This study proposes an approach to a solution for the problem of the perceived ‚separatedness‛ of language from reality which employs the rhetorical concept of ethos, the doctrinal concept of the Chalcedonian definition of the nature of the incarnated Christ, and Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of ‚answerability.‛ As an alternative to theories of reading and interpretation based on the arbitrariness of linguistic meaning, radical skepticism, and the death of the author, the approach defined in this study emphasizes affirmation of the centrality of the human person and the necessity of close, loving attention as the grounds of both aesthetic vision and ethical action. Developing three exemplary readings of novelized epics including Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Aurora Leigh, David Jones’s In Parenthesis, and Chenjerai Hove’s Bones, the study demonstrates how loving, careful attention to ethos—the definition of which is expanded to include relationships between language and character in literary works, genres, characters, authors, and teachers—is the prerequisite for answerability in literary relationships. Whether one is primarily interested in authors, characters, genres, canon, readers, or critical reception, attention to ethos illuminates the ways in which responses to literary works are conditioned by and analogous to responses to persons. The complex and irreducible relationships between the ‚word‛ and the ‚person‛ require an individual answerability for which there is no alibi. Ultimately, the ‚word‛ and the ‚world‛ are united in the answerable person, whether that person is an author, a character, a reader, a critic or a teacher.

Recent studies of the transition metal dichalcogenide niobium diselenide have led to debate in the scientific community regarding the mechanism of the charge density wave (CDW) instability in this material. Moreover, whether or not CDW boosts or competes with superconductivity (SC) is still unknown, as there are experimental measurements which supports both scenarios. Motivated by these measurements we study the interplay of charge density modulations and superconductivity in the context of the Bogoliubov de-Gennes (BdG) equations formulated on a tight-binding lattice. As the BdG equations require large numerical demand, software which utilizes parallel algorithms have been developed to solve these equations directly and numerically. Calculations were performed on a large-scale Beowulf-class PC cluster at the University of Saskatchewan.<p> We first study the effects of inhomogeneity on nanoscale superconductors due to the presence of surfaces or a single impurity deposited in the sample. It is illustrated that CDW can coexist with SC in a finite-size s-wave superconductor. Our calculations show that a weak impurity potential can lead to significant suppression of the superconducting order parameter, more so than a strong impurity. In particular, in a nanoscale d-wave superconductor with strong electron-phonon coupling, the scattering by a weakly attractive impurity can nearly kill superconductivity over the entire sample.<p> Calculations for periodic systems also show that CDW can coexist with s-wave superconductivity. In order to identify the cause of the CDW instability, the BdG equations have been generalized to include the next-nearest neighbour hopping integral. It is shown that the CDW state is strongly affected by the magnitude of the next-nearest neighbour hopping, while superconductivity is not. The difference between the CDW and SC states is a result of the anomalous, or off-diagonal, coupling between particle and hole components of quasiparticle excitations. The Fermi surface is changed as next-nearest neighbour hopping is varied; in particular, the perfect nesting and coincidence of the nesting vectors and the vectors connecting van Hove singularities (vHs) for zero next-nearest neighbor hopping is destroyed, and vHs move away from the Fermi energy. It is found that within our one-band tight-binding model with isotropic s-wave superconductivity, CDW and SC can coexist only for vanishing nearest neighbor hopping and for non-zero hopping, the homogeneous SC state always has the lowest ground-state energy. Furthermore, we find in our model that as the magnitude of the next-nearest neighbor hopping parameter increases, the main cause of the divergence in the dielectric response accompanying the CDW transition changes from nesting to the vHs mechanism proposed by Rice and Scott. It is still an open question as to the origin of CDW and its interplay with SC in multiple-band, anisotropic superconductors such as niobium diselenide, for which fundamental theory is lacking. The work presented in this thesis demonstrates the possible coexistence of charge density waves and superconductivity, and provides insight into the mechanism of electronic instability causing charge density waves.

