Sismicidade e esforços tectônicos na zona sísmica Acaraú, Nordeste do Brasil

Inside the Borborema Province the Northwestern Ceará (NC) is one of the most seismic active regions. There are reports of an earthquake occurred in 1810 in the Granja town. On January, 2008 the seismic activity in NC has increased and it was deployed a seismographic network with 11 digital stations. In 2009, another earthquake sequence began and it was deployed another seismographic network in the Santana do Acaraú town with 6 stations. This thesis presents the results obtained by analyzing the data recorded in these two networks. The epicentral areas are located near the northeastern part of the Transbrasiliano Lineament, a shear zone with NE-SW-trending that cuts the study area. The hypocenters are located between 1km and 8km. The strike-slip focal mechanisms were found, which is predominant in the Borborema Province. An integration of seismological, geological and geophysical data was performed and it show that the seismogenic faults found are oriented in the same direction to the local brittle structures observed in field and magnetic lineaments. The SHmax (maximum compressional stress) direction in NC was estimated using an inversion of seven focal mechanisms. The horizontal maximum compression stress (σ1 = 300°) with orientation NW-SE and extension (σ3 = 210°) with NE-SW and σ2 vertical. These results are consistent with results of previous studies. The seismic activity recorded in NC is not related to a possible reactivation of the Transbrasiliano Lineament, by now.

Mapeamento da isoterma de Curie na Bacia do Parnaíba estimada através da profundidade da base das fontes magnéticas

Located on the western edge of the Brazilian northeast, the Parnaíba Basin is an intra cratonic basin with oil production. This study aims at understanding its genesis and evolution, using aeromagnetic and gravity data. We used the spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data to map the depth to the bottom of the magnetic sources in order to assimilate this depth with the depth of the Curie isotherm, and infer the geothermal gradient. Using the spectral analysis technique, we succeeded in mapping the surface of the depth to the bottom of magnetic sources (SBFM), which marks the depth that occur magnetization. In the Parnaíba Basin the SBFM presented depths around -20,5 and -28,5 , which was consistent with an inversion of the same dataset using the technique of Magnetization Vector Inversion (MVI). Furthermore, SBFM topography correlates well with Moho depth, which was estimated from satellite gravimetric data from the GOCE mission (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer). Assuming that SBFM coincides with the Curie isotherm of magnetite (ICM), defined as the surface at which magnetite ( ) looses its ferromagnetic properties, it was possible to estimate the geothermal gradient. The geothermal gradient in the basin showed values between 19.2 and 26.5 , allowing to estimate the heat flow for the Parnaíba basin after assuming a conductivity of 2.69 . The resulting heat flow values ranged between 51.6 and 71.3 , which is consistent with values found in other works throughout the South American continent. Lithospheric thickness using an empirical relationship, finding values between -65.8 and -89.2 . We propose that thermal structure of Parnaíba basin is influenced by a deep thermal anomaly. This anomaly has heated the lithosphere beneath the basin and has resulted in relatively thin values for the lithospheric thickness and relatively high surface heat flow values. The origin of the anomaly is not clear, but the correlation between Curie depth and Moho topography, suggests that tectonic extension processes could have played a role.

