Biological and Chemical Physics Commons^™

Orbital And Spin Angular Momentum Light Generation, Interactions, Special Photons, And Applications In Liquids, Solids, Vapors And Biological Tissue Media, Sandra Mamani Reyes

Dissertations and Theses

Photons possess many characteristics such as wavelength, coherence, speed, polarization and wavefront. The aim of this thesis is the study of two salient properties of light exploring light carrying polarization and space degree of freedom of the wavefront. The wavefront of light is complex with different states of polarization. Special light beams are generated and characterized for interaction with liquids, solids, vapors, and bio- materials to understand fundamental processes such as Transmission, Raman scattering, and Optical Kerr Effect in steady state and temporal domains.

It has been more than hundred years since it is known that light can carry other …

Shaping The Future Past: Finding History, Creating Identity In The Kwan Hsu Papers, Lisa Chere' Donnelly

Dissertations and Theses

Dr. Kwan Hsu was neither a superstar nor a celebrity. Her name does not come up in conversations about important contributors to her field of biophysics nor is she instantly recognizable for her contributions to Portland State University's international program or the state of Oregon's business ties with China. Yet she was a contributor, a cog-in-the-wheel, at the very least, in all of these areas and more. She was a peripheral member of a well-known Chinese family, but few in the United States know of or perhaps have interest in, but otherwise, she had no great connections or family ties …

The Temperature Dependent Modification Of The Ca2+ Release Mechanism Of Skeletal Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum, Shawn Patrick Mullen

Dissertations and Theses

The Ca²⁺ release protein/ryanodine receptor from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum is shown to be modulated in a unique manner by small changes in temperature. Thiol oxidants and reducing agents modify channel function in a biphasic manner at 40° C, while at 34° C the channel exhibits only a monophasic behavior. Elevated temperature appears to expose a second set of reactive groups that, when either oxidized or reduced, alter function. Previous studies have focused on the properties of the release mechanism at or below 37° C. This study shows that at 40° C, which more reflects the body temperature of …

Copper Electrodeposition In A Magnetic Field, Hiroshi Takeo

Dissertations and Theses

The effect of a magnetic field on copper electrodeposition was investigated. Copper was electrodeposited onto square copper cathodes 1 sq cm in area from an aqueous solution (0.5 M CuSO₄, 0.5 M H₂SO₄. A glass cell was placed between the pole pieces of an electromagnet, and the magnetic fields applied were in the range from 0 to 12.5 kG. The current density was in the range from 80 mA/sq cm to 880 mA/sq cm. In each of the experiments, cell current, cell voltage, and cell temperature were monitored with a microcomputer. The weight …

Alternating Current Studies And Kinetic Analysis Of Valinomycin Mediated Charge-Transport Through Lipid Bilayer Membranes, Kenneth Lee Cox

Dissertations and Theses

In this study we have investigated the frequency dependence of bilayer lipid membranes for a series of glycerylmonoolein/n-decane bilayers in various aqueous ionic solutions containing the ionophore valinomycin. Reliable values of membrane capacitance and conductance were obtained over the frequency range 0.2 - 200 KHz using an automatic balancing bridge under the control of a microprocessor unit. The admittance data was then normalized and curve-fitted to produce relaxation times and amplitudes from which the kinetic rate parameters, as deduced from a single slab dielectric membrane model, were calculated. These ac experimental rate constants were then compared with those obtained from …

Investigation Of The Alpha-Sub-Gamma Phase In Alnico 6, Cortez Samuel

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this research project was to study the αᵧ phase in Alnico 6. Other phases were studies for comparison. Also the effect of an applied magnetic field on the formation of the αᵧ phase was investigated.

Three single crystals of Alnico 6 were heat treated for one hour--one at 1250°C, one at 1000°C, and one at 800°C--and water-quenched. The microstructure of each sample was observed with the optical microscope, and X-ray diffraction patterns were taken to determine the crystal structure of the phases present.

Several single crystal samples of Alnico 6 were heat treated at 1000°C and furnace-cooled. …