Recent studies of the transition metal dichalcogenide niobium diselenide have led to debate in the scientific community regarding the mechanism of the charge density wave (CDW) instability in this material. Moreover, whether or not CDW boosts or competes with superconductivity (SC) is still unknown, as there are experimental measurements which supports both scenarios. Motivated by these measurements we study the interplay of charge density modulations and superconductivity in the context of the Bogoliubov de-Gennes (BdG) equations formulated on a tight-binding lattice. As the BdG equations require large numerical demand, software which utilizes parallel algorithms have been developed to solve these equations directly and numerically. Calculations were performed on a large-scale Beowulf-class PC cluster at the University of Saskatchewan.<p> We first study the effects of inhomogeneity on nanoscale superconductors due to the presence of surfaces or a single impurity deposited in the sample. It is illustrated that CDW can coexist with SC in a finite-size s-wave superconductor. Our calculations show that a weak impurity potential can lead to significant suppression of the superconducting order parameter, more so than a strong impurity. In particular, in a nanoscale d-wave superconductor with strong electron-phonon coupling, the scattering by a weakly attractive impurity can nearly kill superconductivity over the entire sample.<p> Calculations for periodic systems also show that CDW can coexist with s-wave superconductivity. In order to identify the cause of the CDW instability, the BdG equations have been generalized to include the next-nearest neighbour hopping integral. It is shown that the CDW state is strongly affected by the magnitude of the next-nearest neighbour hopping, while superconductivity is not. The difference between the CDW and SC states is a result of the anomalous, or off-diagonal, coupling between particle and hole components of quasiparticle excitations. The Fermi surface is changed as next-nearest neighbour hopping is varied; in particular, the perfect nesting and coincidence of the nesting vectors and the vectors connecting van Hove singularities (vHs) for zero next-nearest neighbor hopping is destroyed, and vHs move away from the Fermi energy. It is found that within our one-band tight-binding model with isotropic s-wave superconductivity, CDW and SC can coexist only for vanishing nearest neighbor hopping and for non-zero hopping, the homogeneous SC state always has the lowest ground-state energy. Furthermore, we find in our model that as the magnitude of the next-nearest neighbor hopping parameter increases, the main cause of the divergence in the dielectric response accompanying the CDW transition changes from nesting to the vHs mechanism proposed by Rice and Scott. It is still an open question as to the origin of CDW and its interplay with SC in multiple-band, anisotropic superconductors such as niobium diselenide, for which fundamental theory is lacking. The work presented in this thesis demonstrates the possible coexistence of charge density waves and superconductivity, and provides insight into the mechanism of electronic instability causing charge density waves.

This study proposes an approach to a solution for the problem of the perceived ‚separatedness‛ of language from reality which employs the rhetorical concept of ethos, the doctrinal concept of the Chalcedonian definition of the nature of the incarnated Christ, and Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of ‚answerability.‛ As an alternative to theories of reading and interpretation based on the arbitrariness of linguistic meaning, radical skepticism, and the death of the author, the approach defined in this study emphasizes affirmation of the centrality of the human person and the necessity of close, loving attention as the grounds of both aesthetic vision and ethical action. Developing three exemplary readings of novelized epics including Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Aurora Leigh, David Jones’s In Parenthesis, and Chenjerai Hove’s Bones, the study demonstrates how loving, careful attention to ethos—the definition of which is expanded to include relationships between language and character in literary works, genres, characters, authors, and teachers—is the prerequisite for answerability in literary relationships. Whether one is primarily interested in authors, characters, genres, canon, readers, or critical reception, attention to ethos illuminates the ways in which responses to literary works are conditioned by and analogous to responses to persons. The complex and irreducible relationships between the ‚word‛ and the ‚person‛ require an individual answerability for which there is no alibi. Ultimately, the ‚word‛ and the ‚world‛ are united in the answerable person, whether that person is an author, a character, a reader, a critic or a teacher.