Estudo de duas pseudoligas de Nb-Cu obtidas pela rota da metalurgia do pó

The Nb-Cu pseudoalloys present themselves as potential substitutes for the alloys from a well known system and already commercially applied, as the W-Cu alloys, used in applications such as heat sinks, electrical contacts and coils for the generation of high magnetic fields. Because it is an immiscible system, where there is mutual insolubility and low wettability of the liquid Cu on the Nb surface, the processing route used in this work was the Powder Metallurgy. Two Nb alloys were used, with additions of 10% and 20% in weight of Cu, and times of 20, 30 and 40 hours for the high energy milling of the starting powders. The milling evolution of the powders is presented through the characterization techniques, such as the LASER diffraction for particle size, XRD, SEM, EDS, DSC, dilatometry, TEM and chemical analysis. After the milling, portions of the loads were submitted to the annealing heat treatment. The process used for the samples consolidation was the hot pressing, which has been applied both on some milled powders samples, as on the annealed powders. Subsequent heat treatments were performed in the samples at temperatures of 1000ºC (solid phase) and 1100ºC (in the Cu liquid phase). All sets of consolidated samples, and also the two sets of the heat treated, were analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS, density and Vickers microhardness. Moreover, other Nb powder samples with 10% and 20% in weight of Cu obtained by simple mechanical mixing, were consolidated, thermally treated and characterized with the same techniques applied to the others, and the results were compared among themselves. Despite the difficulty of consolidation and densification of the two pseudoalloys of the Nb-Cu system of this study, on the route that passes through the HEM, samples were obtained with densities around 90% of the theoretical density. And, on the processing route of which were only mixed, the values reached up to 97%. Therefore, in this work are also emphasized the processes that made possible these results.

Síntese de ferritas de cobalto e níquel dopadas com zinco e caracterização de suas propriedades eletromagnéticas

This work shows that the synthesis by combustion is a prominent alternative to obtain ceramic powders of higher oxides, nanostructured and of high purity, as the ferrites of formulas Co(1-x)Zn(x)Fe2O4 e Ni(1-x)Zn(x)Fe2O4 with x ranging from 0.2 mols, in a range from 0.2 ≤ x ≥ 1.0 mol, that presents magnetic properties in coexistence of ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic states, which can be used in antennas of micro tapes and selective surfaces of low frequency in a range of miniaturized microwaves, without performance loss. The obtainment occurred through the combustion process, followed by appropriate physical processes and ordered to the utilization of the substrate sinterization process, it gave us a ceramic material, of high purity degree in a nanometric scale. The Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis showed that those ferritic materials presents parameters, as materials hysteresis, that have own behavior of magnetic materials of good quality, in which the magnetization states can be suddenly changed with a relatively small variation of the field intensity, having large applications on the electronics field. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of the ceramic powders synthesized at 900 °C, characterize its structural and geometrical properties, the crystallite size and the interplanar spacing. Other analysis were developed, as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), electric permittivity and the tangent loss, in high frequencies, through the equipment ZVB - 14 Vector Network Analyzer 10 MHz-14 GHz, of ROHDE & SCHWART.

Influência da interação dipolar nas fases magnéticas de nanopartículas esféricas com estrutura núcleo@camada

Bi-magnetic core@shell nanoparticle has attracted attention several researchers because great applicability that they offer. The possibility of combining different functionalities of magnetic materials make them a key piece in many areas as in data processing permanent magnets and biomagnetics sistems. These nanoparticles are controlled by intrinsic properties of the core and shell materials as well as the interactions between them, besides size and geometry effects. Thus, it was developed in this thesis a theoretical study about dipolar interaction contribution between materials different magnetic properties in bi-magnetic core@shell nanoparticles conventional spherical geometry. The materials were analyzed CoFe2O4, MnFe2O4 e CoFe2 in various combinations and sizes. The results show that the impact of the core dipole field in the shell cause reverse magnetization early its, before of the core, in nanoparticle of CoFe2O4(22nm)@CoFe2(2nm), thereby causing a decrease coercivity field of 65% in comparection with simple nanoparticle of CoFe2O4 (HC=13.6 KOe) of same diameter. The large core anisotropy in conventional nanoparticle makes it the a stable dipolar field source in the shell, that varies length scale of the order of the core radius. Furthermore, the impact of dipolar field is greatly enhanced by the geometrical constraints and by magnetics properties of both core@shell materials. In systems with core coated with a thin shell of thickness less than the exchange length, the interaction interface can hold reversal the shell occurring an uniform magnetization reversal, however this effect only is relevant on systems where the dipole field effects is weak compared with the exchange interaction.

