"Dynamics" is very roughly the study of how objects change in time; for instance whether an electrical circuit goes to equilibrium, due to thermal dissipation. By "information", we mean how helpful it is to observe an object in order to know it better, for instance how many binary digits we can acquire on the value of a voltage by an appropriate measure. A "computation" is a physical process, e.g. the flow of current into a complex set of transistors, that after some time eventually gives us the solution of a mathematical problem (such as "Is 13 prime?"). We are interested to various relations between these concepts. In a first chapter, we unify some arguments in the literature to show that a whole class of quantities of dynamical systems are uncomputable. For instance the topological entropy of tilings and Turing machines. Then we propose a precise meaning to the statement "This dynamical system is a computer", at least for symbolic systems, such as cellular automata. We also show, for instance, that a "computer" must be dynamically unstable, and can even be chaotic. In a third chapter, we compare how complicated it is to control a system according whether we can acquire information on it ("feedback") or not ("open loop"). We are specifically interested in finite-state systems. In last chapter we show how to control a scalar linear system when only a finite amount of information can be acquired at every step of time.

Aquesta tesi proposa una millora del clàssic mètode dels elements finits (finite element method, FEM) per a un tractament eficient de dominis amb contorns corbs: el denominat NURBS-enhanced finite element method (NEFEM). Aquesta millora permet descriure de manera exacta la geometría mitjançant la seva representació del contorn CAD amb non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS), mentre que la solució s'aproxima amb la interpolació polinòmica estàndard. Per tant, en la major part del domini, la interpolació i la integració numèrica són estàndard, retenint les propietats de convergència clàssiques del FEM i facilitant l'acoblament amb els elements interiors. Només es requereixen estratègies específiques per realitzar la interpolació i la integració numèrica en elements afectats per la descripció del contorn mitjançant NURBS.La implementació i aplicació de NEFEM a problemes que requereixen una descripció acurada del contorn són, també, objectius prioritaris d'aquesta tesi. Per exemple, la solució numèrica de les equacions de Maxwell és molt sensible a la descripció geomètrica. Es presenta l'aplicació de NEFEM a problemes d'scattering d'ones electromagnètiques amb una formulació de Galerkin discontinu. S'investiga l'habilitat de NEFEM per obtenir solucions precises amb malles grolleres i aproximacions d'alt ordre, i s'exploren les possibilitats de les anomenades malles NEFEM, amb elements que contenen singularitats dintre d'una cara o aresta d'un element. Utilitzant NEFEM, la mida de la malla no està controlada per la complexitat de la geometria. Això implica una dràstica diferència en la mida dels elements i, per tant, suposa un gran estalvi tant des del punt de vista de requeriments de memòria com de cost computacional. Per tant, NEFEM és una eina poderosa per la simulació de problemes tridimensionals a gran escala amb geometries complexes. D'altra banda, la simulació de problemes d'scattering d'ones electromagnètiques requereix mecanismes per aconseguir una absorció eficient de les ones scattered. En aquesta tesi es discuteixen, optimitzen i comparen dues tècniques en el context de mètodes de Galerkin discontinu amb aproximacions d'alt ordre.La resolució numèrica de les equacions d'Euler de la dinàmica de gasos és també molt sensible a la representació geomètrica. Quan es considera una formulació de Galerkin discontinu i elements isoparamètrics lineals, una producció espúria d'entropia pot evitar la convergència cap a la solució correcta. Amb NEFEM, l'acurada imposició de la condició de contorn en contorns impenetrables proporciona resultats precisos inclús amb una aproximació lineal de la solució. A més, la representació exacta del contorn permet una imposició adequada de les condicions de contorn amb malles grolleres i graus d'interpolació alts. Una propietat atractiva de la implementació proposada és que moltes de les rutines usuals en un codi d'elements finits poden ser aprofitades, per exemple rutines per realitzar el càlcul de les matrius elementals, assemblatge, etc. Només és necessari implementar noves rutines per calcular les quadratures numèriques en elements corbs i emmagatzemar el valor de les funciones de forma en els punts d'integració. S'han proposat vàries tècniques d'elements finits corbs a la literatura. En aquesta tesi, es compara NEFEM amb altres tècniques populars d'elements finits corbs (isoparamètics, cartesians i p-FEM), des de tres punts de vista diferents: aspectes teòrics, implementació i eficiència numèrica. En els exemples numèrics, NEFEM és, com a mínim, un ordre de magnitud més precís comparat amb altres tècniques. A més, per una precisió desitjada NEFEM és també més eficient: necessita un 50% dels graus de llibertat que fan servir els elements isoparamètrics