In the repertoire of an experimental condensed matter physicist, the ability to tune continuously through features in the electronic structure and to selectively break point-group symmetries are both valuable techniques. The experimental technique at the heart of this dissertation, uniaxial stress, can do both such things. The thesis will start with a thorough discussion of our new technique, which was continually developed over the course of this work, presenting both its unique capabilities and also some guidance on the best working practices, before moving on to describe results obtained on two different strongly correlated electron materials. The first, Sr2RuO4, is an unconventional superconductor, whose order parameter has long been speculated to be odd-parity. Of interest to us is the close proximity of one of its three Fermi surfaces to a Van Hove singularity (VHs). Our results strongly suggest that we have been able to traverse the VHs, inducing a topological Lifshitz transition. T[sub]c is enhanced by a factor ~2.3 and measurements of H[sub](c2) open the possibility that optimally strained Sr2RuO4 has an even-parity, rather than odd-parity, order parameter. Measurements of the normal state properties show that quasiparticle scattering is increased across all the bands and in all directions, and effects of quantum criticality are observed around the suspected Lifshitz transition. Sr3Ru2O7 has a metamagnetic quantum critical endpoint, which in highly pure samples is masked by a novel phase. Weak in-plane magnetic fields are well-known to induce strong resistive anisotropy in the novel phase, leading to speculation that a spontaneous, electronically driven lowering of symmetry occurs. Using magnetic susceptibility and resistivity measurements we can show that in-plane anisotropic strain also reveals the strong susceptibility to electronic anisotropy. However, the phase diagram that these pressure measurements reveal is consistent only with large but finite susceptibility, and not with spontaneous symmetry reduction.

De nombreuses études récentes, expérimentales et in-silico, montrent que la diffusion latérale des molécules dans des membranes biologiques présentent des anomalies, dans le sens que les déplacements carré moyen moléculaires évoluent de façon sublinéaire au lieu de linéaire avec le temps. Mathématiquement, ce type de diffusion peut être modélisé par des équations de diffusion généralisées, dans lesquelles une dérivée fractionnaire du temps s'ajoute à l'équation de diffusion normale correspondante. Le but de cette thèse est d'obtenir un aperçu plus physique des processus de diffusion dans des membranes biologiques. A cet effet, des simulations de dynamique moléculaire d'une bicouche lipidique POPC sont analysées en utilisant les concepts de la physique statistique des liquides. La queue aux temps longs de la fonction d'autocorrélation de vitesses des centres de masse, qui reflète le régime de diffusion des molécules en question, est mise en relation avec leur dynamique aux basses fréquences et avec la structure dynamique autour de chaque molécule. La dernière est caractérisée par la fonction de corrélation de paires dynamique de van Hove pour leurs centres de masse. Il est en particulier montré que la première couche de voisins d'une molécule lipidique qui diffuse ne se désintègre que très lentement avec t !, où 0 < ! < 1. Ce résultat est en accord avec l'observation faite par d'autres auteurs, que les molécules dans une bicouche lipidique ont la tendance de se déplacer d'une manière concertée. Afin d'évaluer l'impact du champ de force sur la nature des processus de diffusion observés, la bicouche lipidique POPC a été simulée avec le champ de force tout atome OPLS et avec le champ de force à gros grains MARTINI. Dans le second, quatre atomes lourds forment un seul grain. Dans les deux cas, on observe une sous-diffusion latérale, avec des exposants similaires, mais la diffusion des lipides obtenue avec le champ de force à gros grains est d'environ trois fois plus rapide et elle apparaît aussi plus rapide que dans des expériences correspondantes. Ce résultat est confirmé par la dynamique des molécules POPC à basse fréquence et par la structure dynamique de leur environnement local. / Various recent experimental and simulation studies show that the lateral diffusion of molecules in biological membranes exhibits anomalies, in the sense that the molecular mean square displacements increase sub-linearily instead of linearly with time. Mathematically, such diffusion processes can be modeled by generalized diffusion equations which involve an additional fractional time derivative compared to the corresponding normal counterpart. The aim of this thesis is to gain some more physical insight into the lateral diffusion processes in biological membranes. For this purpose, molecular dynamics simulations of a lipid POPC bilayer are analyzed by employing concepts from the statistical physics of liquids. The long-time tail of the center-of-mass velocity autocorrelation function, which reflects the diffusional regime of the molecules under consideration, is related to their low-frequency dynamics and to the dynamical structure around each molecule. The latter is studied in terms of the time dependent van Hove pair correlation function for their centers-of-mass. It is in particular demonstrated that the first shell of neighbors of a diffusing lipid molecule decays very slowly with t^(-beta), with 0 < beta < 1. This finding is in agreement with the observation that lipid molecules tend to form collective flow patterns, which has been recently reported by other authors. In order to evaluate the impact of the molecular dynamics force field on the nature of the observed diffusion process, the POPC bilayer was simulated with the OPLS all atom force field and with the coarse-grained MARTINI force field. In the latter, four heavy atoms are combined into one bead. In both cases lateral sub-diffusion with similar exponents is observed, but the diffusional motion obtained with the coarse grained force field is about three times faster and appears also to be faster than in experiments. This result is reflected in the low-fequency dynamics of the POPC molecules and in the dynamical structure of their local environment.