Influência da interação dipolar nas fases magnéticas de nanopartículas esféricas com estrutura núcleo@camada

Bi-magnetic core@shell nanoparticle has attracted attention several researchers because great applicability that they offer. The possibility of combining different functionalities of magnetic materials make them a key piece in many areas as in data processing permanent magnets and biomagnetics sistems. These nanoparticles are controlled by intrinsic properties of the core and shell materials as well as the interactions between them, besides size and geometry effects. Thus, it was developed in this thesis a theoretical study about dipolar interaction contribution between materials different magnetic properties in bi-magnetic core@shell nanoparticles conventional spherical geometry. The materials were analyzed CoFe2O4, MnFe2O4 e CoFe2 in various combinations and sizes. The results show that the impact of the core dipole field in the shell cause reverse magnetization early its, before of the core, in nanoparticle of CoFe2O4(22nm)@CoFe2(2nm), thereby causing a decrease coercivity field of 65% in comparection with simple nanoparticle of CoFe2O4 (HC=13.6 KOe) of same diameter. The large core anisotropy in conventional nanoparticle makes it the a stable dipolar field source in the shell, that varies length scale of the order of the core radius. Furthermore, the impact of dipolar field is greatly enhanced by the geometrical constraints and by magnetics properties of both core@shell materials. In systems with core coated with a thin shell of thickness less than the exchange length, the interaction interface can hold reversal the shell occurring an uniform magnetization reversal, however this effect only is relevant on systems where the dipole field effects is weak compared with the exchange interaction.

Evolução morfotectônica da porção centro-sul da Bacia Paraíba

Recent endogenous processes provide dynamic movements in the lithosphere and generate the varied forms of relief, even in areas of passive continental margins, such as the research area of this work located in northeastern Brazil. The reactivation of Precambrian basement structures, after the breakup between South America and Africa in the Cretaceous played an important role in the evolution of basins, which provided generated forms of relief. These morphodynamic characteristics can be easily observed in marginal basins that exhibit strong evidence fault reactivations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of morphotectonic processes in the landscape structuring of Paraíba Basin. Therefore, we used aeromagnetic, high–resolution images of the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission–SRTM, structural geological data, deep well data and geological field data. Based on the results of the data was observed that some preexisting structures in the crystalline basement coincide with magnetic and topographic lineaments interpreted as fault reactivation of the Post–Miocene units in the Paraíba Basin. Faults that offset lithostratigraphic units provided evidence that tectonic activity associated with the deposition and erosion in the Paraíba Basin occurred from Cretaceous to the Quaternary. The neotectonic activity that occurred in Paraíba Basin was able to influence the deposition of sedimentary units and landforms. It indicates that the deposition of post–Cretaceous units was influenced by reactivation of Precambrian basement structures in this part of the Brazilian continental margin.

Anisotropia magnética em nanofilmes com assimetria cristalográfica

This Thesis comprises a theoretical study about the influence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the static and dynamic magnetic properties of nanofilms: monolayers and trilayers coupled through the bilinear and biquadratic exchange fields, for situations in which the systems are grown in unusual [hkl] asymmetric directions. Using a theory based on a realistic phenomenological model for description of nanometric systems, we consider the total free magnetic energy including the Zeeman interaction, cubic and uniaxial anisotropies, demagnetizing and surface anysotropy energies, as well as the exchange terms. Numerical calculations are conducted by minimizing the total magnetic energy from the determination of equilibrium static configurations. We consider experimental parameters found in the literature to illustrate our results for Fe/Cr/Fe trilayer systems. In particular, a total of six different magnetic scenarios are analyzed for three regimens of exchange fields and the [211] and [321] asymmetric growth directions. After numerically minimize the total energy, we use the equilibrium configurations to calculate magnetization and magnetoresistance curves with the respective magnetic phases and corresponding critical fields. These results are also used to establish the boundary for occurrence of saturated states. Within the context of the spin waves, we solve the equation of motion for these systems in order to find the respective associated dispersion relations. The results show similar magnetization and magnetoresistance curves for both [211] and [321] growth scenarios, including an equivalent magnetic transition behavior. However, the combination of those peculiar symmetries and influence of the exchange energies results in attractive properties, including the generation of magnetic states as a function of the asymmetric degree imposed in the [hkl] growth orientations. There is also an increasing incompatibility between the values of saturation fields of magnetization and magnetoresistance for the cases in which a magnetic field acts along intermediate cubic anisotropic axes, particularly in the situations where the bilinear and biquadratic exchange fields are comparable. The dispersion relations and static results are consistent, the corresponding magnetic states are also present in both acoustic and optical modes. Furthermore, Goldstone excitations are also observed for that particular cases of a magnetic field acting in the intermediate axes, an effect related to transitions of second order and to the spontaneous symmetry breaking imposed by the combination of the biquadratic energy with the cubic and uniaxial anisotropies.

