Neste trabalho analisamos o movimento de carga espacial monopolar livre em dielétricos, procurando fornecer subsídios para a interpretação de resultados experimentais. São mostradas as soluções para diversos tipos de distribuições iniciais de carga. A partir daí são encontradas relações que nos levam a algumas conclusões a respeito da relação entre distribuição e corrente externa produzida. São propostos métodos para a determinação da mobilidade dos portadores de carga no dielétrico e da concavidade de uma distribuição desconhecida. Analisamos também as condições para o aparecimento de inversão de corrente / On this work, we study the monopolar space charge motion in dielectrics in the aim of providing general information about it to the experimentalist. The electric current is obtained for many initial charge distributions and some relations are derived linking the behavior of the current to the initial charge distribution. We propose methods for obtaining the mobility of the carriers from experimental results. Finally the conditions for observation of current reversals are analyzed

O contínuo Tempo Randon Walk desenvolvido por Scher e Montroll é generalizado a fim de incluir as transições de taxas de espaço e o tempo. Tomando o limite contínuo, no passeio de equações aleatórias, uma equação geral de uma carga espacial transportada é obtida. A equivalência entre hopping e transporte através de estados expandidos com armadilhas é mostrado para realizar no espaço uma carga caso. Uma análise dos transportes um processo com dois processos simultâneos condução, por um armadilhagem e alargado a outros estados e por hopping através de armadilhas, é realizada. O Método Substituição Funcional (EFM) é introduzida a fim de obter resultados semi-markofian de Markofian soluções. Soluções específicas são obtidas em campo caso o alto e aproximadas queridos no espaço cobrar caso. Uma aproximação analítica de solução para o potencial superficial de decadência de uma sólida com armadilhas cobrado pela Corona é dada pela utilização do FSM. / The continuous Time Randon Walk developed by Scher and Montroll is generalized in order t o include space and time transitions rates. Taking the continuum limit in the random walk equations a general equation for space charge transport is obtained. The equivalence between hopping and transport via extended states with traps is shown to hold in the space charge case. An analysis of a transport process with two simultaneous conduction process, one by trapping and extended states and the other by hopping via traps, is carried out. The Functional Substitution Method (FSM) is introduced in order to get semi-markofian results from Markofian solutions. Specific exact solutions are obtained in the high field case and approximated ones in the space charge case. An approximated analytical solution for the superficial potential decay of a solid with traps charged by Corona is given by use of FSM.

São apresentadas as soluções aproximadas de alguns problemas de transporte de carga em dielétricos, inexpugnáveis ainda a um tratamento rigoroso, usando-se o Método de Galerkin. Com ele reduz-se o sistema de equações a derivadas parciais, que descrevem o transporte na presença de armadilhas, em um sistema de equações diferenciais ordinárias que são, então, integradas numericamente. Sempre que possível, a solução aproximada é comparada com alguma exata ou quase-exata, como a que se obtém da integração numérica direta do sistema de equações a derivadas parciais com o Método das Diferenças Finitas. Três diferentes condições de contorno são empregadas aqui: circuito aberto, curto circuito e circuito fechado com uma voltagem aplicada entre os eletrodos; em alguns casos considera-se temperatura variável. Este método requer que seja escollhida a priori, a forma da distribuição de carga livre; verifica-se que a corrente é mais sensível a esta distribuição do que o potencial de superfície, que sempre resulta muito próximo do exato, mesmo quando a aproximação parece grosseira. / Approximate solutions for some problems of charge transport in dielectrics, unsolved yet by exact methods, are presented using Galerkin\'s Method. This allows to transforming the system of partial differential equations, describing transport with trapping, into a system of ordinary differential equations which are, then, integrated numerically. Whenever possible, a comparison is made between this approximate solution with some exact or quasi-exact solution as, for example, that obtained from the direct numerical integrated of the system of partial differential equations using the Finite Difference Method. Three different boundary conditions are considered here: open circuit, short circuit and closed circuit with a voltage applied between the electrodes; in some cases the temperature was allowed to vary. Use of Galerkin\'s Method requires a priori choice of the free charge distribution; there results that the current is more sensitive to this distribution than the surface potential which leads to good results even when the approximation seems crude.