Dans cette thèse, nous avons exploré les possibilités de réaliser des structures hybrides à base graphène (GBHS) par la fonctionnalisation bilatérale du graphène. Le premier chapitre donne une introduction générale sur le graphène et sur la littérature concernant les différentes méthodes d’intercalations de métaux dans le graphène. Le chapitre 2 décrit les techniques expérimentales utilisées. Le chapitre 3 concerne la fonctionnalisation du graphène épitaxié sur SiC (0001) par intercalation d'atome d’or. Les différents modes d'intercalation de l’or ont été mis en évidence par microscopie tunnelle (formation d'agrégats d'atomes d'or individuels et formation d'une couche d'or continue). La nature de ces atomes d'or intercalées a été examinée par des calculs d’image de densité de charge, et par Spectroscopie de Photoélectrons X (XPS). La modification de la structure de bande du graphène a aussi été mise en évidence par Spectroscopie de Photoélectrons UV Résolue Angulairement (ARPES) par des expériences sur synchrotron. Ces études ont révélé une forte extension de la singularité de Van Hove et une augmentation de la vitesse de Fermi. Afin d’agir sur cette extension de la singularité de Van Hove, des molécules fortement donneuses d'électrons, telle que la molécule de TetraThioFulvalene (TTF) ont été déposée sur graphène intercalé or et sur graphite (chapitre 4). La dépendance du transfert de charge de ces molécules avec leur conformation et la réactivité photochromique de ces molécules conjuguées sur le graphène ont également été abordés. Pour comprendre les propriétés structurales de ces molécules, des mesures photophysiques ont été effectuées qui apparaissant dans le chapitre 5. / In this thesis, we have explored the possibilities to realize a Graphene Based Hybrid structures (GBHs) by the functionalization of a graphene layer on both sides. The first chapter gives a general introduction about graphene and a literature review of different metal intercalations on graphene. The second chapter explains the experimental techniques used in this work. In chapter 3, we studied the functionalization of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) by gold intercalation. With the help of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, we have evidenced and characterized different intercalation modes such as the formation of aggregates of individual gold atoms and the formation of a continuous gold layer between the top graphene and the buffer layer. The free standing nature of the intercalated gold atoms was examined by differential charge density plot, projected density of states calculations and further by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The band structure modification of graphene due to these intercalated gold atoms was evidenced by Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, which reveals a strong Van Hove extension and an increase of the Fermi velocity. Extend to this research, to obtain an extended Van Hove singularity usually observed in highly doped graphene; we studied highly electron donor molecules, TetraThioFullvalene (TTF) on pristine and gold intercalated graphene and on graphite (chapter 4). The dependence of charge transfer of these molecules with their conformation and the reactivity of photochromic with conjugated molecules on graphene were also discussed. To understand the structural properties of these molecules photophysical measurements were performed in chapter 5.

