Analysis of dispersive and dissipative media with optical resonances

In this paper we analyze the problem of light-matter interaction when absorptive resonances are imbedded in the material dispersion. We apply an improved approach to aluminum (Al) in the optical frequency range to investigate the impact of these resonances on the operating characteristics of Al-based nanoscale devices. Quantities such as group velocity, stored energy density, and energy velocity, normally obtained using a single resonance model [Wave Propagation and Group Velocity (Academic Press, 1960), Nat. Mater. 11, 208 (2012)], are now accurately calculated regardless of the medium adopted. We adapt the Loudon approach [Nat. Mater. 11, 208 (2012)] to media with several optical resonances and present the details of the extended model. We also show pertinent results for Al-based metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguides, around spectral resonances. The model delineated here can be applied readily to any metal accurately characterized by Drude-Lorentz spectral resonance features. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Water-assisted Flow of Heavy Oil in a Vertical Pipe: Pilot-scale Experiments

The use of the core-annular flow pattern, where a thin fluid surrounds a very viscous one, has been suggested as an attractive artificial-lift method for heavy oils in the current Brazilian ultra-deepwater production scenario. This paper reports the pressure drop measurements and the core-annular flow observed in a 2 7/8-inch and 300 meter deep pilot-scale well conveying a mixture of heavy crude oil (2000 mPa.s and 950 kg/m3 at 35 C) and water at several combinations of the individual flow rates. The two-phase pressure drop data are compared with those of single-phase oil flow to assess the gains due to water injection. Another issue is the handling of the core-annular flow once it has been established. High-frequency pressure-gradient signals were collected and a treatment based on the Gabor transform together with neural networks is proposed as a promising solution for monitoring and control. The preliminary results are encouraging. The pilot-scale tests, including long-term experiments, were conducted in order to investigate the applicability of using water to transport heavy oils in actual wells. It represents an important step towards the full scale application of the proposed artificial-lift technology. The registered improvements in terms of oil production rate and pressure drop reductions are remarkable.

Preparation and Structural Characterization of Vulcanized Natural Rubber Nanocomposites Containing Nickel-Zinc Ferrite Nanopowders

Single-phase polycrystalline mixed nickel-zinc ferrites belonging to Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 were prepared on a nanometric scale (mean crystallite size equal to 14.7 nm) by chemical synthesis named the modified poliol method. Ferrite nanopowder was then incorporated into a natural rubber matrix producing nanocomposites. The samples were investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. The obtained results suggest that the base concentration of nickel-zinc ferrite nanoparticles inside the polymer matrix volume greatly influences the magnetic properties of nanoconnposites. A small quantity of nanoparticles, less than 10 phr, in the nanocomposite is sufficient to produce a small alteration in the semi-crystallinity of nanocomposites observed by X-ray diffraction analysis and it produces a flexible magnetic composite material with a saturation magnetization, a coercivity field and an initial magnetic permeability equal to 3.08 emu/g, 99.22 Oe and 9.42 X 10(-5) respectively.

Structural Refinement and Photoluminescence Properties of MnWO4 Nanorods Obtained by Microwave-Hydrothermal Synthesis

Manganese tungstate (MnWO4) nanorods were prepared at room temperature by the co-precipitation method and synthesized after processing in a microwave-hydrothermal (MH) system at 140 degrees C for 6-96 min. These nanorods were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinements and Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy. The growth direction, shape and average size distribution of nanorods were observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HR-TEM). The optical properties of the nanorods were investigated by ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns, Rietveld refinement data and FT-Raman spectroscopy indicate that the MnWO4 precipitate is not a single phase structure while the nanorods synthesized by MH processing have a wolframite-type monoclinic structure without deleterious phases. FT-Raman spectra exhibited the presence of 17 Raman-active modes from 50 to 1,000 cm(-1). TEM and HR-TEM micrographs indicated that the nanorods are aggregated due to surface energy by Van der Waals forces and grow along the [100] direction. UV-vis absorption measurements confirmed non-linear values for the optical band gap (from 3.2 to 2.72 eV), which increased as the MH processing time increased. The structural characterizations indicated that the presence of defects in the MnWO4 precipitate promotes a significant contribution to maximum PL emission, while MnWO4 nanorods obtained by MH processing decrease the PL emission due to the reduction of defects in the lattice.