Estuda-se o movimento de carga espacial em dielétricos em uma dimensão na condição de circuito aberto e de curto-circuito. Soluções em simetria plana, cilíndrica e esférica são obtidas, incluindo a condutividade em alguns casos / One-dimensional space-charge motion in dielectrics is studied in open and in short-circuit condition. Solutions in plane, cylindrical and pheripherical symmetry are obtained . Conductivity is included in some cases

Este trabalho apresenta um modelo teórico que procura explicar a origem de um pico anômalo de corrente, observado na fase faraeletrica do copolímero P(VDF/TrFE), nos processos de descarga. Quando uma voltagem tipo V(t) = Vo S(t) é aplicado em materiais isolantes, correntes elétricas observadas em medidas, de carga-descarga decaem aproximadamente com T-n e obedecem ao principio da superposição linear (PSL). Esse comportamento e também observado em polímeros dielétricos. Entretanto, nos processos de descarga, acima da temperatura de Curie do copolímero p (VDF/TrFE), surge um pico anomalo de corrente que viola, aparentemente, o (PSL). Apresentamos um modelo de migração de cargas de espaço em presença de armadilhas, que pode ser responsável pelo pico de corrente e que estaria superposta a corrente de descarga da absorção dielétrica, conforme o modelo, durante os processos de carga, impurezas extrínsecas seriam varridas, pelo campo, do volume da amostra e ficariam, preferencialmente, presas em armadilhas de superfície. Nos processos de descarga, essas cargas se deslocariam em direção ao interior da amostra, devido a repulsão Coulombiana. Esse mecanismo de condução gera um pico de corrente. A aplicação do modelo, permitiu-nos inferir valores de parâmetros como a mobilidade dos portadores de carga e o tempo de transito. / A model based on space charge migration to explain an anomalous electric current peak on films of P (VDF/TrFE) copolymer in its paraelectric phase is presented. In general step-voltage current measurements of insulating polymeric materials obey the Principle of Linear Super-position. However, an unexpected anomalous peak was observed in discharge currents in measurements performed with P (VDF/TrFE) above the Curie temperature. We have assumed that space charges were dragged from the bulk of the sample by the external field during the charge measurement, and trapped close to the surface of the sample in a region where the concentration of traps would be very high. Two methods were developed to calculate the magnitude of the current peak: I) assuming a given space charge distribution during the discharge measurement, and II) considering the movement of thin discrete layers of charge under the influence of the internal field.

Measurements of DC photocurrent-voltage characteristic, photocurrents spectral response and laser induced transient current technique enable investigation of surface recombination centers, bulk trap levels and distribution of the inner electric field. In the presented work, the n- type planar CdZnTe detectors with quasi Ohmic contacts were studied by above mentioned methods. It has been shown that in the case of strongly absorbed light under the DC regime of illumination not only surface recombination influences the detector's transport properties. The effect of the space charge, created as a consequence of carriers trapped by the impurity levels, must be taken into account. Therefore some new theoretical models were created in order to describe measured photocurrent-voltage dependencies. Obtained data were fitted with the new theory and the mobility and surface recombination velocity for electrons were determined.

Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Douglas S. McGregor / Fission chambers are ideal neutron flux surveillance instruments to ensure nuclear reactor control and safety. They can provide online, in-core, real-time measurements covering the dynamic range of neutron flux including pulse, Campbell, and current mode over decades of reactor operation cycles. The first patented fission chamber was developed by Baer et al. in 1957. It was a cylindrical assembly thermal fission counter having sensitivity of 0.7 count/neutron cm⁻² for a background measurement of 5 counts/second with ability to operate at a temperature range of 20-80 ºC [3]. Since then, fission chamber technology was developed to come up with miniature and sub-miniature dimensions withstanding high irradiation and high temperature environment making them suitable for in-core online diagnosis. Since the introduction of high temperature fission chamber technology starting in the 1970’s, the need of the advancement in modeling of the fission chambers to improve their performance has become important. The development of modeling depends upon the understanding and consideration of underlying physics of these detectors. The validation of modeling of fission chambers will need the quantification of uncertainty introduced at every stage from neutron-deposit interaction to signal shaping. Based on this objective, a detailed review was performed on fission chamber modeling and simulation covering neutron flux self-shielding, fissile deposit evolution, fission product emission, auto-absorption, electron-ion pair creation, charge recombination and avalanche, space charge effect, charge transport, propagation of electronic pulse and pulse shaping. The analytical methods, algorithmic treatments, simulation, and computation codes used so far in case of modeling different aspects of fission chambers were reviewed. Along with the numerical methods and computer codes for simulating electron drift and charge transport for the usual gas chamber detectors, the use of several fissile material evolution techniques and computation codes were observed in case of fission chamber modeling. The use higher order statistics to handle fluctuation mode and to treat noisy data were observed. In recent years, fission chamber modeling made reasonable improvement in detail physics modeling. Several analytical methods like advanced statistics for Campbellng mode and electric field distortion due to space charge effect need to be incorporated in computation codes. More progress in the areas of evolution of gas behavior, consideration of Penning, recombination, and avalanche effect still needed.