Although band theory is about a century old, it remains relevant today as a tool for the treatment of electrons in solids. The confluence of mathematical ideas like geometry and topology with band theory has proven to be a ripe avenue for research in the past few decades. The importance of Fermi surface geometry, especially in conjunction with electronic correlation, has been well recognized. One particular thread in this direction is probing the occurrence of non-trivial Fermi surface geometry, and its influence on macroscopic properties of materials. A notable example of exotic Fermi surface geometry arises from singular points of the dispersion, and these have been known since 1953. The investigation into these was reignited recently, culminating in the work presented in this thesis. In this dissertation, I investigate two broad categories of singular points in bands. At a singular point, either the dispersion or the Fermi surface fail to be smooth. This may cause distinct signatures in transport and spectroscopic properties when the singular point occurs close to the Fermi level. In the two dimensional setting, I classify using catastrophe theory, the point singularities arising from higher order saddles of the dispersion. These are the more exclusive cousins of the regular van Hove saddle that cause, among other things, a power law divergence in the density of states. The role of lattice symmetries in aiding or preventing the occurrence of these singularities is also carefully explored. In the case of three dimensional bands, I investigate the spectroscopic properties of the nodal point singularity, arising from a linear band crossing. In particular, I determine the distinct signature of nodal points in the analytic, momentum resolved, joint density of states (JDOS) and the numerically calculated resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectrum, within the fast collision approximation that ignores core hole effects. The results presented here will be the stepping stone towards a careful future calculation, incorporating the potential edge singularity effects through core hole potential. Such a calculation may be directly comparable with ongoing experiments.

Il s’agit de l’emploi de la technologie numérique dans la mise en scène de la tragédie grecque antique, en d’autres termes, de la réception de la tragédie grecque au sein du théâtre digital. En tant que performance digitale la tragédie grecque semble fonctionner comme un kaléidoscope du temps ; tout à la fois comme une lentille ou un miroir écrasé, où se développent  un jeu, un « aller-retour » entre les identités et les qualités : spectateur / citoyen, politique / religieux, espace-temps du mythe / temps actuel, présence / absence. Grâce à l’emploi de la technologie et d’équivalents digitaux, les artistes reconceptualisent une série de notions de la tragédie telles que la communauté, la cité, l’hybris, le masque, le conflit, le tragique, et ils proposent des expériences sensorielles équivalentes au spectateur contemporain : les médias numériques deviennent un équivalent de la parole. Oikos, le palais royal, lieu devant lequel et au sein duquel se déroulent la plupart des événements et conflits, est remplacé par l’écran palimpseste ; on est dans l’image dans laquelle on vit désormais, c’est au sein de l’écran que l’on produit l’Histoire. La convention du masque conduit à l’expérimentation avec des technologies sonores. La fonction politique de la tragédie grecque et la création de l’effet de communauté, se produisent désormais par le biais de la technologie numérique. Les spectateurs forment des communautés éphémères lors de leurs réunions dans l’environnement technologique, la fragmentation rhizomatique de la scène « cache » la communauté, pour la transformer en une communauté virtuelle. Enfin, c’est le tragique qui se développe sur scène en tant qu’idée et phénomène performatif. / The thesis focuses on the use of digital technology in the staging of Greek Tragedy that is, the reception of Greek tragedy in the digital theatre. Greek tragedy, when digitally staged, seems to function as a kaleidoscope of our times; sometimes a lens and at others a shattered mirror, where a game, a "toing and froing" between identities and qualities exists: spectator/citizen, political/religious, time-space of myth/actual current time, presence/absence. With the use of technology and