Efeito da geometria do implante dentário e do protocolo de fresagem óssea na estabilidade primária e na osseointegração inicial: estudo experimental em cães

CHAPTER 1 - This study histologically evaluated two implant designs: a classic thread design versus another specifically designed for healing chamber formation placed with two drilling protocols. Forty dental implants (4.1 mm diameter) with two different macrogeometries were inserted in the tibia of 10 Beagle dogs, and maximum insertion torque was recorded. Drilling techniques were: until 3.75 mm (regular-group); and until 4.0 mm diameter (overdrillinggroup) for both implant designs. At 2 and 4 weeks, samples were retrieved and processed for histomorphometric analysis. For torque and BIC (bone-to-implant contact) and BAFO (bone area fraction occupied), a general-linear model was employed including instrumentation technique and time in vivo as independent. The insertion torque recorded for each implant design and drilling group significantly decreased as a function of increasing drilling diameter for both implant designs (p<0.001). No significant differences were detected between implant designs for each drilling technique (p>0.18). A significant increase in BIC was observed from 2 to 4 weeks for both implants placed with the overdrilling technique (p<0.03) only, but not for those placed in the 3.75 mm drilling sites (p>0.32). Despite the differences between implant designs and drilling technique an intramembranous-like healing mode with newly formed woven bone prevailed. CHAPTER 2 - The objective of this preliminary histologic study was to determine whether the alteration of drilling protocols (oversized, intermediate, undersized drilling) present different biologic responses at early healing periods of 2 weeks in vivo in a beagle dog model. Ten beagle dogs were acquired and subjected to surgeries in the tibia 2 weeks before euthanasia. During surgery, 3 implants, 4 mm in diameter by 10 mm in length, were placed in bone sites drilled to 3.5 mm, 3.75 mm, and 4.0 mm in final diameter. The insertion and removal torque was recorded for all samples. Statistical significance was set to 95% level of confidence and the number of dogs was considered as the statistical unit for all comparisons. For the torque and BIC and BAFO, a general linear model was employed including instrumentation technique and time in vivo as independent. Overall, the insertion torque increased as a function of drilling diameter from 4.0 mm, to 3.75 mm, to 3.5 mm, with a significant difference in torque levels between all groups (p<0.001). Statistical assessment of BIC and BAFO showed significantly higher values for the 3.75 mm (recommended) drilling group was observed relative to the other two groups (p<0.001). Different drilling dimensions resulted in variations in insertion torque values (primary stability) and different pattern of healing and interfacial remodeling was observed for the different groups. CHAPTER 3 - The present study evaluated the effect of different drilling dimensions (undersized, regular, and oversized) in the insertion and removal torques of dental implants in a beagle dog model. Six beagle dogs were acquired and subjected to bilateral surgeries in the radii 1 and 3 weeks before euthanasia. During surgery, 3 implants, 4 mm in diameter by 10 mm in length, were placed in bone sites drilled to 3.2 mm, 3.5 mm, and 3.8 mm in final diameter. The insertion and removal torque was recorded for all samples. Statistical analysis was performed by paired t tests for repeated measures and by t tests assuming unequal variances (all at the 95% level of significance). Overall, the insertion torque and removal torque levels obtained were inversely proportional to the drilling dimension, with a significant difference detected between the 3.2 mm and 3.5 mm relative to the 3.8 mm groups (P < 0.03). Although insertion torque–removal torque paired observations was statis- tically maintained for the 3.5 mm and 3.8 mm groups, a significant decrease in removal torque values relative to insertion torque levels was observed for the 3.2 mm group. A different pattern of healing and interfacial remodeling was observed for the different groups. Different drilling dimensions resulted in variations in insertion torque values (primary stability) and stability maintenance over the first weeks of bone healing.