o p-FEM per aconseguir la mateixa precisió. Per tant, l'ús de NEFEM és altament recomanable en presència de contorns corbs i/o quan el contorn té detalls geomètrics complexes. / This thesis proposes an improvement of the classical finite element method (FEM) for an efficient treatment of curved boundaries: the NURBSenhanced FEM (NEFEM). It is able to exactly represent the geometry by means of the usual CAD boundary representation with non-uniform rational Bsplines (NURBS), while the solution is approximated with a standard piecewise polynomial interpolation. Therefore, in the vast majority of the domain, interpolation and numerical integration are standard, preserving the classical finite element (FE) convergence properties, and allowing a seamless coupling with standard FEs on the domain interior. Specifically designed polynomial interpolation and numerical integration are designed only for those elements affected by the NURBS boundary representation.The implementation and application of NEFEM to problems demanding an accurate boundary representation are also primary goals of this thesis. For instance, the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations is highly sensitive to geometry description. The application of NEFEM to electromagnetic scattering problems using a discontinuous Galerkin formulation is presented. The ability of NEFEM to compute an accurate solution with coarse meshes and high-order approximations is investigated, and the possibilities of NEFEM meshes, with elements containing edge or corner singularities, are explored. With NEFEM, the mesh size is no longer subsidiary to geometry complexity, and depends only on the accuracy requirements on the solution, whereas standard FEs require mesh refinement to properly capture the geometry. This implies a drastic difference in mesh size that results in drastic memory savings, and also important savings in computational cost. Thus, NEFEM is a powerful tool for large-scale scattering simulations with complex geometries in three dimensions. Another key issue in the numerical solution of electromagnetic scattering problems is using a mechanism to perform the absorption of outgoing waves. Two perfectly matched layers are discussed, optimized and compared in a high-order discontinuous Galerkin framework.The numerical solution of Euler equations of gas dynamics is also very sensitive to geometry description. Using a discontinuous Galerkin formulation and linear isoparametric elements, a spurious entropy production may prevent convergence to the correct solution. With NEFEM, the exact imposition of the solid wall boundary condition provides accurate results even with a linear approximation of the solution. Furthermore, the exact boundary representation allows using coarse meshes, but ensuring the proper implementation of the solid wall boundary condition. An attractive feature of the proposed implementation is that the usual routines of a standard FE code can be directly used, namely routines for the computation of elemental matrices and vectors, assembly, etc. It is only necessary to implement new routines for the computation of numerical quadratures in curved elements and to store the value of shape functions at integration points. Several curved FE techniques have been proposed in the literature. In this thesis, NEFEM is compared with some popular curved FE techniques (namely isoparametric FEs, cartesian FEs and p-FEM), from three different perspectives: theoretical aspects, implementation and performance. In every example shown, NEFEM is at least one order of magnitude more accurate compared to other techniques. Moreover, for a desired accuracy NEFEM is also computationally more efficient. In some examples, NEFEM needs only 50% of the number of degrees of freedom required by isoparametric FEs or p-FEM. Thus, the use of NEFEM is strongly recommended in the presence of curved boundaries and/or when the boundary of the domain has complex geometric details.

An analytical solution for the coupled telegrapher’s equations in terms of the voltage and current on a homogeneous lossy transmission line and multiconductor transmission line is presented. The resulting telegrapher’s equation solution is obtained in the form of an exact time domain propagator operating on the line voltage and current. It is shown that the analytical equations lead to a stable numerical method that can be used in the analysis of both homogeneous and inhomogeneous transmission lines. A numerical dispersion relation is derived proving that this method has no numerical dispersion down to the two points per wavelength Nyquist limit. Examples are presented showing that exceptionally accurate results are obtained for lossy single and multiconductor transmission lines. The method is extended to represent the general solution to Maxwell’s differential equations in vector matrix form. It is shown that, given the electromagnetic field and boundary conditions at a given instant in time, the free space time domain propagator and corresponding dyadic Green’s functions in 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensions can be used to calculate the field at all subsequent times.

