Tato diplomová práce se zabývá teorií fraktálů a popisuje patričné potíže při zavedení pojmu fraktál. Dále se v práci navrhuje několik metod, které se použijí na aproximaci fraktálních dimenzí různých množin zobrazených na zařízeních s konečným rozlišením. Tyto metody se otestují na takových množinách, jejichž dimenze známe, a na závěr se výsledky porovnávají.

Existuje mnoho různých způsobů jak analyzovat disperzní systémy a fyzikálně chemické processy ke kterým v takových systémech dochází. Tato práce byla zaměřena na charakterizaci těchto procesů pomocí metod harmonické fraktální analýzy. Obrazová data sledovaných systémů byly analyzovány pomocí waveletové analýzy. V průběhu práce byly navrženy různé optimalizace samotné analýzy, převážně zaměřené na odstranění manuálních operací během analýzy a tyto optimalizace byly také inkorporovány do softérového vybavení pro Harmonickou Fraktální Analýzu HarFA, který je vyvíjen na Fakultě chemické, VUT Brno.

Fluoride in drinking water can lead to a crippling disease called fluorosis. As there is no cure for fluorosis, prevention is the only means of controlling the disease and research into fluoride remediation is critical. This work begins by providing a new approach to assessing fluoride remediation strategies using a combination of groundwater chemistry, saturation indices, and multivariate statistics based on the results of a large groundwater survey performed in a fluoride-contaminated region of India. From the Indian groundwater study, it was noted that one technique recommended for defluoridation involved using hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) as a solid phase sorbent for fluoride. This prompted investigation of bacteriogenic iron oxides (BIOS), a biogenic form of HFO, as a means of approaching bioremediation of fluoride. Batch sorption experiments at ionic strengths ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 M KNO3 and time course kinetic studies with BIOS and synthetic HFO were conducted to ascertain total sorption capacities (ST), sorption constants (Ks), and orders of reaction (n), as well as forward (kf) and reverse (kr) rate constants. Microcosm titration experiments were also conducted with BIOS and HFO in natural spring water from a groundwater discharge zone to evaluate fluoride sorption under field conditions. This thesis contributes significant, new information regarding the interaction between fluoride and BIOS, advancing knowledge of fluoride remediation and covering new ground in the uncharted field of fluoride bioremediation.

Classical partial transport barriers govern both classical and quantum dynamics of generic Hamiltonian systems. Chaotic eigenstates of quantum systems are known to localize on either side of a partial barrier if the flux connecting the two sides is not resolved by means of Heisenberg's uncertainty. Surprisingly, in open systems, in which orbits can escape, chaotic resonance states exhibit such a localization even if the flux across the partial barrier is quantum mechanically resolved. We explain this using the concept of conditionally invariant measures by introducing a new quantum mechanically relevant class of such fractal measures. We numerically find quantum-to-classical correspondence for localization transitions depending on the openness of the system and on the decay rate of resonance states. Moreover, we show that the number of long-lived chaotic resonance states that localize on one particular side of the partial barrier is described by an individual fractal Weyl law. For a generic phase space, this implies a hierarchy of fractal Weyl laws, one for each region of the hierarchical decomposition of phase space.

La sédimentation des suspensions aqueuses de particules minérales microniques, polydisperses et concentrées a été analysée à l’aide du Turbiscan MA 2000 fondé sur la diffusion multiple de la lumière, en vue d’établir la procédure qui permet de déceler la présence d’une morphologie fractale, puis de déduire les règles de comportements des suspensions fractales par la modélisation avec les réseaux de neurones. Le domaine des interactions interparticulaires physicochimiques (0 à 10% volumique en solide) a été privilégié.La méthodologie de détermination de la structure multifractale des agglomérats et de la suspension a été proposée. La modification structurale des agglomérats qui est à l’origine de comportements non linéaires des suspensions et qui dépend des propriétés cohésives des particules primaires, est interprétée par la variation de la mobilité électrophorétique des particules en suspension. Une approche d’estimation de ces modifications structurales par les réseaux de neurones, à travers la dimension fractale, a été présentée. Les limites du modèle à assimiler ces comportements particuliers ont été expliquées comme résultant du faible nombre d’exemples et de la grande variabilité des mesures aux faibles fractions volumiques en solide. / The sedimentation of aqueous suspensions of micron-sized mineral particles, polydisperses and concentrated, was analyzed using the Turbiscan MA 2000 based on the multiple light scattering in order to establish the procedure to detect the presence of a fractal morphology, and then to deduce the set of laws of fractal behavior of suspensions by modeling with neural networks. The methodology for determining the multifractal structure of agglomerates and the suspension was proposed. The structural modifications of the agglomerates at the origin of the nonlinear behavior of suspensions and which depends on cohesive properties of primary particles, is interpreted by the change of the electrophoretic mobility of suspended particles. The estimation by neural networks of these structural changes, through the fractal dimension has been presented. The limits of the model to learn these specific behaviors have been explained as resulting from the low number of examples and the great variability in the measurements at low volume fractions of solid.