Trasporte eléctrico y magnetismo en sistemas electrodo - aislante - electrodo: hacia el desarrollo de dispositivos del tipo juntura tunel.

La presente tesis es un estudio dedicado a la optimización y desarrollo de sistemas del tipo juntura túnel. La metodología utilizada para la realización de la tesis consistió, en primer lugar, en la optimización de las componentes independientes de la juntura túnel: electrodo y barrera aislante. Posteriormente se optimizaron los procesos de fabricación para el desarrollo y caracterización de dispositivos del tipo juntura túnel en su forma final. En la primera parte de la tesis se analizan detalladamente los resultados obtenidos de la caracterización eléctrica y topografica de barreras aislantes en sistemas electrodo - barrera. Los sistemas bicapas estudiados, GdBa_2Cu_3_7/SrTiO_3, Nb/Ba_0,05Sr_0,95TiO_3 y YBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3, fueron caracterizados utilizando un microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor. Se propuso un modelo fenomenológico basado en los resultados experimentales, que permitió la obtención de parámetros críticos para el desarrollo de dispositivos del tipo juntura túnel con nuevas funcionalidades. La información obtenida de la caracterización de los sistemas bicapas (homogeneidad de crecimiento, baja densidad de defectos y de pinholes) indican un muy buen control de los parámetros de crecimiento de las barreras. Por otro lado, se obtuvo un buen comportamiento aislante para espesores mayores a 2 nm sin la presencia de pinholes en la barrera. La similitud en la estequiometría de las barreras (SrTiO_3) permitió comparar los distintos sistemas estudiados en términos de conductividad eléctrica. Se verificó que el modelo fenomenológico permite comparar la conductividad eléctrica de los sistemas mediante uno de los parámetros definidos en el modelo fenomenológico (obtenido de los ajustes lineales de las curvas I(V)). De los 3 sistemas estudiados, las bicapas GdBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3 presentaron un mayor valor de longitud de atenuación de los portadores de carga a través de la barrera y una muy baja densidad de defectos superficiales. Las bicapas YBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3 y Nb/Ba_0,05Sr_0,95TiO_3 permitieron validar el modelo fenomenológico propuesto para el análisis de la respuesta corriente - voltaje obtenida con el microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor. La segunda parte de la tesis abarca conceptos de magnetismo y microfabricación para el desarrollo de junturas túnel magnéticas. Durante la caracterización de las películas ferromagnéticas individuales de Co_90Fe_10 (CoFe) se logró aumentar valor del campo coercitivo de films de 10 nm de espesor al incrementar la temperatura de depósito. Esto se debe a un aumento del tamaño de grano de los films. El aumento de la temperatura del sustrato durante el crecimiento influye en la morfología y las propiedades magnéticas de los films de CoFe favoreciendo la formación de granos y la pérdida del eje preferencial de magnetización. Estos resultados permitieron la fabricación de sistemas Co_90Fe_10/M_gO/Co_90Fe_10 con distintas orientaciones relativas accesibles con campo magnético para el estudio del acople magnético entre los films de CoFe. La caracterización eléctrica de estos sistemas, particularmente la respuesta corriente - voltaje obtenida con el microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor, indicó que las propiedades de transporte eléctrico de las junturas presentan un alto grado de reproducibilidad. Se analizó además la inuencia del sustrato utilizado en la corriente túnel que atraviesa la barrera aislante. Por otro lado, se discuten los fenómenos relacionados a la optimización de las propiedades magnéticas de electrodos ferromagnéticos para la fabricación de junturas túnel Co_90Fe_10/MgO/Co_90Fe_10 y Co_90Fe_10/MgO /Fe_20Ni_80. En particular, se estudió el acople magnético entre capas ferromagnéticas y la inuencia del sustrato utilizado para el crecimiento de las tricapas. La optimización de los electrodos magnéticos involucró el análisis de la inuencia de la presencia de un aislante entre dos capas magnéticas en el acople de los electrodos. Se logró el desacople de films de 10 nm de Co_90Fe_10 y Fe_20Ni_80 separados por un espaciador de MgO de 2 nm. Finalmente se detallan los pasos para la fabricación de una red de junturas túnel magnéticas y su caracterización eléctrica a bajas temperaturas. El sistema estudiado fue la tricapa Co_90Fe_10 (10 nm)/M_gO (8 nm)/ Fe_20Ni_80 (10 nm) crecido sobre un sustrato de M_gO. La caracterización eléctrica confirmó la buena calidad de la junturas fabricadas. Las junturas obtenidas presentaron un comportamiento altamente resistivo (~ MΩ). Las mediciones de la corriente túnel en función de la temperatura permitieron descartar la presencia de pinholes en la barrera. El transporte de los portadores de carga es por efecto túnel a través de la barrera aislante. Las curvas de conductancia diferencial permitieron calcular el valor medio de la altura de la barrera de potencial (φ = 3.1 eV) a partir del modelo de Brinkman. Los resultados obtenidos en cada uno de los capítulos se complementan y son relevantes para la optimización de junturas túnel, debido a que brindan información crítica para su correcto funcionamiento. En la presente tesis se lograron obtener los primeros avances para la fabricación de arreglos de junturas túnel que permitan el desarrollo de dispositivos.