of digital equivalents, artists re-conceptualize a series of key notions such as the community, the city, the hubris, the mask, the conflict, the tragic and create equivalent effects for the contemporary spectator: Digital media becomes the equivalent of discourse. The “oikos”, the royal palace, in front of and within which most events and conflicts occur, is replaced by the screen-palimpsest: it is within the image that we live, we clash, we make history. The mask convention leads to experimentation with sound technologies. The much-discussed political function of tragedy in the context of democratic Athens and the building of a sense of community is now realised through digital technology. Spectators form ephemeral communities in their meeting within the technological environment, the rhizomatic fragmentation of the theatre stage, "hides" the community to transform it into a virtual community. In the end, it is the tragic that is being developed as an idea and a performative phenomenon. / Στο επίκεντρο βρίσκεται η χρήση της ψηφιακής τεχνολογίας στη σκηνοθεσία της αρχαίας ελληνικής τραγωδίας, δηλαδή η πρόσληψη της αρχαίας ελληνικής τραγωδίας στο ψηφιακό θέατρο. H αρχαία ελληνική τραγωδία ως ψηφιακή παράσταση, μοιάζει να λειτουργεί ως καλειδοσκόπιο του καιρού∙ άλλοτε ως φακός και κάποιες φορές ως θρυμματισμένος καθρέπτης, όπου ένα παιχνίδι, ένα «πήγαινε-έλα» αναπτύσσεται ανάμεσα στις ταυτότητες και τις ποιότητες : θεατής/πολίτης, πολιτικό/θρησκευτικό, ο χωροχρόνος του μύθου/ο πραγματικός τρέχων χρόνος, παρουσία/απουσία. Με τη χρήση της τεχνολογίας και των ψηφιακών ισοδυνάμων, οι καλλιτέχνες επανοηματοδοτούν στο παρόν μια σειρά κομβικών εννοιών για την τραγωδία, όπως η κοινότητα, η πόλις, η ύβρις, η μάσκα, η σύγκρουση, το τραγικό και δημιουργούν ισοδύναμες αισθήσεις και εντυπώσεις στον σύγχρονο θεατή: Τα ψηφιακά μέσα γίνονται ισοδύναμο του λόγου. Ο οίκος, το βασιλικό ανάκτορο μπροστά και εντός του οποίου συντελούνται τα περισσότερα γεγονότα και οι συγκρούσεις, αντικαθίσταται από την οθόνη παλίμψηστο: μέσα στην εικόνα ζούμε, συγκρουόμαστε, παράγουμε ιστορία. Η σύμβαση της μάσκας οδηγεί στον πειραματισμό με τις τεχνολογίες του ήχου. Η πολυσυζητημένη πολιτική λειτουργία της τραγωδίας στο πλαίσιο της δημοκρατικής Αθήνας και η δημιουργία του αισθήματος κοινότητας δημιουργείται πλέον μέσα από την ψηφιακή τεχνολογία. Oι θεατές σχηματίζουν εφήμερες κοινότητες στη συνάντησή τους μέσα στο τεχνολογικό περιβάλλον, η ριζωματική θραυσματοποίηση της θεατρικής σκηνής, «κρύβει» την κοινότητα, για να τη μετατρέψει σε εικονική κοινότητα. Τέλος, είναι το τραγικό που αναπτύσσεται ως ιδέα και ως επιτελεστικό φαινόμενο.

In this thesis, we have explored the possibilities to realize a Graphene Based Hybrid structures (GBHs) by the functionalization of a graphene layer on both sides. The first chapter gives a general introduction about graphene and a literature review of different metal intercalations on graphene. The second chapter explains the experimental techniques used in this work. In chapter 3, we studied the functionalization of epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) by gold intercalation. With the help of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, we have evidenced and characterized different intercalation modes such as the formation of aggregates of individual gold atoms and the formation of a continuous gold layer between the top graphene and the buffer layer. The free standing nature of the intercalated gold atoms was examined by differential charge density plot, projected density of states calculations and further by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The band structure modification of graphene due to these intercalated gold atoms was evidenced by Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, which reveals a strong Van Hove extension and an increase of the Fermi velocity. Extend to this research, to obtain an extended Van Hove singularity usually observed in highly doped graphene; we studied highly electron donor molecules, TetraThioFullvalene (TTF) on pristine and gold intercalated graphene and on graphite (chapter 4). The dependence of charge transfer of these molecules with their conformation and the reactivity of photochromic with conjugated molecules on graphene were also discussed. To understand the structural properties of these molecules photophysical measurements were performed in chapter 5.