Bandpass microwave filters are often modeled as a set of coupled discrete and localized resonators. This model is adequate in the narrow-band case. It, however, fails to describe accurately compact structures where stray couplings can be strong. To address this problem, a new view is proposed in this thesis. Instead of basing the model on localized discrete resonances, we start by constructing a model that is based on the global resonances of the structure. These are the resonances that the ports see and emerge when the entire structure is treated as a single unit. The resulting circuit, the transversal circuit, is universal. It is valid for any coupled resonator filter. The circuit is used in optimization of compact and ultra wideband suspended stripline filters and excellent results were obtained. In order to relate the global-eigen modes model to the conventional model, the issue of representation of microwave filters is investigated in detail. It is shown that a microwave filter can be represented by an infinite number of similar coupling matrices by using different modes as basis. According to this new view, a similarity transformation in microwave coupled resonator filters is interpreted as a change of basis. Two circuits that are related by a similarity transformation represent the same filter structure by using different sets of modes as basis. These conclusions were exploited in establishing a design theory for filters with dual-mode cavities. The new theory leads to direct and accurate design techniques that need no, or minimal, optimization. No tuning is used in the CAD steps. Tuning may only be required to account for manufacturing tolerances. A new tuning configuration is described and validated by computer simulation. A novel dual-mode filter with improved quality factor and reduced sensitivity is developed and designed within the same approach. The filter is fabricated and measured and excellent results are achieved. The same design methodology was used to introduce a new class of dual-mode dual-band microwave filters with improved sensitivity. It is also shown that canonical dual-mode filters can be designed within the same view with minimal local optimization of the input cavity. / Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-03-31 01:33:36.818

Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria are characterised by the self-consistent descriptions of the steady-states of collisionless plasmas in particle phase-space, and balanced macroscopic forces. We study the theory of Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria in one spatial dimension, as well as its application to current sheet and flux tube models. The ‘inverse problem' is that of determining a Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution function self-consistent with a given magnetic field. We develop the theory of inversion using expansions in Hermite polynomial functions of the canonical momenta. Sufficient conditions for the convergence of a Hermite expansion are found, given a pressure tensor. For large classes of DFs, we prove that non-negativity of the distribution function is contingent on the magnetisation of the plasma, and make conjectures for all classes. The inverse problem is considered for nonlinear ‘force-free Harris sheets'. By applying the Hermite method, we construct new models that can describe sub-unity values of the plasma beta (βpl) for the first time. Whilst analytical convergence is proven for all βpl, numerical convergence is attained for βpl = 0.85, and then βpl = 0.05 after a ‘re-gauging' process. We consider the properties that a pressure tensor must satisfy to be consistent with ‘asymmetric Harris sheets', and construct new examples. It is possible to analytically solve the inverse problem in some cases, but others must be tackled numerically. We present new exact Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria for asymmetric current sheets, which can be written as a sum of shifted Maxwellian distributions. This is ideal for implementations in particle-in-cell simulations. We study the correspondence between the microscopic and macroscopic descriptions of equilibrium in cylindrical geometry, and then attempt to find Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria for the nonlinear force-free ‘Gold-Hoyle' model. However, it is necessary to include a background field, which can be arbitrarily weak if desired. The equilibrium can be electrically non-neutral, depending on the bulk flows.

Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous avons considéré les équations de Maxwell en temps et construit une formulation discontinue de Galerkin (DG). On a montré que cette formulation est bien posée et ensuite on a établi des estimateurs a priori pour cette formulation. On a obtenu des résultats numériques pour valider les estimateurs a priori obtenus théoriquement. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, des estimateurs d'erreur a posteriori de cette formulation sont établis, pour le cas semi-discret et pour le système complètement discrétisé. Dans la troisième partie de cette thèse, on considére les équations de Maxwell en régime harmonique. On a développé une formulation discontinue de Galerkin mixte. On a établi des estimations d'erreur a posteriori pour cette formulation. / In the first part of this thesis, we have considered the time-dependent Maxwell's equations in second-order form and constructed discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation. We have established a priori error estimates for this formulation and carried out the numerical analysis to confirm our theoretical results. In the second part of this thesis, we have established a posteriori error estimates of this formulation for both semi discrete and fully discrete case. In the third part of the thesis we have considered the time-harmonic Maxwell's equations and we have developed mixed discontinuous Galerkin formulation. We showed the well posedness of this formulation and have established a posteriori error estimates.