Conception, développement et validation expérimentale d’une boussole haptique

Ce mémoire présente la conception, le contrôle et la validation expérimentale d’une boussole haptique servant à diriger les utilisateurs aux prises avec une déficience visuelle, et ce, dans tous les environnements. La revue de littérature décrit le besoin pour un guidage haptique et permet de mettre en perspective cette technologie dans le marché actuel. La boussole proposée utilise le principe de couples asymétriques. Son design est basé sur une architecture de moteur à entraînement direct et un contrôle en boucle ouverte étalonné au préalable. Cette conception permet d’atteindre une vaste plage de fréquences pour la rétroaction haptique. Les propriétés mécaniques de l’assemblage sont évaluées. Puis, l’étalonnage des couples permet d’assurer que le contrôle en boucle ouverte produit des couples avec une précision suffisante. Un premier test avec des utilisateurs a permis d’identifier que les paramètres de fréquence entre 5 et 15 Hz combinés avec des couples au-delà de 40 mNm permettent d’atteindre une efficacité intéressante pour la tâche. L’expérience suivante démontre qu’utiliser une rétroaction haptique proportionnelle à l’erreur d’orientation améliore significativement les performances. Le concept est ensuite éprouvé avec dix-neuf sujets qui doivent se diriger sur un parcours avec l’aide seule de cette boussole haptique. Les résultats montrent que tous les sujets ont réussi à rencontrer tous les objectifs de la route, tout en maintenant des déviations latérales relativement faibles (0:39 m en moyenne). Les performances obtenues et les impressions des utilisateurs sont prometteuses et plaident en faveur de ce dispositif. Pour terminer, un modèle simplifié du comportement d’un individu pour la tâche d’orientation est développé et démontre l’importance de la personnalisation de l’appareil. Ce modèle est ensuite utilisé pour mettre en valeur la stratégie d’horizon défilant pour le placement de la cible intermédiaire actuelle dans un parcours sur une longue distance.

Trasporte eléctrico y magnetismo en sistemas electrodo - aislante - electrodo: hacia el desarrollo de dispositivos del tipo juntura tunel.