Visible and near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has been demonstrated to be a fast and cheap tool for estimating a large number of chemical and physical soil properties, and effective features extracted from spectra are crucial to correlating with these properties. We adopt a novel methodology for feature extraction of soil spectroscopy based on fractal geometry. The spectrum can be divided into multiple segments with different step–window pairs. For each segmented spectral curve, the fractal dimension value was calculated using variation estimators with power indices 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0. Thus, the fractal feature can be generated by multiplying the fractal dimension value with spectral energy. To assess and compare the performance of new generated features, we took advantage of organic soil samples from the large-scale European Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS). Gradient-boosting regression models built using XGBoost library with soil spectral library were developed to estimate N, pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents. Features generated by a variogram estimator performed better than two other estimators and the principal component analysis (PCA). The estimation results for SOC were coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.85, root mean square error (RMSE) = 56.7 g/kg, the ratio of percent deviation (RPD) = 2.59; for pH: R2 = 0.82, RMSE = 0.49 g/kg, RPD = 2.31; and for N: R2 = 0.77, RMSE = 3.01 g/kg, RPD = 2.09. Even better results could be achieved when fractal features were combined with PCA components. Fractal features generated by the proposed method can improve estimation accuracies of soil properties and simultaneously maintain the original spectral curve shape.

Nous présentons dans cette thèse des théorèmes de point fixe pour des contractions multivoques définies sur des espaces métriques, et, sur des espaces de jauges munis d’un graphe. Nous illustrons également les applications de ces résultats à des inclusions intégrales et à la théorie des fractales. Cette thèse est composée de quatre articles qui sont présentés dans quatre chapitres. Dans le chapitre 1, nous établissons des résultats de point fixe pour des fonctions multivoques, appelées G-contractions faibles. Celles-ci envoient des points connexes dans des points connexes et contractent la longueur des chemins. Les ensembles de points fixes sont étudiés. La propriété d’invariance homotopique d’existence d’un point fixe est également établie pour une famille de Gcontractions multivoques faibles. Dans le chapitre 2, nous établissons l’existence de solutions pour des systèmes d’inclusions intégrales de Hammerstein sous des conditions de type de monotonie mixte. L’existence de solutions pour des systèmes d’inclusions différentielles avec conditions initiales ou conditions aux limites périodiques est également obtenue. Nos résultats s’appuient sur nos théorèmes de point fixe pour des G-contractions multivoques faibles établis au chapitre 1. Dans le chapitre 3, nous appliquons ces mêmes résultats de point fixe aux systèmes de fonctions itérées assujettis à un graphe orienté. Plus précisément, nous construisons un espace métrique muni d’un graphe G et une G-contraction appropriés. En utilisant les points fixes de cette G-contraction, nous obtenons plus d’information sur les attracteurs de ces systèmes de fonctions itérées. Dans le chapitre 4, nous considérons des contractions multivoques définies sur un espace de jauges muni d’un graphe. Nous prouvons un résultat de point fixe pour des fonctions multivoques qui envoient des points connexes dans des points connexes et qui satisfont une condition de contraction généralisée. Ensuite, nous étudions des systèmes infinis de fonctions itérées assujettis à un graphe orienté (H-IIFS). Nous donnons des conditions assurant l’existence d’un attracteur unique à un H-IIFS. Enfin, nous appliquons notre résultat de point fixe pour des contractions multivoques définies sur un espace de jauges muni d’un graphe pour obtenir plus d’information sur l’attracteur d’un H-IIFS. Plus précisément, nous construisons un espace de jauges muni d’un graphe G et une G-contraction appropriés tels que ses points fixes sont des sous-attracteurs du H-IIFS. / In this thesis, we present fixed point theorems for multivalued contractions defined on metric spaces, and, on gauge spaces endowed with directed graphs. We also illustrate the applications of these results to integral inclusions and to the theory of fractals. chapters. In Chapter 1, we establish fixed point results for the maps, called multivalued weak G-contractions, which send connected points to connected points and contract the length of paths. The fixed point sets are studied. The homotopical invariance property of having a fixed point is also established for a family of weak G-contractions. In Chapter 2, we establish the existence of solutions of systems of Hammerstein integral inclusions under mixed monotonicity type conditions. Existence of solutions to systems of differential inclusions with initial value condition or periodic boundary value condition are also obtained. Our results rely on our fixed point theorems for multivalued weak G-contractions established in Chapter 1. In Chapter 3, those fixed point results for multivalued G-contractions are applied to graph-directed iterated function systems. More precisely, we construct a suitable metric space endowed with a graph G and an appropriate G-contraction. Using the fixed points of this G-contraction, we obtain more information on the attractors of graph-directed iterated function systems. In Chapter 4, we consider multivalued maps defined on a complete gauge space endowed with a directed graph. We establish a fixed point result for maps which send connected points into connected points and satisfy a generalized contraction condition. Then, we study infinite graph-directed iterated function systems (H-IIFS). We give conditions insuring the existence of a unique attractor to an H-IIFS. Finally, we apply our fixed point result for multivalued contractions on gauge spaces endowed with a graph to obtain more information on the attractor of an H-IIFS. More precisely, we construct a suitable gauge space endowed with a graph G and a suitable multivalued G-contraction such that its fixed points are sub-attractors of the H-IIFS.