Le travail de thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet TRAX. Il s’agit là du développement de moteurs électriques destinés à la traction des petits véhicules électriques urbains. Les caractéristiques clés d’une machine électrique pour une application de traction sont le couple, le rendement, la fiabilité, l’encombrement et la plage de vitesse à puissance maximale (dé-fluxage). Les machines électriques à aimants permanents répondent à ces exigences. C’est pourquoi ce travail de thèse s’est intéressé à l’étude des performances de machines à aimants permanents en proposant une étude comparative. Un état de l’art basé sur l’étude des brevets des machines électriques dans les applications automobiles est réalisé. Une description des dernières avancées des moteurs électriques principalement des structures à aimants permanents est fournit. Nous avons modélisé une première machine avec une méthode ana-lytique simplifiée basée sur la résolution des équations de Maxwell en 2D. Cette méthode est confrontée à une méthode numérique. Trois nouvelles machines sont définies à partir de la première en modifiant la configuration du rotor. La comparaison de quatre structures à aimants permanents est réalisée par des modèles numériques. Les performances à vide et en charge ainsi que le calcul des inductances dans l’axe direct et en quadrature sont évaluées. Les résultats théoriques sont comparés aux essais expérimentaux. / The thesis is part of the TRAX project. It deals with development of electric motors used for traction of small urban electric vehicles. The key characteristics of an electric machine for traction application are the torque, efficiency, reliability, size and flux-weakening. The permanents magnets electric machines meet these requirements. That’s why this thesis takes interest in the performances of permanents magnets machines by proposing a comparative study. A study of patents for electrical machines in automotive applications is realized. A description of the latest advances in electrical motors, mainly in permanent magnet structures, is provided. We started to model a first machine with a simplified analytical method based on the resolution of Maxwell's equations in 2D. This method is compared with a numerical method. Three new machines are defined from the first one by changing the configuration of the rotor. The comparison of four structures with permanent magnets is realized by numerical models. No load and load performances, as well as the calculation of inductances in the direct and quadrature axis, are evaluated. The theoretical results are compared with experimental tests.

This thesis introduces a topology optimization approach to design, from scratch, efficient microwave devices, such as antennas and waveguide transitions. The design of these devices is formulated as a general optimization problem that aims to build the whole layout of the device in order to extremize a chosen objective function. The objective function quantifies some required performance and is evaluated using numerical solutions to the 3D~Maxwell's equations by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The design variables are the local conductivity at each Yee~edge in a given design domain, and a gradient-based optimization method is used to solve the optimization problem. In all design problems, objective function gradients are computed based on solutions to adjoint-field problems, which are also FDTD discretization of Maxwell's equations but solved with different source excitations. For any number of design variables, the computation of the objective function gradient requires one solution to the original field problem and one solution to the associated adjoint-field problem. The optimization problem is solved iteratively using the globally convergent Method of Moving Asymptotes (GCMMA). By the proposed approach, various design problems, including tens of thousands of design variables, are formulated and solved in a few hundred iterations. Examples of solved design problems are the design of wideband antennas, dual-band microstrip antennas, wideband directive antennas, and wideband coaxial-to-waveguide transitions. The fact that the proposed approach allows a fine-grained control over the whole layout of such devices results in novel devices with favourable performance. The optimization results are successfully verified with a commercial software package. Moreover, some devices are fabricated and their performance is successfully validated by experiments.

This Master's thesis clarifies the significance of Frölicher-Nijenhuis bracket and its applications in problems of physics. The basic apparatus for these applications is differential geometry on manifolds, tensor calculus and differential forms, which are contained in the first part of the thesis. The second part summarizes the basic theory of calculus of variations on manifolds and its selected applications in the field of physics. The last part of the thesis is devoted to the applications of Frölicher-Nijenhuis bracket in the derivation of Maxwell's equations and to the description of the geometry of ordinary differential equations.

The main objective of this study is to learn about the theory of electromagnetic field and to create a model of propagation of ultra short waves in a biological tissue. Next point of this paper is to determine a specific absorption rate (SAR) using a valid sanitary standard. A particular model solution was realized in a model environment of the program Comsol Multiphysics 3.5. A human head and a cellular phone with an intern antenna were successfully created in this model environment. First of all were entered appropriate parameters which led to a successful representation of the distribution of electric field intensity. A value of specific absorption rate taken by a biological tissue was determined in the next step. This value was compared to the value listed in a valid sanitary standard to prevent its overrun. A development of a temperature in a biological tissue was determined as well, according to a six minutes long interval stated in a valid sanitary standard.