Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 39
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Magneto-Optics And Magneto-Transport Studies On Thin Films For Sensor Applications, Kaida Yang
Magneto-Optics And Magneto-Transport Studies On Thin Films For Sensor Applications, Kaida Yang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Recent progress and interest have bought considerable effort to bear on the synthesis and opportunities of magnetic thin films in different fields. There are applications in many fields, including remote sensing, waveguide applications, hard drive applications, etc. at the College of William and Mary, we have focused on utilizing magnetic thin films in some of these applications and are deeply involved in the optimization process of the thin films.
Superconducting Thin Films For Srf Cavity Applications: A Route To Higher Field Gradient Linacs, Wiliam Michael Roach
Superconducting Thin Films For Srf Cavity Applications: A Route To Higher Field Gradient Linacs, Wiliam Michael Roach
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Many linear accelerator (linac) applications rely on the use of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. In order to overcome the current field gradient limits imposed by the use of bulk niobium, a model involving the deposition of alternating superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) thin films onto the interior surface of SRF cavities has been proposed. Since SRF performance is a surface phenomenon, the critical surface of these cavities is less than 1 micron thick, thus enabling the use of thin films. Before such approach can successfully be implemented fundamental studies correlating the microstructure and superconducting properties of thin films are needed. to this …
Nonlinear Optical Studies Of Photoelastic Effect And Magneto-Plasmonics, Wei Zheng
Nonlinear Optical Studies Of Photoelastic Effect And Magneto-Plasmonics, Wei Zheng
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Nonlinear optical (NLO) processes are optical phenomena involving a nonlinear response to an applied light field. Two kinds of nonlinearities are studied in this dissertation: magnetic-induced second-harmonic generation (MSHG) interacting with surface plasmon, called "nonlinear magnetoplasmonics" (NMP), and the nonlinear index induced by a strong pump beam in Titanium doped sapphire crystal, referred to as population-induced nonlinear index effect.;The fundamentals of the major effects involved are discussed, which include: surface plasmon and its field enhancement effect, MSHG technique and phenomenological calculations, the contrast ratio of magnetic switching, the calculation of lensing effects, population induced strain, and photoelastic effect. Furthermore, the …
Optical Characterization Of Magnetism In Magnetic/Nonmagnetic Heterostructures, Yichun Fan
Optical Characterization Of Magnetism In Magnetic/Nonmagnetic Heterostructures, Yichun Fan
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This thesis focuses on the study of the static and dynamic magnetic interactions in ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic heterostructures using interface-specific and time-resolved optical techniques. The goal of this thesis is to elucidate the interface exchange coupling, magnetic anisotropy, and coherent spin dynamics in these advanced material systems, crucial to the realization of high performance spintronic devices.;First, a pronounced exchange bias (EB) phenomenon is observed in Fe/MgO (001) by magnetic second harmonic generation. The bulk magnetization does not, in marked contrast to typical systems where EB is manifested only in the net magnetization. The magnitude of the exchange bias varies with interface oxygen …
Surface Impedance Of Superconducting Radio Frequency (Srf) Materials, Binping Xiao
Surface Impedance Of Superconducting Radio Frequency (Srf) Materials, Binping Xiao
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) technology is widely adopted in particle accelerators. There remain many open questions, however, in developing a systematic understanding of the fundamental behavior of SRF materials, including niobium treated in different ways and various other bulk/thin film materials that are fabricated with different methods under assorted conditions. A facility that can measure the SRF properties of small samples in a range of 2∼40 K temperature is needed in order to fully answer these questions. The Jefferson Lab surface impedance characterization (SIC) system has been designed to attempt to meet this requirement. It consists of a sapphire-loaded cylindrical …
Microscopic Dynamics And Transport Of Hydrogen In Proton Conducting Oxides, Erik J. Spahr
Microscopic Dynamics And Transport Of Hydrogen In Proton Conducting Oxides, Erik J. Spahr
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The microscopic motion of hydrogen in solid oxides plays an important role in defect migration and reaction processes. Understanding the vibrational dynamics associated with both hydrogen-oxygen (O-H) bonds and the surrounding ionic environment allows one to better characterize these fundamental interactions. This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the vibrational decay dynamics of O-H and O-D stretch modes in crystalline oxides using time-resolved infrared pump-probe spectroscopy.;Measurements of the vibrational lifetimes of hydrogen related local modes in potassium tantalate (KTaO3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) show that the localized O-H vibration is very closely tied to proton transport. In KTaO3 we …
