. List of publications A.1.1 List of peer reviewed journal articles A.1.2 List of conference proceedings (only first author) A.2 Geology of the Elbtal Group A.3 Supplementary material / This thesis determines the influence of climate related parameters (temperature and solar irradiance) in the reduction of infiltration capacity in different hydraulic scenarios. It also investigated the efficiency of a recovery method of already clogged infiltration ponds, and finally it developed methods based on soil water content to anticipate severe clogging states. For these objectives, three physical experimental models were constructed in the field and laboratory of the INOWAS research group, located in the city of Pirna, Germany.:Abstract Zusammmenfassung Resumen Acknowledgments List of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acronyms 1 Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Thesis structure 2 Theoretical background 2.1 Managed aquifer recharge 2.2 Clogging in MAR 2.3 Management of clogging 2.4 MAR-relevant soil parameters 2.4.1 Hydraulic conductivity 2.4.2 Soil water content 2.4.3 Electrical conductivity 2.5 MAR-relevant climate properties 2.5.1 Solar irradiance 2.5.2 Temperature 3 Site description 3.1 Study area 3.2 Climate 3.3 Elbe River 3.4 Hydrogeology 4 Methodology 4.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basin recharge 4.1.1 Temperature 4.1.2 Solar irradiance 4.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 4.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 4.3.1 Tracer method 4.3.2 Libardi method 4.3.3 Root mean square method 4.3.4 Water content method 4.3.5 Trigger time method 5 Results and discussion 5.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basins 5.1.1 Temperature 5.1.2 Solar irradiance 5.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 5.2.1 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in field unit 5.2.2 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in lab units 5.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 5.3.1 Tracer method 5.3.2 Libardi method 5.3.3 Root mean square method 5.3.4 Water content method 5.3.5 Trigger time method 5.3.6 Validation process 6 Conclusions 7 Limitations and outlook 8 Bibliography A.1. List of publications A.1.1 List of peer reviewed journal articles A.1.2 List of conference proceedings (only first author) A.2 Geology of the Elbtal Group A.3 Supplementary material / Esta tesis investigó la influencia de los parámetros relacionados con el clima (temperatura e irradiancia solar) en la reducción de la capacidad de infiltración. También determinó la eficiencia de recuperación de piscinas de infiltración obstruidas después del raspado de la capa superior y finalmente desarrolló métodos basados en el contenido de agua en el suelo para anticipar estados de obstrucción severos. Para estos objetivos se construyeron tres modelos experimentales físicos en el campo y laboratorio del grupo de investigación INOWAS, ubicado en la ciudad de Pirna, Alemania.:Abstract Zusammmenfassung Resumen Acknowledgments List of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acronyms 1 Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Thesis structure 2 Theoretical background 2.1 Managed aquifer recharge 2.2 Clogging in MAR 2.3 Management of clogging 2.4 MAR-relevant soil parameters 2.4.1 Hydraulic conductivity 2.4.2 Soil water content 2.4.3 Electrical conductivity 2.5 MAR-relevant climate properties 2.5.1 Solar irradiance 2.5.2 Temperature 3 Site description 3.1 Study area 3.2 Climate 3.3 Elbe River 3.4 Hydrogeology 4 Methodology 4.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basin recharge 4.1.1 Temperature 4.1.2 Solar irradiance 4.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 4.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 4.3.1 Tracer method 4.3.2 Libardi method 4.3.3 Root mean square method 4.3.4 Water content method 4.3.5 Trigger time method 5 Results and discussion 5.1 Influence of climate on infiltration basins 5.1.1 Temperature 5.1.2 Solar irradiance 5.2 Management of clogging in spreading basins 5.2.1 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in field unit 5.2.2 Recovery of infiltration capacity by scraping in lab units 5.3 Determination of infiltration capacity using water content 5.3.1 Tracer method 5.3.2 Libardi method 5.3.3 Root mean square method 5.3.4 Water content method 5.3.5 Trigger time method 5.3.6 Validation process 6 Conclusions 7 Limitations and outlook 8 Bibliography A.1. List of publications A.1.1 List of peer reviewed journal articles A.1.2 List of conference proceedings (only first author) A.2 Geology of the Elbtal Group A.3 Supplementary material