To make energy production sustainable and reduce carbon dioxide emissions it is necessary to stop using fossil fuels as our primary energy source. The Accelerator Driven Subcritical Reactor (ADSR) could provide safe nuclear power. It uses thorium as fuel, which is more abundant than uranium, and produces less long lived waste. An ADSR uses neutron spallation, caused by a high power proton beam impacting a metal target, to drive and control the reaction. The beam needs to have an energy of around 1 Ge V and a current of 10 mA with a very high reliability, the combination of which is beyond the capabilities of existing particle accelerators. Cyclotrons and synchrotrons both have trouble producing such a beam, while a suitable linac would be several hundred metres long, and expensive. A more compact accelerator design would allow multiple accelerators to be combined to improve reliability. This thesis examines the use of a Fixed-Field Alternating-Gradient (FFAG) accelerator as the proton driver. FFAGs are compact, and can simultaneously achieve higher energies than a cyclotron at higher repetition rates than a synchrotron. However, it is still a challenge to reach the high currents required. A 35 to 400 MeV non-scaling FFAG was designed to demonstrate issues encountered at high currents. Two methods were investigated in order to increase the number of particle bunches that could be simultaneously accelerated. One uses multiple solutions to the harmonic conditions for acceleration, and the second injects bunches after the acceleration has started. Neither was found to give significant practical improvement in current. Space charge is a destructive force at high currents. Software was developed to simulate the effect of space charge in an FFAG using several models. Space charge tune shifts were measured for a range of energies and currents, and peak currents of above 1 A were found to be unstable. In order to provide 10 mA of average current, acceleration would need to occur in around 100 turns, which will require a very rapid RF sweep.

Resistive random access memory (RRAM), based on a two-terminal resistive switching device with a switching element sandwiched between two electrodes, has been an attractive candidate to replace flash memory owing to its simple structure, excellent scaling potential, low power consumption, high switching speed, and good retention and endurance properties. However, due to the current limited understanding of the device mechanism, RRAMs research are still facing several issues and challenges including instability of operation parameters, the relatively high reset current, the limited retention and the unsatisfactory endurance. In this study, we investigated the switching mechanisms, conditions and applications of oxygen vacancy (Vo) filament formation in resistive memories. By studying the behavior of conductive Vo nanofilaments in several metal/oxide/metal resistive devices of various thicknesses of oxides, a resulting model supported by the data postulates that there are two distinct modes of creating oxygen vacancies: i) a conventional bulk mode creation, and ii) surface mode of creating oxygen vacancies at the active metal-dielectric interface. A further investigation of conduction mechanism for the Vo CF only based memories is conducted through insertion of a thin layer of titanium into a Pt/ Ta2O5/Pt structure to form a Pt/Ti/ Ta2O5/Pt device. A space charge limited (SCL) conduction model is used to explain the experimental data regarding SET process at low voltage ranges. The evidence for existence of composite copper/oxygen vacancy nanofilaments is presented. The innovative use of hybrid Vo/Cu nanofilament will potentially overcome high forming voltage and gas accumulation issues. A resistive floating electrode device (RFED) is designed to allow the generation of current/voltage pulses that can be controlled by three independent technology parameters. Our recent research has demonstrated that in a Cu/TaOx/Pt resistive device multiple Cu conductive nanofilaments can be formed and ruptured successively. Near the end of the study, quantized and partial quantized conductance is observed at room temperature in metal-insulator-metal structures with graphene submicron-sized nanoplatelets embedded in a 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) polymer layer. As an organic memory, the device exhibits reliable memory operation with an ON/OFF ratio of more than 10. / Ph. D.

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