This thesis addresses the electronic structure of molecules and solids using resonant X-ray emission and photoemission spectroscopy. The use of monochromatic synchrotron radiation and the improved performance of the instrumentation have opened up the possibility of detailed analyses of the response of the electronic systems under interaction with X-rays. The experimental studies are accompanied by numerical ab initio calculations in the formalism of resonant inelastic scattering. The energy selectivity has made it possible for the first time to study how the chemical bonds in a molecule break up during resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. In the conjugated polymer systems, the element selectivity of the X-ray emission process made it possible to probe the different atomic elements separately. The X-ray emission technique proved to be useful for extracting isomeric information, and for measuring the change in the valence levels at different degrees of doping. In this thesis, spectral satellite features in transition metals were thoroughly investigated for various excitation energies around a core-level threshold. By measuring the relative spectral intensity of the satellites it was possible to extract information on the partial core-level widths. Using the nickel metal system as an example, it was shown that it is possible to probe the different core-excited states close toshake-up thresholds by measuring the relative spectral intensity variation of the Auger emission.Resonant photoemission measurements showed unambiguous evidence of interference effects. Theseeffects were also thoroughly probed using angle-dependent measurements. The combination of X-rayemission and absorption were useful for studying buried layers and interfaces due to the appreciable penetration depth of soft X-rays. X-ray scattering was further found to be useful for studying low-energy excited states of rare earth metallic compounds and transition metal oxides.

Providing intense, contamination-free beams of rare isotopes to experiments is a challenging task. At isotope separator on-line facilities such as ISAC at TRIUMF, the choice of production target and ion source are key to the successful beam delivery. Due to their element-selectivity, high efficiency and versatility, resonant ionization laser ion sources (RILIS) gain increasingly in importance. The spectroscopic data available are typically incomplete in the region of excited- and autoionizing atomic states. In order to find the most efficient ionization scheme for a particular element, further spectroscopy is often required. The development of efficient laser resonant ionization schemes for yttrium and astatine is presented in this thesis. For yttrium, two ionization schemes with comparable relative intensities were found. Since for astatine, only two transitions were known, the focus was to provide data on atomic energy levels using resonance ionization spectroscopy. Altogether 41 previously unknown astatine energy levels were found.

This thesis first describes the reverse method of transformer design. An existing magnetic model for full-core shell-type transformers, based on circuit theory, is summarised. A magneto-static finite element model is introduced and two sample transformers are analysed. The magnetic model based on finite element analysis is shown to be more accurate than the model based on circuit theory. Partial-core resonant transformers are then introduced and their characteristics are explained using an equivalent circuit model. A method of measuring the winding inductances under resonant operation is developed and used to investigate the characteristics of two different tuning methods. A finite element model of the partial-core resonant transformer is developed by adopting the model for full-core shell-type transformers. The model results accurately match the measured inductance variation characteristics of three sample transformers and predict the onset of core saturation in both axial-offset and centre-gap arrangements. A new design of partial-core resonant transformer is arrived at, having an alternative core and winding layout, as well as multiple winding taps. The finite element model is extended to accommodate the new design and a framework of analysis tools is developed. A general design methodology for partial-core resonant transformers with fixed inductance is developed. A multiple design method is applied to obtain an optimal design for a given set of specifications and restrictions. The design methodology is then extended to devices with variable inductance. Three design examples of partial-core resonant transformers with variable inductance are presented. In the first two design examples, existing devices are replaced. The new transformer designs are significantly lighter and the saturation effects are removed. The third design example is a kitset for high-voltage testing, with the capability to test any hydro-generator stator in New Zealand. The kitset is built and tested in the laboratory, demonstrating design capability. Other significant test results, for which no models have yet been developed, are also presented. Heating effects in the core are reduced by adopting an alternative core construction method, where the laminations are stacked radially, rather than in the usual parallel direction. The new kitset is yet to be used in the field.

Providing intense, contamination-free beams of rare isotopes to experiments is a challenging task. At isotope separator on-line facilities such as ISAC at TRIUMF, the choice of production target and ion source are key to the successful beam delivery. Due to their element-selectivity, high efficiency and versatility, resonant ionization laser ion sources (RILIS) gain increasingly in importance. The spectroscopic data available are typically incomplete in the region of excited- and autoionizing atomic states. In order to find the most efficient ionization scheme for a particular element, further spectroscopy is often required. The development of efficient laser resonant ionization schemes for yttrium and astatine is presented in this thesis. For yttrium, two ionization schemes with comparable relative intensities were found. Since for astatine, only two transitions were known, the focus was to provide data on atomic energy levels using resonance ionization spectroscopy. Altogether 41 previously unknown astatine energy levels were found.

A major issue with respect to VSC based systems is the propagation of harmonics to DC side loads due to AC voltage source unbalance. Standard dq-frame control techniques currently utilized offer little mitigation of these unwanted harmonics. Recently, resonant controllers have emerged as an alternative to dq-frame controllers for regulation of grid connected converters for distributed resources. Although these control systems behave somewhat similar to dq-frame controllers under balanced operating conditions, their behaviour under unbalanced operation is superior. Currently, there are no linearized state space models of resonant controlled VSC systems. This work will develop a linearized small signal state space model of a VSC system, where resonant current controllers are used for regulation of the grid currents. It will also investigate the stability of resonant controlled VSC based systems using eigenvalue analysis for HVDC applications.

A major issue with respect to VSC based systems is the propagation of harmonics to DC side loads due to AC voltage source unbalance. Standard dq-frame control techniques currently utilized offer little mitigation of these unwanted harmonics. Recently, resonant controllers have emerged as an alternative to dq-frame controllers for regulation of grid connected converters for distributed resources. Although these control systems behave somewhat similar to dq-frame controllers under balanced operating conditions, their behaviour under unbalanced operation is superior. Currently, there are no linearized state space models of resonant controlled VSC systems. This work will develop a linearized small signal state space model of a VSC system, where resonant current controllers are used for regulation of the grid currents. It will also investigate the stability of resonant controlled VSC based systems using eigenvalue analysis for HVDC applications.