Der Vortrag erläutert das Grundprinzip des Diffie-Hellman-Schlüsseltausches mithilfe des diskreten Logarithmus unter Zuhilfenahme elliptischer Kurven über endlichen Körpern.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects that a magnetic field can induce during the electrodeposition of Ni and Ni-Fe alloys. Special regard was given to mass transport controlled effects. Magnetic field effects on the nucleation and growth of ferromagnetic layers and on the properties of electrodeposited layers (like grain size, texture, morphology or roughness) were investigated. The influence of a magnetic field on the magnetic properties of Ni layers and on the composition of Ni-Fe alloys was also studied. Nucleation and growth of thin Ni layers on gold electrodes under a superimposed magnetic field were analysed in-situ with the Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance technique. Three theoretical models were chosen for characterizing the Ni nucleation: Scharifker-Hills (SH), Scharifker-Mostany (SM) and Heerman-Tarallo (HT). The AFM images proved that more nuclei appear in a magnetic field in the case that the Lorentz force and the natural convection act in the same direction. From all the models, the HT model gave the best agreement with the AFM results. When the Lorentz force and the natural convection act in the same direction, an increase of the Ni partial current with the magnetic field was obtained. When they act in opposite directions, the Ni current was influenced just at the beginning of deposition (first 10 seconds). At longer times, the magnetic field has no effect on the Ni current. However, the total current (jNi+jHER) decreases with the magnetic field. In the absence of a macroscopic MHD convection, the Ni current decreases with the magnetic field the first 10-15 seconds of deposition. On longer time scales no influence of the magnetic field could be noticed for this configuration. When the magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the electric current, an increase of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with the magnetic flux density was noticed. Hydrogen reduction is mass transport controlled. Therefore, the magnetic field will increase the limiting current of the HER. Optical microscopy images showed that the hydrogen bubbles were circular in the absence of the MHD convection and that they presented a tail when a Lorentz force was present. The direction of the tail depends on the net force induced by the natural and MHD convections. The interplay between the natural and MHD convections proved to be important during Ni-Fe alloy deposition, too. When the Lorentz force and the natural convection act in the same direction, an increase of the Fe content of the alloys with the magnetic field was observed. When the Lorentz force was perpendicular to the natural convection, no significant changes were observed in the composition of the layers. The alloy composition did not change with the magnetic field when the electric current was parallel to the magnetic field lines. Two surfactants were used in the case that Ni was electrodeposited from a sulfamate bath: SDS and sulfirol 8. The Ni layers obtained from a sulfamate bath with sulfirol 8 presented larger grains compared to the layers deposited from a bath free of surfactants. This increase of the grain size was attributed to the incorporation of the surfactant in the deposit. Coarser layers were obtained in a magnetic field (applied perpendicular to the electric current) when the electrodeposition was done from an electrolyte with surfactants. The number of grains increased with the magnetic field for the Ni layers electrodeposited from a bath free of surfactants and for a bath with SDS. As a consequence, the grain size decreased. In the case of the electrolyte with sulfirol 8, the number of grains decreased with the magnetic field, and their size increased. For the Ni-Fe alloys, which contained less than 10 at% Fe, the preferred crystalline orientation changes from (220), in the absence of a magnetic field, to (111), (when the magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the electric current). When the magnetic field lines were parallel to the electric current, both the (111) and (220) textures were preferred in almost the same proportion. As a general conclusion of this work it can be said that by choosing the right experimental condition, one can improve the morphology and the properties of the deposited layers by applying a magnetic field. At the same time, the mass transport processes can be influenced by a magnetic field.

Die Entwicklung Freier-Elektronen-Laser und einer neuen Generation von Strahlungsquellen erlaubt die Realisierung hoher Intensitäten und kurzer Pulsdauern. Im Regime niedriger Laserintensitäten war bisher die Dipolnäherung recht erfolgreich bei der Beschreibung der durch die Licht-Materie-Wechselwirkung erzeugten Dynamik, wodurch viele experimentell beobachtete Resultate reproduziert werden konnten. Bei den durch die neuen Strahlungsqullen erzeugten bisher unerreichten Intensitäten und Rönten-Wellenlängen kann die Dipolnäherung allerdings zusammenbrechen. Höhere Multipol-Wechselwirkungen, die mit dem Strahlungsdruck assoziiert werden, sollten dann erwartungsgemäß wichtig zur genauen Beschreibung der Wechselwirkungsdynamiken werden. In dieser Arbeit wird eine Methode zur Lösung der nichtrelativistischen zeitabhängigen Schrödingergleichung zur Beschreibung von Systemen mit einem einzelnen aktiven Elektron, das mit einem Laserfeld wechselwirkt, über die Dipolnäherung hinausgehend erweitert. Dabei wird sowohl die Taylor- als auch die Rayleight-Multipolentwicklung des Retardierungsterms ebener Wellen verwendet. Es wird erwartet, dass die Berücksichtigung höherer Ordnungen der Multipolwechselwirkung zu einer erhöhten Genauigkeit und Richtigkeit der Resultate führen. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, dass die Rayleigh-Multipolentwicklung für gleiche Laserparameter genauer ist und schneller zur Konvergenz der numerischen Rechnung führt. Die nicht-Dipoleffekte spiegeln is sowohl in den differentiellen als auch den totalen Ionisierungswahrscheinlichkeiten in Form von erhöhten Ionisierungsausbeuten, verzerrten ATI Strukturen und einer Asymmetrie in der Photoelektronenwinkelverteilung in der Polarisations und Propagationsrichtung wider. Es wird beobachtet, dass die nicht-Dipoleffekte mit der Intensität, Wellenlänge und Pulsdauer zunehmen. Es werden Ergebnisse sowohl für das Wasserstoffatom als auch das Heliumatom gezeigt. / The development of free-electron lasers and new generation light sources is enabling the realisation of high intensities and short pulse durations. In the weak-field intensity regime, the electric dipole approximation has been quite successful in describing the light-matter interaction dynamics reproducing many of the experimentally observed features. But at the unprecedented intensities and x-ray wavelengths produced by the new light sources, the electric dipole approximation is likely to break down. The role of higher multipole-order terms in the interaction Hamiltonian, associated with the radiation pressure, is then expected to become important in the accurate description of the interaction dynamics. This study extends the solution of the non-relativistic time dependent Schrödinger equation for a single active electron system interacting with short intense laser pulses beyond the standard dipole approximation. This is realized using both the Taylor and the Rayleigh plane-wave multipole expansion series of the spatial retardation term. The inclusion of higher multipole-order terms of the interaction is expected to increase the validity and accuracy of the calculated observables relative to the experimental measurements. In addition, it is shown that for equivalent laser parameters the Rayleigh multipole expansion series is more accurate and efficient in numerical convergence. The investigated non-dipole effects manifest in both differential and total ionization probabilities in form of the increased ion yields, the distorted above-threshold-ionization structure, and asymmetry of the photoelectron angular distribution in both polarization and propagation directions. The non-dipole effects are seen to increase with intensity, wavelength, and pulse duration. The results for hydrogen as well as helium atom are presented in this study.

Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Untersuchung generischer Synchronisierungsphänomene in interagierenden komplexen Systemen. Diese Phänomene werden u.a. in gekoppelten deterministischen chaotischen Systemen beobachtet. Bei sehr schwachen Interaktionen zwischen individuellen Systemen kann ein Übergang zum schwach kohärenten Verhalten der Systeme stattfinden. In gekoppelten zeitkontinuierlichen chaotischen Systemen manifestiert sich dieser Übergang durch den Effekt der Phasensynchronisierung, in gekoppelten chaotischen zeitdiskreten Systemen durch den Effekt eines nichtverschwindenden makroskopischen Feldes.<br /> Der Übergang zur Kohärenz in einer Kette lokal gekoppelter Oszillatoren, beschrieben durch Phasengleichungen, wird im Bezug auf die Symmetrien des Systems untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, daß die durch die Symmetrien verursachte Reversibilität des Systems nichttriviale topologische Eigenschaften der Trajektorien bedingt, so daß das als dissipativ konstruierte System in einem ganzen Parameterbereich quasi-Hamiltonische Züge aufweist, d.h. das Phasenvolumen ist im Schnitt erhalten, und die Lyapunov-Exponenten sind paarweise symmetrisch.<br /> Der Übergang zur Kohärenz in einem Ensemble global gekoppelter chaotischer Abbildungen wird durch den Verlust der Stabilität des entkoppelten Zustandes beschrieben. Die entwickelte Methode besteht darin, die Selbstkonsistenz des makroskopischen Feldes aufzuheben, und das Ensemble in Analogie mit einem Verstärkerschaltkreis mit Rückkopplung durch eine komplexe lineare Übertragungssfunktion zu charakterisieren.<br /> Diese Theorie wird anschließend für einige theoretisch interessanten Fälle verallgemeinert. / Subject of this work is the investigation of generic synchronization phenomena in interacting complex systems. These phenomena are observed, among all, in coupled deterministic chaotic systems. At very weak interactions between individual systems a transition to a weakly coherent behavior of the systems can take place. In coupled continuous time chaotic systems this transition manifests itself with the effect of phase synchronization, in coupled chaotic discrete time systems with the effect of non-vanishing macroscopic mean field.<br /> Transition to coherence in a chain of locally coupled oscillators described with phase equations is investigated with respect to the symmetries in the system. It is shown that the reversibility of the system caused by these symmetries results to non-trivial topological properties of trajectories so that the system constructed to be dissipative reveals in a whole parameter range quasi-Hamiltonian features, i.e. the phase volume is conserved on average and Lyapunov exponents come in symmetric pairs.<br /> Transition to coherence in an ensemble of globally coupled chaotic maps is described with the loss of stability of the disordered state. The method is to break the self-consistensy of the macroscopic field and to characterize the ensemble in analogy to an amplifier circuit with feedback with a complex linear transfer function.<br /> This theory is then generalized for several cases of theoretic interest.

Electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of strong sources of radiation (e.g. radar and broadcasting) can exceed the limits mentioned in the national standards for the exposition of persons. Field probes are needed to warn personnel if they are going too close to the RF-sources. For acceptance reasons the field probes should be universal in such a way that no user adjustment of frequency is required. The limits for power density, electric and magnetic field strength depend on the frequency. In contrast, field probes covering a large frequency range, e.g. 1 MHz to 18 GHz or even larger, normally have a flat frequency response. Therefore, the person using the field probe has to know the frequency of the electromagnetic field and to evaluate fieldstrength with respect to the frequency dependent limit value defined by law. Human mistakes while making that evaluation can lead to expositions above the limit value. On the other hand, the evaluation of the power density in the presence of multiple strong sources of radiation at different frequencies with different limit values also leads to measurement problems. A new approach has been undertaken to overcome these difficulties in the development of a rectifying field probe. It consists in shaping the antenna factor of the probe inversely proportional to the limit value. The isotropic response of field probes can be achieved, if three dipole antennas are arranged perpendicular to each other. The presence of dielectric supporting material leads to degradation of the isotropic response of such a field probe. The effect will be investigated. For typical substrates the isotropic response is degraded by up to 3.8 dB. An compensation for this effect will be proposed that leads to a residual unisotropic response of less than 0.2 dB.

In this thesis multidomain states in magnetically ordered systems with competing long-range and short range interactions are under consideration. In particular, in antiferromagnetically coupled multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy unusual multidomain textures can be stabilized due to a close competition between long-range demagnetization fields and short-range interlayer exchange coupling. These spatially inhomogeneous magnetic textures of regular multidomain configurations and irregular networks of topological defects as well as complex magnetization reversal processes are described in the frame of the phenomenological theory of magnetic domains. Using a modified model of stripe domains it is theoretically shown that the competition between dipolar coupling and antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling causes an instability of ferromagnetically ordered multidomain states and results in three possible ground states: ferromagnetic multidomain state, antiferromagnetic homogeneous and antiferromagnetic multidomain states. The presented theory allows qualitatively to define the area of existence for each of these states depending on geometrical and material parameters of multilayers. In antiferromagnetically coupled superlattices with perpendicular anisotropy an applied magnetic bias field stabilizes specific multidomain states, so-called metamagnetic domains. A phenomenological theory developed in this thesis allows to derive the equilibrium sizes of metamagnetic stripe and bubble domains as functions of the antiferromagnetic exchange, the magnetic bias field, and the geometrical parameters of the multilayer. The magnetic phase diagram includes three different types of metamagnetic domain states, namely multidomains in the surface layer and in internal layers, and also mixed multidomain states may arise. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of step-like magnetization reversal shows a good agreement between the theory and experiment. Analytical equations have been derived for the stray field components of these multidomain states in perpendicular multilayer systems. In particular, closed expressions for stray fields in the case of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic stripes are presented. The theoretical approach provides a basis for the analysis of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images from this class of nanomagnetic systems. Peculiarities of the MFM contrast have been calculated for realistic tip models. These characteristic features in the MFM signals can be employed for the investigations of the different multidomain modes. The methods developed for stripe-like magnetic domains are employed to calculate magnetization processes in twinned microstructures of ferromagnetic shape-memory materials. The remarkable phenomenon of giant magnetic field induced strain transformations in such ferromagnetic shape memory alloys as Ni-Mn-Ga, Ni-Mn-Al, or Fe-Pd arises as an interplay of two physical effects: (i) A martensitic transition creating competing phases, i.e. crystallographic domains or variants, which are crystallographically equivalent but have different orientation. (ii) High uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy that pins the magnetization vectors along certain directions of these martensite variants. Then, an applied magnetic field can drive a microstructural transformation by which the martensitic twins, i.e. the different crystallographic domains, are redistributed in the martensitic state. Within the phenomenological (micromagnetic) theory the equilibrium parameters of multivariant stripe patterns have been derived as functions of the applied field for an extended single-crystalline plate. The calculated magnetic phase diagram allows to give a detailed description of the magnetic field-driven martensitic twin rearrangement in single crystals of magnetic shape-memory alloys. The analysis reveals the crucial role of preformed twins and of the dipolar stray-field energy for the magnetic-field driven transformation process in magnetic shape-memory materials. This work has been done in close collaboration with a group of experimentalists from Institute of Metallic Materials of IFW Dresden, Germany and San Jose Research Center of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, United States. Comparisons between theoretical and experimental data from this cooperation are presented throughout this thesis as vital part of my work on these different subjects.

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