Ce travail de thèse de doctorat propose et évalue différentes solutions pour caractériser, avec des outils optiques et électromagnétiques non intrusifs, les nanoparticules et agrégats observés dans différents systèmes physiques : suspensions colloïdales, aérosols et plasma poussiéreux. Deux types de modèles sont utilisés pour décrire la morphologie d'agrégats fractals (p. ex. : suies issues de la combustion) et agrégats compacts (qualifiés de « Buckyballs » et observés dans des aérosols produits par séchage de nano suspensions). Nous utilisons différentes théories et modèles électromagnétiques (T-Matrice et approximations du type dipôles discrets) pour calculer les diagrammes de diffusion (ou facteur de structure optique) de ces agrégats, de même que leurs spectres d'extinction sur une large gamme spectrale. Ceci, dans le but d'inverser différentes données expérimentales. Différents outils numériques originaux ont également été mis au point pour parvenir à une analyse morphologique quantitative de clichés obtenus par microscopie électronique. La validation expérimentale des outils théoriques et numériques développés au cours de ce travail est focalisée sur la spectrométrie d'extinction appliquée à des nano agrégats de silice, tungstène et silicium. / This Ph.D. work provides and evaluates various solutions to characterize, with optical/electromagnetic methods nanoparticles and aggregates of nanoparticles found in suspensions, aerosols and dusty plasmas. Two main models are introduced to describe the morphology of particle aggregates with fractal-like (for particles in plasmas and combustion systems) and Buckyballs-like (aerosols, suspensions) shapes. In addition, the author proposes various solutions and methods (T-Matrix, Rayleigh type approximations) to calculate the scattering diagrams (optical structure factors) of fractal aggregates as well as algorithms to inverse extinction spectra. As a reference case for the performed analysis, several tools to describe the morphology of fractal aggregates from electron microscopy images have been also developed. The experimental validation carried out with the Light Extinction Spectrometry (LES) technique (for nano silica beads, tungsten, dusty plasma and silicon aggregates) clearly proves the validity of the algorithms developed as well as the potential of the LES technique.