Thin Film And Chemical Ordering Effects On The Magnetic Anisotropy In Binary Alloys, Jonathan Ronald Skuza
Thin Film And Chemical Ordering Effects On The Magnetic Anisotropy In Binary Alloys, Jonathan Ronald Skuza
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This dissertation presents various investigations into the structure-property correlations in highly anisotropic FePt and FePd thin films and nanostructures. These binary alloy thin films may exhibit long-range chemical ordering (e.g. L10), which induces a strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy whose orientation is dependent on the ordering direction in the thin film. The chemical ordering, and hence the magnetic anisotropy, in these thin films can be controlled and tailored through sputter deposition and ion implantation conditions followed by subsequent processing. Two novel fabrication methods, x-ray rapid thermal annealing (XRTA) and heavy ion implantation, successfully demonstrate the ability to obtain highly anisotropic nanometer-sized …
Enhanced Field Emission From Vertically Oriented Graphene By Thin Solid Film Coatings, Michael Bagge-Hansen
Enhanced Field Emission From Vertically Oriented Graphene By Thin Solid Film Coatings, Michael Bagge-Hansen
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Recent progress and a coordinated national research program have brought considerable effort to bear on the synthesis and application of carbon nanostructures for field emission. at the College of William and Mary, we have developed field emission arrays of vertically oriented graphene (carbon nanosheets, CNS) that have demonstrated promising cathode performance, delivering emission current densities up to 2 mA/mm2 and cathode lifetime > 800 hours. The work function ( & phis;) of CNS and other carbonaceous cathode materials has been reported to be &phis;∼4.5-5.1 eV. The application of low work function thin films can achieve several orders of magnitude enhancement of …
First-Principles Calculations Of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Chemical Shielding Tensors In Complex Ferroelectric Perovskites, Daniel Lawrence Pechkis
First-Principles Calculations Of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Chemical Shielding Tensors In Complex Ferroelectric Perovskites, Daniel Lawrence Pechkis
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most important experimental probes of local atomistic structure, chemical ordering, and dynamics. Recently, NMR has increasingly been used to study complex ferroelectric perovskite alloys, where spectra can be difficult to interpret. First-principles calculations of NMR spectra can greatly assist in this task. In this work, oxygen, titanium, and niobium NMR chemical shielding tensors, s&d4; , were calculated with first-principles methods for ferroelectric transition metal prototypical ABO3 perovskites [SrTiO3, BaTiO 3, PbTiO3 and PbZrO3] and A(B,B')O3 perovskite alloys Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3 (PZT) and Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN). The principal findings are 1) a large anisotropy between …
The Functionalization Of Carbon Nanosheets, Ronald A. Quinlan
The Functionalization Of Carbon Nanosheets, Ronald A. Quinlan
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Carbon nanosheets are a novel two-dimensional nanostructure made up of 2-20 graphene atomic planes oriented with their in-plane axis perpendicular to the growth substrate. Previous efforts in developing nanosheet technology have focused on the characterization of the system and their development as an electron source due to the high atomic enhancement factor (beta) and low turn on field. Further investigation of nanosheets as high surface area electrodes revealed poor wetting by polymeric material and extreme hydrophobic behavior.;Because nanosheet technology has promise as a high surface area electrode material, this thesis research has focused on three areas of interest: the enhancement …
Time-Resolved Magnetic Flux And Ac-Current Distributions In Superconducting Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide Thin Films And Multifilaments, Ran Yang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Time-resolved magneto-optical imaging (TRMOI) technique allows dynamic ac transport measurements on superconductors. The high time and spatial resolutions of the measurements also offer good quantitative data analysis of the MO images. YBa2Cu 3O7-delta (YBCO) was discovered as a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) which has wide applications due to its high critical temperature of Tc = 91 K, and high critical current density Jc in the order of 106-7 Acm-2. Many of the applications require high ac current load and a high magnetic field. We study the interaction behavior of YBCO thin films in an ac transport current and a dc magnetic …
Synthesis And Field Emission Properties Of Carbon Nanostructures, Kun Hou
Synthesis And Field Emission Properties Of Carbon Nanostructures, Kun Hou
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
This dissertation focuses on developing carbon nanostructures for application as the electron emissive material in novel back-gated triode field emission devices. The synthesis, characterization, and field emission properties of carbon nanostructures, including 1-D carbon nanofibers (CNF), 2-D carbon nanosheets (CNS), and chromium oxide coated carbon nanosheets (CrOx-CNS), are presented in this work.;First, we have fabricated aligned carbon nanofiber based back-gated triode field emission devices and confirmed the operation of these devices. 1-D carbon nanofibers were directly synthesized on blank TiW substrates using direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. It was found that the morphology of carbon nanofibers could be …