La presente tesis es un estudio dedicado a la optimización y desarrollo de sistemas del tipo juntura túnel. La metodología utilizada para la realización de la tesis consistió, en primer lugar, en la optimización de las componentes independientes de la juntura túnel: electrodo y barrera aislante. Posteriormente se optimizaron los procesos de fabricación para el desarrollo y caracterización de dispositivos del tipo juntura túnel en su forma final. En la primera parte de la tesis se analizan detalladamente los resultados obtenidos de la caracterización eléctrica y topografica de barreras aislantes en sistemas electrodo - barrera. Los sistemas bicapas estudiados, GdBa_2Cu_3_7/SrTiO_3, Nb/Ba_0,05Sr_0,95TiO_3 y YBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3, fueron caracterizados utilizando un microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor. Se propuso un modelo fenomenológico basado en los resultados experimentales, que permitió la obtención de parámetros críticos para el desarrollo de dispositivos del tipo juntura túnel con nuevas funcionalidades. La información obtenida de la caracterización de los sistemas bicapas (homogeneidad de crecimiento, baja densidad de defectos y de pinholes) indican un muy buen control de los parámetros de crecimiento de las barreras. Por otro lado, se obtuvo un buen comportamiento aislante para espesores mayores a 2 nm sin la presencia de pinholes en la barrera. La similitud en la estequiometría de las barreras (SrTiO_3) permitió comparar los distintos sistemas estudiados en términos de conductividad eléctrica. Se verificó que el modelo fenomenológico permite comparar la conductividad eléctrica de los sistemas mediante uno de los parámetros definidos en el modelo fenomenológico (obtenido de los ajustes lineales de las curvas I(V)). De los 3 sistemas estudiados, las bicapas GdBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3 presentaron un mayor valor de longitud de atenuación de los portadores de carga a través de la barrera y una muy baja densidad de defectos superficiales. Las bicapas YBa_2Cu_3O_7/SrTiO_3 y Nb/Ba_0,05Sr_0,95TiO_3 permitieron validar el modelo fenomenológico propuesto para el análisis de la respuesta corriente - voltaje obtenida con el microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor. La segunda parte de la tesis abarca conceptos de magnetismo y microfabricación para el desarrollo de junturas túnel magnéticas. Durante la caracterización de las películas ferromagnéticas individuales de Co_90Fe_10 (CoFe) se logró aumentar valor del campo coercitivo de films de 10 nm de espesor al incrementar la temperatura de depósito. Esto se debe a un aumento del tamaño de grano de los films. El aumento de la temperatura del sustrato durante el crecimiento influye en la morfología y las propiedades magnéticas de los films de CoFe favoreciendo la formación de granos y la pérdida del eje preferencial de magnetización. Estos resultados permitieron la fabricación de sistemas Co_90Fe_10/M_gO/Co_90Fe_10 con distintas orientaciones relativas accesibles con campo magnético para el estudio del acople magnético entre los films de CoFe. La caracterización eléctrica de estos sistemas, particularmente la respuesta corriente - voltaje obtenida con el microscopio de fuerza atómica en modo conductor, indicó que las propiedades de transporte eléctrico de las junturas presentan un alto grado de reproducibilidad. Se analizó además la inuencia del sustrato utilizado en la corriente túnel que atraviesa la barrera aislante. Por otro lado, se discuten los fenómenos relacionados a la optimización de las propiedades magnéticas de electrodos ferromagnéticos para la fabricación de junturas túnel Co_90Fe_10/MgO/Co_90Fe_10 y Co_90Fe_10/MgO /Fe_20Ni_80. En particular, se estudió el acople magnético entre capas ferromagnéticas y la inuencia del sustrato utilizado para el crecimiento de las tricapas. La optimización de los electrodos magnéticos involucró el análisis de la inuencia de la presencia de un aislante entre dos capas magnéticas en el acople de los electrodos. Se logró el desacople de films de 10 nm de Co_90Fe_10 y Fe_20Ni_80 separados por un espaciador de MgO de 2 nm. Finalmente se detallan los pasos para la fabricación de una red de junturas túnel magnéticas y su caracterización eléctrica a bajas temperaturas. El sistema estudiado fue la tricapa Co_90Fe_10 (10 nm)/M_gO (8 nm)/ Fe_20Ni_80 (10 nm) crecido sobre un sustrato de M_gO. La caracterización eléctrica confirmó la buena calidad de la junturas fabricadas. Las junturas obtenidas presentaron un comportamiento altamente resistivo (~ MΩ). Las mediciones de la corriente túnel en función de la temperatura permitieron descartar la presencia de pinholes en la barrera. El transporte de los portadores de carga es por efecto túnel a través de la barrera aislante. Las curvas de conductancia diferencial permitieron calcular el valor medio de la altura de la barrera de potencial (φ = 3.1 eV) a partir del modelo de Brinkman. Los resultados obtenidos en cada uno de los capítulos se complementan y son relevantes para la optimización de junturas túnel, debido a que brindan información crítica para su correcto funcionamiento. En la presente tesis se lograron obtener los primeros avances para la fabricación de arreglos de junturas túnel que permitan el desarrollo de dispositivos.