Performance of Down syndrome subjects during a coincident timing task

Abstract Background The time synchronization is a very important ability for the acquisition and performance of motor skills that generate the need to adapt the actions of body segments to external events of the environment that are changing their position in space. Down Syndrome (DS) individuals may present some deficits to perform tasks with synchronization demand. We aimed to investigate the performance of individuals with DS in a simple Coincident Timing task. Method 32 individuals were divided into 2 groups: the Down syndrome group (DSG) comprised of 16 individuals with average age of 20 (+/− 5 years old), and a control group (CG) comprised of 16 individuals of the same age. All individuals performed the Simple Timing (ST) task and their performance was measured in milliseconds. The study was conducted in a single phase with the execution of 20 consecutive trials for each participant. Results There was a significant difference in the intergroup analysis for the accuracy adjustment - Absolute Error (Z = 3.656, p = 0.001); and for the performance consistence - Variable Error (Z = 2.939, p = 0.003). Conclusion DS individuals have more difficulty in integrating the motor action to an external stimulus and they also present more inconsistence in performance. Both groups presented the same tendency to delay their motor responses.

Estimating crustal deformation from geodetic data

By the end of the 19th century, geodesy has contributed greatly to the knowledge of regional tectonics and fault movement through its ability to measure, at sub-centimetre precision, the relative positions of points on the Earth’s surface. Nowadays the systematic analysis of geodetic measurements in active deformation regions represents therefore one of the most important tool in the study of crustal deformation over different temporal scales [e.g., Dixon, 1991]. This dissertation focuses on motion that can be observed geodetically with classical terrestrial position measurements, particularly triangulation and leveling observations. The work is divided into two sections: an overview of the principal methods for estimating longterm accumulation of elastic strain from terrestrial observations, and an overview of the principal methods for rigorously inverting surface coseismic deformation fields for source geometry with tests on synthetic deformation data sets and applications in two different tectonically active regions of the Italian peninsula. For the long-term accumulation of elastic strain analysis, triangulation data were available from a geodetic network across the Messina Straits area (southern Italy) for the period 1971 – 2004. From resulting angle changes, the shear strain rates as well as the orientation of the principal axes of the strain rate tensor were estimated. The computed average annual shear strain rates for the time period between 1971 and 2004 are γ˙1 = 113.89 ± 54.96 nanostrain/yr and γ˙2 = -23.38 ± 48.71 nanostrain/yr, with the orientation of the most extensional strain (θ) at N140.80° ± 19.55°E. These results suggests that the first-order strain field of the area is dominated by extension in the direction perpendicular to the trend of the Straits, sustaining the hypothesis that the Messina Straits could represents an area of active concentrated deformation. The orientation of θ agree well with GPS deformation estimates, calculated over shorter time interval, and is consistent with previous preliminary GPS estimates [D’Agostino and Selvaggi, 2004; Serpelloni et al., 2005] and is also similar to the direction of the 1908 (MW 7.1) earthquake slip vector [e.g., Boschi et al., 1989; Valensise and Pantosti, 1992; Pino et al., 2000; Amoruso et al., 2002]. Thus, the measured strain rate can be attributed to an active extension across the Messina Straits, corresponding to a relative extension rate ranges between < 1mm/yr and up to ~ 2 mm/yr, within the portion of the Straits covered by the triangulation network. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Messina Straits is an important active geological boundary between the Sicilian and the Calabrian domains and support previous preliminary GPS-based estimates of strain rates across the Straits, which show that the active deformation is distributed along a greater area. Finally, the preliminary dislocation modelling has shown that, although the current geodetic measurements do not resolve the geometry of the dislocation models, they solve well the rate of interseismic strain accumulation across the Messina Straits and give useful information about the locking the depth of the shear zone. Geodetic data, triangulation and leveling measurements of the 1976 Friuli (NE Italy) earthquake, were available for the inversion of coseismic source parameters. From observed angle and elevation changes, the source parameters of the seismic sequence were estimated in a join inversion using an algorithm called “simulated annealing”. The computed optimal uniform–slip elastic dislocation model consists of a 30° north-dipping shallow (depth 1.30 ± 0.75 km) fault plane with azimuth of 273° and accommodating reverse dextral slip of about 1.8 m. The hypocentral location and inferred fault plane of the main event are then consistent with the activation of Periadriatic overthrusts or other related thrust faults as the Gemona- Kobarid thrust. Then, the geodetic data set exclude the source solution of Aoudia et al. [2000], Peruzza et al. [2002] and Poli et al. [2002] that considers the Susans-Tricesimo thrust as the May 6 event. The best-fit source model is then more consistent with the solution of Pondrelli et al. [2001], which proposed the activation of other thrusts located more to the North of the Susans-Tricesimo thrust, probably on Periadriatic related thrust faults. The main characteristics of the leveling and triangulation data are then fit by the optimal single fault model, that is, these results are consistent with a first-order rupture process characterized by a progressive rupture of a single fault system. A single uniform-slip fault model seems to not reproduce some minor complexities of the observations, and some residual signals that are not modelled by the optimal single-fault plane solution, were observed. In fact, the single fault plane model does not reproduce some minor features of the leveling deformation field along the route 36 south of the main uplift peak, that is, a second fault seems to be necessary to reproduce these residual signals. By assuming movements along some mapped thrust located southward of the inferred optimal single-plane solution, the residual signal has been successfully modelled. In summary, the inversion results presented in this Thesis, are consistent with the activation of some Periadriatic related thrust for the main events of the sequence, and with a minor importance of the southward thrust systems of the middle Tagliamento plain.