Photochemical Modification Of Polyethylene Terephthalate Surface, Zhengmao Zhu
Photochemical Modification Of Polyethylene Terephthalate Surface, Zhengmao Zhu
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The prospect of obtaining desired surface-mediated characteristics while retaining bulk-mediated physical properties and avoiding potential environmental issues with wet chemical technology lends considerable appeal to photochemical approaches to surface modification.;We undertook a combined experimental and computational approach to investigate the effect of deep UV irradiation on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface. its response to 172 nm UV from a xenon examiner lamp in the absence of oxygen was characterized with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Time of Flight/Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF/SIMS), transmission infrared spectroscopy (IR), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The surface chemistry details suggested that the primary photochemical reactions …
Vibrational Lifetimes Of Hydrogen And Oxygen Defects In Semiconductors, Baozhou Sun
Vibrational Lifetimes Of Hydrogen And Oxygen Defects In Semiconductors, Baozhou Sun
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Characterization of defect and impurity reactions, dissociation, and migration in semiconductors requires a detailed understanding of the rates and pathways of vibrational energy flow and of the coupling mechanisms between local modes and the phonon bath of the host material. Information on the inelastic microscopic interaction can be obtained by measuring the lifetime of local vibrational modes. This dissertation presents lifetime measurements of hydrogen and oxygen defects in semiconductors by means of time-resolved infrared pump-probe spectroscopy.;First, we measured the vibrational lifetime of H- and D-related bending modes in Si and other semiconductors. Time-resolved pump-probe and linewidth measurements reveal that the …
Characterization Of Ionic, Dipolar And Molecular Mobility In Polymer Systems, Zhenrong Guo
Characterization Of Ionic, Dipolar And Molecular Mobility In Polymer Systems, Zhenrong Guo
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Changes in the ionic and dipolar molecular mobility in a polymer system are the basis for the changes in the dielectric mechanical properties of polymer materials. Frequency Dependent Dielectric Measurements (FDEMS) and Ion Time-of-Flight (ITOF) are two important techniques to investigate ionic and dipolar molecular mobility in polymer systems. The results can be related to the macro- and molecular dielectric, electrical and dynamic properties of polymeric materials. The combination of these two methods provides a full view of electric, dielectric and dynamic behavior for the systems as they undergo chemical and/or physical changes during polymerization crystallization, vitrification, and/or phase separation.;The …
Solid State Nmr Characterization Of Conductive Polyanilines, Yanina Anatolievna Goddard
Solid State Nmr Characterization Of Conductive Polyanilines, Yanina Anatolievna Goddard
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Different forms of ring deuterated polyaniline with different conductivity have been characterized by solid state deuteron nuclear magnetic resonance.;Quadrupole echo (QE) spectra of all forms of polyaniline consist of a superposition of lineshapes for nearly rigid aromatic rings and a small fraction of rings which undergo fast 180?? flips. The intensity of the fast flipping component is temperature dependent and different for conductive emeraldine salt (ES) and non-conductive emeraldine base (EB). This is a manifestation of the different structure and morphology of these polymers.;Simultaneous measurements of QE lineshapes and the relaxation time anisotropies allowed an accurate description of motion in …
Dual Energy Scanning Beam X -Radiography, Randolph Frank Wojcik
Dual Energy Scanning Beam X -Radiography, Randolph Frank Wojcik
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Dual energy X-radiography is a method first developed in the mid-1970's by which one uses the information contained in the energy spectrum of the transmitted X-ray flux through an object. With this information one can distinguish the types of materials present in a radiograph and thus allow a computer to subtract them from the image enhancing the contrast of the remaining materials. Using this method, one can see details, which would have been hidden by overlying structures of other materials such as seen in radiographs of parts, made up of mixtures of metals and composites. There is also great interest …
Synthesis And Characterization Of Polyimide Residuum, Friable Balloons, Microspheres And Foams, Erik Saul Weiser
Synthesis And Characterization Of Polyimide Residuum, Friable Balloons, Microspheres And Foams, Erik Saul Weiser
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