Near-resonant triad interactions and wave generation theory are investigated for continuously stratified fluids. Interaction equations are derived for spatially-varying wave trains under the inviscid Boussinesq approximation. Rotational effects are included, and properties of the underlying eigenvalue problem are explored. To facilitate a numerical study of the near-resonant interactions, numerical methods are developed and an analysis of wave generation on a periodic domain is performed. Numerical experiments using laboratory and ocean-scale parameters are conducted, and the simulations confirm the validity of the wave forcing theory. Interaction experiments demonstrate a strong tendency for waves to exhibit nonlinear behaviour. While resonant interactions are observed in the laboratory scale simulations, nonlinear steepening effects and the formation of solitary-like waves dominate the ocean-scale experiments. The results suggest that the weakly-nonlinear interaction theory is only appropriate in a limited parameter regime. The problem of analyzing forced wave equations on an infinite domain is also considered. Motivated by the results obtained on a periodic domain, asymptotic analysis is applied to three important wave equations. The method of steepest descents is used to determine the large-time behaviour for the linearized Korteweg-de Vries, Benjamin-Bona-Mahony, and internal gravity wave equations. The asymptotic results are compared with numerical experiments and found to agree to high precision.

Accurate and reliable measurement of meat quality is essential for the Australian beef industry to remain competitive in both the domestic and export markets. Recent developments of the resonator technique have lead to the commercial availability of the High Resolution Ultrasound Spectroscope (HR-US). This research project was designed to assess the potential of HR-US for the analysis of post-mortem bovine muscle. This was accomplished by; 1) establishing a suitable measurement protocol that considered sources of variability, 2) the effects of post-mortem aging on HR-US parameters, 3) analysis of thermal related changes that occur in muscle, and extracted connective tissue during heating, and 4) the use of HR-US for the measurement of the intramuscular fat. A procedure for the measurement of bovine muscle with HR-US was established. Briefly, an external semisolid cell was used as the measurement cell. The frequency range of 2000 KHz to 3000 KHz was selected as the most suitable for whole muscle analysis and all five resonance peaks within this range were analysed and used to obtain velocity and attenuation values of the meat sample. Water was used as the reference media, and measurements were conducted at 250C. Changes were made to this method during experimental work depending on the sample being run and the objectives of the study. The measurement protocol was shown to be repeatable. Factors likely to cause variation in measurements of the samples, such as water loss and freeze-thaw, were also considered when developing the operational parameters of the study. High resolution ultrasound spectroscopy was applied to measure the post-mortem changes that occur in bovine muscle. Using two muscle types, Semitendinosus and Psoas major, significant changes were observed in HR-US parameters with ageing. Significant increases in the acoustic impedance of bovine muscle with increased ageing time were attributed to degradation of the muscle structure. This was confirmed in transmission electron microscopy images where clear disruption the myofibillar structure was apparent in the muscle at 21 days post-mortem.In localised regions the Z bands and the adjoining actin fibres were totally degraded. Water loss from the muscle system had a significant influence on HR-US measurements. Thermal related changes that occur in whole bovine muscle and in isolated intramuscular connective tissue were observed with HR-US. Heat induced changes were identified in whole muscles and included the melting of the fat within samples at 48oC, coagulation of sarcoplasmic proteins between 450C and 55oC, and the shrinkage of collagen fibres at 630C. An 80% reduction in the attenuating properties of extracted connective ageing in buffer solution was observed within the first 5 days. This is attributed to the degradation of proteoglycans and the resulting disassociation of collagen fibrils. Structural changes occurring in extracted connective tissue were observed with TEM. HR-US measurements proved to be highly sensitive to identifying temperatures at which transitions occurred. Unfolding of the triple helix structure of collagen was identified in velocity transitions between 59°C and 63oC. HR-US results suggested a greater sensitivity to thermal related changes in extracted intramuscular connective tissue when compared with differential scanning calorimeter results. An increase in temperature was observed for thermal denaturation of collagen with ageing, however a reduction was also observed in the temperature range at which the denaturation process occurred. Temperature ramps conducted on extracted intramuscular bovine showed a reduction in velocity from 1613.1m/s at 250C to 1343.1 m/s at 900C equalling an overall reduction in velocity of 270m/s. A transition in the velocity trend seen at 46°C indicates the majority of the triglycerides are melted (or in liquid state) above this temperature. Results are confirmed with differential scanning calorimeter thermogram. HR-US measurements showed high sensitivity to increasing concentration of bovine fat in prepared emulsions with an adjusted R2 99.46% for velocity measurements taken at 5100 kHz. Attenuation values at 8100 kHz also showed a strong linear response to increasing fat concentration in the emulsion (R2 98.77). The use of HR-US for the measurement of intramuscular bovine fat demonstrated a high sensitivity to extracted bovine fat in prepared emulsions. An increase in the intramuscular fat content of whole bovine muscles resulted in a reduction in the velocity measurements and an increase in the attenuation of the ultrasonic signal. This provides the basis for potential method for the prediction intramuscular fat in bovine muscle. The present studies have highlighted the complexities of investigations relating to meat quality and have demonstrated the diversity of data required to assess quality. Only when comprehensive data are available, can we hope to accurately determine meat quality and predict how it will vary with changes in animal production and meat processing.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on July 2, 2009. "June 2009." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Electrical Engineering." "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." Major professor: Taufik, Ph.D. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98).

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Aleksandra Vinogradov. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-90).