Magnetómetro para medida de campos electromagnéticos débiles en la banda ELF

La invención comprende un sistema para la medición de campos electromagnéticos débiles, en la banda de frecuencias comprendida entre 1 a 100 Hz, donde se localizan señales derivadas de la resonancia natural que ocurre entre la tierra y la ionosfera, las resonancias de Schumann. El sistema está compuesto por un núcleo de material ferromagnético (1) y un conjunto de bobinas separadas entre sí (2), conectadas mediante cables unifilares (8). Un cable de par trenzado (3) conecta el sensor a un sistema electrónico de medida (4) compuesto por un amplificador diferencial (5) al que se acoplan cada par trenzado, en una bifurcación coaxial con las mallas comunes (20), (21) mediante conectores coaxiales (22), (23) y con salida a un convertidor analógico digital (6). La geometría, estructura y materiales del sistema, le confieren sus propiedades de sensibilidad y ancho de banda.

Sistema de realidade aumentada no procedimento cirúrgico de remoção de pedras nos rins

A inovação tecnológica e as facilidades que gera tem tido um impacto crescente em diversas área, inclusivamente na medicina. A rápida evolução por parte de algumas tecnologias, como é o caso da Realidade Aumentada (RA), criam excelentes oportunidades, nomeadamente para intervenções cirúrgicas laparoscópicas, que apresentam especialmente problemas ao nível da exposição do doente a radiação. O presente documento detalha todo o processo de investigação e desenvolvimento realizado com a pretensão de criar um sistema de navegação por RA que auxilie o procedimento cirúrgico laparoscópico de remoção de pedras nos rins. Com este objetivo em perspetiva, e numa parceria com a empresa ECmedica LTD, foram desenvolvidos quatro protótipo funcionais. Com o intuito de compreender as melhores práticas de sistemas de input, interface e sistema de registo a aplicar, estes integraram aspetos inovadores tais como a utilização de uma sonda ultra-som, como substituta do raioX, e um registo feito através de sensores magnéticos. Apoiados numa metodologia de design centrado no utilizador e em instrumentos de análise como entrevistas e observação natural, os protótipos foram testados, obtendo respostas esclarecedoras relativamente ao objetivos dos protótipos. Foi observado que a RA é vista pelos médicos como uma solução com potencial, com as soluções apresentadas ao nível de inputs, interface e registo a serem bem recebidas. A projeção bidimensional oferecida pela imagem ultra-som foi encarada como insuficientes, sendo sugerida a sua substituição por um aumento tridimensional capaz de facilitar a correta inserção da agulha.

Random path sampling applied to vector models of magnetism

The recently reported Monte Carlo Random Path Sampling method (RPS) is here improved and its application is expanded to the study of the 2D and 3D Ising and discrete Heisenberg models. The methodology was implemented to allow use in both CPU-based high-performance computing infrastructures (C/MPI) and GPU-based (CUDA) parallel computation, with significant computational performance gains. Convergence is discussed, both in terms of free energy and magnetization dependence on field/temperature. From the calculated magnetization-energy joint density of states, fast calculations of field and temperature dependent thermodynamic properties are performed, including the effects of anisotropy on coercivity, and the magnetocaloric effect. The emergence of first-order magneto-volume transitions in the compressible Ising model is interpreted using the Landau theory of phase transitions. Using metallic Gadolinium as a real-world example, the possibility of using RPS as a tool for computational magnetic materials design is discussed. Experimental magnetic and structural properties of a Gadolinium single crystal are compared to RPS-based calculations using microscopic parameters obtained from Density Functional Theory.