In order to meet requirements of future NASA systems for advanced polymeric cellular materials, research was undertaken to develop the next generation of polyimide foams which could be utilized as a reusable structural insulation on future Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Programs. This research activity focused on developing polyimide foam and foam structures which were made using monomeric solutions or salt solutions formed from the reaction of a dianhydride and diamine dissolved in a mixture of foaming agents and alkyl alcohols. This process produced a precursor solid residuum which could then be manufactured into foams, friable balloons and microspheres. Polyimide foams …
Chemical Bonding In Hard And Elastic Amorphous Carbon-Nitride Films, W. Jason Gammon
Chemical Bonding In Hard And Elastic Amorphous Carbon-Nitride Films, W. Jason Gammon
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
In this study, the chemical bonding in hard and elastic amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) films is investigated with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and 15N, 13C, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The films were deposited by DC Magnetron sputtering in a pure nitrogen discharge on Si(001) substrates at 300--400??C. Nanoindentation measurements reveal an elastic modulus of ∼50 GPa and a hardness of ∼5 GPa, thus confirming our films are highly elastic but resist plastic deformation.;Our 13C NMR study demonstrates the absence of sp 3-bonded carbon in this material. Collectively, our N(1s) XPS, 13C NMR, and 15N NMR data suggest …
In-Situ Frequency-Dependent Electromagnetic Sensing For Monitoring Physical And Chemical Attributes During Chemical Processing, Jeffrey David Rogozinski
In-Situ Frequency-Dependent Electromagnetic Sensing For Monitoring Physical And Chemical Attributes During Chemical Processing, Jeffrey David Rogozinski
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The objective of this research was to develop an in-situ sensing technique that monitors the molecular-level response of ions and dipoles to an applied electric field in order to characterize the changes in state of a polymer resin during chemical processing. This technique needs to be capable of monitoring the reaction progress not only in the laboratory setting but also in-situ in the processing tool or reaction environment. Frequency Dependent Electromagnetic Sensing (FDEMS) was selected for this task.;This dissertation investigates the applicability of FDEMS to monitoring two types of processing methods: reactive and batch reactor. The reactive processing system examined …
Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Generation Mechanisms For Laser Ultrasound In Woven Graphite /Epoxy Composites With Translaminar Stitching, Adam D. Friedman
Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Generation Mechanisms For Laser Ultrasound In Woven Graphite /Epoxy Composites With Translaminar Stitching, Adam D. Friedman
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The aerospace industry is beginning to use advanced composite materials for primary load bearing structures and their failure mechanisms must be better understood to predict their behavior in service. The Combined Loads Tests (COLTS) facility is being constructed at the NASA Langley Research Center to characterize these failure mechanisms. Laser based ultrasonic NDE can monitor the samples during dynamic loading without interfering with the structural tests. However, the constraints of implementing laser ultrasound in a structures laboratory reduces the efficiency of the technique. The system has to be "eye-safe" because many people will be present during the structural tests. Consequently, …
Plasma Source Ion Implantation Of High Voltage Electrodes, Thomas Joseph Venhaus
Plasma Source Ion Implantation Of High Voltage Electrodes, Thomas Joseph Venhaus
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Field emission and breakdown characteristics of high voltage, large area electrodes determine the performance of many vacuum-based electron sources. A corroborative project with the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility involves studying the behavior of such electrodes after nitrogen ion implantation. A Plasma Source Ion Implantation (PSII) facility is designed and constructed at William and Mary, and used to treat stainless steel electrodes. PSII is a novel implantation technique developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A workpiece is submerged in a quiescent plasma of the species to be implanted. A series of high, negative voltages (30--100 kV) is applied to the …
Surface Processing By Rfi Pecvd And Rfi Psii, Lingling Wu
Surface Processing By Rfi Pecvd And Rfi Psii, Lingling Wu
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
An RFI plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system and a large-scale RF plasma source immersion ion implantation (PSII) system were designed and built to study two forms of 3-D surface processing, PECVD and PSII. Using the RFI PECVD system, Ti-6Al-4V substrates were coated with diamond-like carbon films with excellent tribological and optical properties. as an innovation, variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) was successfully applied for non-destructive, 3-D, large-area tribological coatings quality investigation.;Based on the experience with the RFI PECVD system, a large-scale RFICP source was designed and built for the PSIL Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy studies indicated …
Fabrications And Characterizations Of Boron Containing Polyimides For Radiation Shielding, Christopher Scott Pugh
Fabrications And Characterizations Of Boron Containing Polyimides For Radiation Shielding, Christopher Scott Pugh
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.