We introduce methods to cope with self-similar sets when we do not assume any separation condition. For a self-similar set K ⊆ ℝᵈ we establish a similarity dimension-like formula for Hausdorff dimension regardless of any separation condition. By the application of this result we deduce that the Hausdorff measure and Hausdorff content of K are equal, which implies that K is Ahlfors regular if and only if Hᵗ (K) > 0 where t = dim[sub]H K. We further show that if t = dim[sub]H K < 1 then Hᵗ (K) > 0 is also equivalent to the weak separation property. Regarding Hausdorff dimension, we give a dimension approximation method that provides a tool to generalise results on non-overlapping self-similar sets to overlapping self-similar sets. We investigate how the Hausdorff dimension and measure of a self-similar set K ⊆ ℝᵈ behave under linear mappings. This depends on the nature of the group T generated by the orthogonal parts of the defining maps of K. We show that if T is finite then every linear image of K is a graph directed attractor and there exists at least one projection of K such that the dimension drops under projection. In general, with no restrictions on T we establish that Hᵗ (L ∘ O(K)) = Hᵗ (L(K)) for every element O of the closure of T , where L is a linear map and t = dim[sub]H K. We also prove that for disjoint subsets A and B of K we have that Hᵗ (L(A) ∩ L(B)) = 0. Hochman and Shmerkin showed that if T is dense in SO(d; ℝ) and the strong separation condition is satisfied then dim[sub]H (g(K)) = min {dim[sub]H K; l} for every continuously differentiable map g of rank l. We deduce the same result without any separation condition and we generalize a result of Eroğlu by obtaining that Hᵗ (g(K)) = 0. We show that for the attractor (K1, … ,Kq) of a graph directed iterated function system, for each 1 ≤ j ≤ q and ε > 0 there exists a self-similar set K ⊆ Kj that satisfies the strong separation condition and dim[sub]H Kj - ε < dim[sub]H K. We show that we can further assume convenient conditions on the orthogonal parts and similarity ratios of the defining similarities of K. Using this property we obtain results on a range of topics including on dimensions of projections, intersections, distance sets and sums and products of sets. We study the situations where the Hausdorff measure and Hausdorff content of a set are equal in the critical dimension. Our main result here shows that this equality holds for any subset of a set corresponding to a nontrivial cylinder of an irreducible subshift of finite type, and thus also for any self-similar or graph directed self-similar set, regardless of separation conditions. The main tool in the proof is an exhaustion lemma for Hausdorff measure based on the Vitali's Covering Theorem. We also give several examples showing that one cannot hope for the equality to hold in general if one moves in a number of the natural directions away from `self-similar'. Finally we consider an analogous version of the problem for packing measure. In this case we need the strong separation condition and can only prove that the packing measure and δ-approximate packing pre-measure coincide for sufficiently small δ > 0.

Les agrégats de suie émis par les processus de combustion dans les turbines aéronautiques contribuent à modifier le bilan radiatif de l'atmosphère et la qualité de l'air. La connaissance de leurs caractéristiques physiques et chimiques est indispensable pour évaluer leur rôle dans les processus physico-chimiques atmosphériques et leur impact sur l'environnement et la santé publique. Dans ce contexte, notre étude vise à déterminer la taille et la morphologie d'agrégats de suie aéronautique à partir de mesures expérimentales menées en microscopie électronique en transmission (MET) et en tomographie électronique.Nous avons réalisé des clichés MET d'agrégats de suie émis par des turboréacteurs aéronautiques. Nous avons établi une méthode pour caractériser la morphologie des agrégats en déterminant leur allongement, leur compacité et la tortuosité de leur contour en analysant leur projection. Nous avons également développé un logiciel de traitement et d'analyse des images MET qui permet de reconstruire en 3D un agrégat à partir de ses projections et l'analyse de ses caractéristiques dimensionnelles et morphologiques à partir de sa reconstruction. Les résultats obtenus nous ont permis d'étudier la validité des relations liant les caractéristiques microphysiques 2D et 3D proposées dans la littérature et d'en proposer de nouvelles pour les agrégats étudiés.Ces résultats constituent la première caractérisation morphologique 3D d'agrégats de suie aéronautique à partir d'analyses par MET et tomographie électronique. Ils montrent que les propriétés morphologiques de ces agrégats ne permettent pas d'utiliser la méthode d'ensemble pour déterminer la dimension fractale massique. / Soot aggregates emitted by aircraft engines' combustion processes are involved in the modification of the global radiative budget and the air quality. The knowledge of their physical and chemical characteristics is a prerequisite to any evaluation of the way they may act in the atmospheric physical and chemical processes and their impact on the environment and public health. In this context, our study aims at determining the size and morphological characteristics of aircraft soot aggregates on the basis of experimental measurements by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron tomography.We have acquired TEM pictures of soot aggregates emitted by aircraft engines. We have established a method to characterize the morphology of these aggregates by determining their elongation, their compacity and the tortuosity of their edge. This method is based on the analysis of their TEM projection. Besides, we have developed a software to process and analyse TEM pictures. It allows to reconstruct aggregates from their projections and to determine their size and morphological characteristics. Our results have lead us to study the validity of the relationships linking the 2D and 3D microphysical characteristics presented in the literature and to suggest new ones for the studied aggregates.These results constitute the first 3D morphological and size characterizations of aircraft soot aggregates using TEM and electron tomography. They highlight the fact that the morphological properties of these aggregates do not fulfil the hypotheses required for the use of the collective method to determine the mass fractal dimension.