This thesis presents the development of integrated silicon photonic devices. These devices are compatible with the present and near future CMOS technology. High-khorizontal grating couplers and waveguides are proposed. This work consists of simulations and device design, as well as the layout for the fabrication process, device fabrication, process development, characterization instrument development and electro-optical characterizations. The work demonstrates an alternative solution to costly silicon-on-insulator photonics. The proposed solution uses bulk silicon wafers and thin film deposited waveguides. Back-end deposited horizontal slot grating couplers and waveguides are realized by multi-layers of amorphous silicon and high-k materials. The achievements of this work include: A theoretical study of fully etched slot grating couplers with Al2O3, HfO2 and AIN, an optical study of the high-k films with spectroscopic ellipsometry, an experimental demonstration of fully etched SiO2 single slot grating couplers and double slot Al2O3 grating couplers, a practical demonstration of horizontal double slot high-k waveguides, partially etched Al2O3 single slot grating couplers, a study of a scheme for integration of the double slot Al2O3  waveguides with selectively grown germanium PIN photodetectors, realization of test chips for the integrated germanium photodetectors, and study of integration with graphene photodetectors through embedding the graphene into a high-k slot layer. From an application point of view, these high-k slot waveguides add more functionality to the current silicon photonics. The presented devices can be used for low cost photonics applications. Also alternative optical materials can be used in the context of this photonics platform. With the robust design, the grating couplers result in improved yield and a more cost effective solution is realized for integration of the waveguides with the germanium and graphene photodetectors. / <p>QC 20141114</p>

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was any difference in energy expenditure (kcal/min) and oxygen consumption (VO2) between subjects walking with Masai Barefoot Technology ® (MBT) shoes and regular orthopedic shoes. The research hypothesis was that MBT shoes demand more energy expenditure than regular orthopedic shoes. Methods: Seven women aged 49-65 were recruited for the study. The subjects were tested in two sessions, with a minimum of two weeks in between each sesssion. On each test session the subjects walked with both MBT shoes and orthopedic shoes which were adjusted in mass (g) to match the mass of the MBT shoes. While the subjects walked on a treadmill, the oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (min-1) and self selected velocity (m/s) for each of the shoe types was measured. Results: Results showed that there is no significant difference in oxygen consumption (VO2) between the MBT and orthopedic shoes. Energy expenditure (kcal/min) was also calculated from the data and the results revealed that there is no significant differ-ence between MBT and orthopedic shoes in energy expenditure (kcal/min) either. The self selected velocity (m/s) between the two shoe types was also found to be insignificant. Conclusion: The results showed no significant difference between the shoes. This could indicate that the specific construction of the MBT shoe has no effect on the energy expenditure (kcal/min) of its user. This lack of difference may be due to the equal mass of the shoes, but since oxygen consumption (VO2) was not investigated in orthopedic shoes with different shoe masses, this conclusion cannot be confirmed. The self selected velocity (m/s) was found to be insignificant and this finding could suggest to that prolonged usage of the MBT shoe may diminish gait parameters dissimilarities during ambulation. This study should therefore be seen as a pilot study and further investigation in this area should be pursued.

Denna självobservationsstudie undersöker hur övande av instrument påverkar det psy- kiska måendet samt hur det psykiska måendet påverkar övningen. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka hur mycket övning som ska planeras i för väg så att det gynnar mitt mående samtidigt som övningen är effektiv. Under tre veckors tid användes tre olika sätt att pla- nera övning för att senare kunna hitta mönster i mående och övningskvalitet. En vecka planerades övningen i för väg, en vecka planerades ingen övning utan all övning var spon- tan och baserad på motivation och lust, och en vecka kombinerades dessa sätt genom att planera en del övning i för väg men även lämna utrymme för spontan övning. Studien ut- går från det fenomenologiska perspektivet och frågeställningarna lyder Upplever jag att övningens kvalitet påverkar mitt psykiska mående, och i sådana fall på vilka sätt? Upplever jag att det finns psykiska aspekter som påverkar min övning, och i sådana fall på vilka sätt? och I vilka situationer upplever jag att jag har en bra balans mellan planerad respektive spontan övning som gynnar både min övning och mitt psykiska mående? I undersökningen dokumenterades tankar kring övningen i en ljudloggbok i samband med övningstillfällena och mitt psykiska mående dokumenterades i en applikation, i form av en digital dagbok. Detta dokumenterade material bearbetades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Det framkom- mer i resultatet att mitt mående ofta speglar hur övningen har gått och har jag mått dåligt innan övningen så har det ofta varit svårt att fokusera, vilket påverkade övningens kvali- tet. Det framkommer också att det fanns väldigt lite motivation till övning under veckan där jag planerade all övning i för väg samt veckan där ingen övning planerades i för väg. Under veckan där en del övning planerades i förväg och en del övning skedde spontant visade sig att spontan övning ofta skedde till följd av planerad uppvärmning/övning tidi- gare samma dag. / This self-observation study examines how practicing an instrument affects the mental state and how the mental state affects the practice. The purpose of the study is to investi- gate how much exercise should be planned in advance so that it benefits my well-being while the exercise is effective. During three weeks, three different ways of planning exer- cise were used in order to later find patterns in mood and exercise quality. One week the exercise was planned in advance, one week no exercise was planned but all exercise was spontaneous and based on motivation and desire, and one week these ways were com- bined by planning some exercise in advance but also leaving room for spontaneous exer- cise. The study is based on the phenomenological perspective and the questions are: Do I feel that the quality of the exercise affects my psychological well-being, and if so, in what ways? Do I feel that there are psychological aspects that affect my practice? If so, in what ways? and In which situations do I feel that I have a good balance between planned and spontaneous practice that benefits both my practice and my mental well-being? Thoughts about the exercise were documented in an audio log book in connection with the exercise sessions and my mental state was documented in an application, in the form of a digital diary. This documented material was processed using thematic analysis. It appears in the results that my mood often reflects how the exercise went and if I felt bad before the ex- ercise, it was often difficult to focus, which affected the quality of the exercise. It also ap- pears that there was very little motivation for exercise during the week where I planned all exercise in advance and the week where no exercise was planned in advance. During the week where some exercise was planned in advance and some exercise happened spontaneously, it turned out that spontaneous exercise often happened as a result of planned warm-up/exercise earlier the same day.