The Role Of Adsorbed Oxygen In Secondary Emission From Metallic Substrates, Scott Gregory Walton
The Role Of Adsorbed Oxygen In Secondary Emission From Metallic Substrates, Scott Gregory Walton
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Low energy, ion- and photon-induced secondary electron and anion emission from metallic substrates has been investigated as a function of adsorbate coverage. Sodium positive ions (Na+), with kinetic energies up to 500 eV, and photons, with energies up to 23 eV, are utilized to initiate secondary emission. The principal adsorbate is oxygen with coverages ranging from none to a few monolayers.;For ion-induced emission, the secondary electron and negative ion absolute and relative yields from 302 stainless steel and polycrystalline tungsten (W) have been measured as a function of both impact energy and oxygen coverage. Additionally, the yields from a "technical" …
Platinized Tin Oxide: A Low-Temperature Oxidation Catalyst, Erik Joshua Kielin
Platinized Tin Oxide: A Low-Temperature Oxidation Catalyst, Erik Joshua Kielin
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Some combinations of noble metal and reducible metal oxide possess a synergistic level of activity for the catalytic oxidation of CO at lower temperatures and partial pressures of O2 than can be obtained by either component alone. The most promising candidates, Au on MnO2 and Pt on SnO 2, were investigated for the effects on activity of noble metal loading, of reductive pretreatment at elevated temperature, and of reaction gas mixture composition. Optimum activity was obtained at a noble metal loading of 28% Au/MnO2 and 17% Pt/SnO2. Both catalysts benefitted from reductive CO pretreatment at 125??C. Both catalysts showed enhanced …
Correlation Of Dynamic Dielectric Properties To Reaction Kinetics And Changing Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy Resins During Cure, Yunfei Wang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
The principal objective of this paper is to describe how complex impedance, obtained from frequency dependent dielectric sensing technique, can be used as an effective diagnostic tool for in situ real-time investigation in the fabrication of thermoset structures.;Two epoxy systems (Pr500 from 3M and My720 from Ciba Geigy) with different functionality are characterized in terms of their dielectric, thermal, and rheological behavior. It is observed that there is a one to one relationship between Tg and conversion which is independent of cure temperature. The chemical kinetics of the reaction is satisfactorily described by an autocatalyzed reaction mechanism. The chemical rate …
The Synthesis Of Reflective And Electrically Conductive Polyimide Films Via An In Situ Self-Metallization Procedure Using Silver(I) Complexes, Robin Elaine Southward
The Synthesis Of Reflective And Electrically Conductive Polyimide Films Via An In Situ Self-Metallization Procedure Using Silver(I) Complexes, Robin Elaine Southward
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Optically reflective polyimide films have been prepared by the incorporation of silver(I) acetate and a {dollar}\beta{dollar}-diketone solubilizing agent, hexafluoroacetylacetone (HFAH), into a dimethylacetamide solution of the poly(amic acid) formed from {dollar}3,3\sp\prime,4,4\sp\prime{dollar}-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) and {dollar}4,4\sp\prime{dollar}-oxydianiline {dollar}(4,4\sp\prime{dollar}-ODA). Optically reflective and conductive polyimide films have been prepared by replacing the {dollar}\beta{dollar}-diketone (HFAH), with the less substituted {dollar}\beta{dollar}-diketone, trifluoroacetylacetone (TFAH). The former system has been both cast directly from the poly(amic acid) resin and cast from the poly(amic acid) resin onto a fully imidized {dollar}\rm BTDA/4,4\sp\prime{dollar}-ODA base (forming a metallized topcoat). Thermal curing of the silver(I)-containing poly(amic acid) leads to imidization with …
Propagation Of Rayleigh Waves In Thin Films, Agus A. Ananda
Propagation Of Rayleigh Waves In Thin Films, Agus A. Ananda
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
With the advent of thin film technology and more recently its applications in microelectronics and control of surface properties, the interest in mechanical properties of thin films has grown tremendously. Mechanical defects such as creep, fracture and adhesion loss, play a very important role in physical instabilities of thin film materials. An acoustic microscope has been built to study mechanical properties of thin-films. The microscope operates at a nominal frequency of 50 MHz. Rayleigh surface waves velocities on the surface of film-substrate systems were measured from V(z) curves generated by the acoustic microscope. V(z) curves are produced from interference between …
Characterizing The Degradation Of Nylon-11 And Pvdf In A Flexible Oil Pipe And Cure Monitoring Of Chemflake Vinylester, John Chen Yang
Characterizing The Degradation Of Nylon-11 And Pvdf In A Flexible Oil Pipe And Cure Monitoring Of Chemflake Vinylester, John Chen Yang
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
No abstract provided.