Synthesis and Physical-Chemical characterization of Metallic Nanoparticles

The stabilization of nanoparticles against their irreversible particle aggregation and oxidation reactions. is a requirement for further advancement in nanoparticle science and technology. For this reason the research aim on this topic focuses on the synthesis of various metal nanoparticles protected with monolayers containing different reactive head groups and functional tail groups. In this work cuprous bromide nanocrystals haave been synthetized with a diameter of about 20 nanometers according to a new sybthetic method adding dropwise ascorbic acid to a water solution of lithium bromide and cupric chloride under continuous stirring and nitrogen flux. Butane thiolate Cu protected nanoparticles have been synthetized according to three different syntesys methods. Their morphologies appear related to the physicochemical conditions during the synthesis and to the dispersing medium used to prepare the sample. Synthesis method II allows to obtain stable nanoparticles of 1-2 nm in size both isolated and forming clusters. Nanoparticle cluster formation was enhanced as water was used as dispersing medium probably due to the idrophobic nature of the butanethiolate layers coating the nanoparticle surface. Synthesis methods I and III lead to large unstable spherical nanoparticles with size ranging between 20 to 50 nm. These nanoparticles appeared in the TEM micrograph with the same morphology independently on the dispersing medium used in the sample preparation. The stability and dimensions of the copper nanoparticles appear inversely related. Using the same methods above described for the butanethiolate protected copper nanoparticles 4-methylbenzenethiol protected copper nanoparticles have been prepared. Diffractometric and spectroscopic data reveal that decomposition processes didn’t occur in both the 4-methylbenzenethiol copper protected nanoparticles precipitates from formic acid and from water in a period of time six month long. Se anticarcinogenic effects by multiple mechanisms have been extensively investigated and documented and Se is defined a genuine nutritional cancer-protecting element and a significant protective effect of Se against major forms of cancer. Furthermore phloroglucinol was found to possess cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress, thanks to reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are associated with cells and tissue damages and are the contributing factors for inflammation, aging, cancer, arteriosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes. The goal of our work has been to set up a new method to synthesize in mild conditions amorphous Se nanopaticles surface capped with phloroglucinol, which is used during synthesis as reducing agent to obtain stable Se nanoparticles in ethanol, performing the synergies offered by the specific anticarcinogenic properties of Se and the antioxiding ones of phloroalucinol. We have synthesized selenium nanoparticles protected by phenolic molecules chemically bonded to their surface. The phenol molecules coating the nanoparticles surfaces form low ordered arrays as can be seen from the wider shape of the absorptions in the FT-IR spectrum with respect to those appearing in that of crystalline phenol. On the other hand, metallic nanoparticles with unique optical properties, facile surface chemistry and appropriate size scale are generating much enthusiasm in nanomedicine. In fact Au nanoparticles has immense potential for both cancer diagnosis and therapy. Especially Au nanoparticles efficiently convert the strongly adsorbed light into localized heat, which can be exploited for the selective laser photothermal therapy of cancer. According to the about, metal nanoparticles-HA nanocrystals composites should have tremendous potential in novel methods for therapy of cancer. 11 mercaptoundecanoic surface protected Au4Ag1 nanoparticles adsorbed on nanometric apathyte crystals we have successfully prepared like an anticancer nanoparticles deliver system utilizing biomimetic hydroxyapatyte nanocrystals as deliver agents. Furthermore natural chrysotile, formed by densely packed bundles of multiwalled hollow nanotubes, is a mineral very suitable for nanowires preparation when their inner nanometer-sized cavity is filled with a proper material. Bundles of chrysotile nanotubes can then behave as host systems, where their large interchannel separation is actually expected to prevent the interaction between individual guest metallic nanoparticles and act as a confining barrier. Chrysotile nanotubes have been filled with molten metals such as Hg, Pb, Sn, semimetals, Bi, Te, Se, and with semiconductor materials such as InSb, CdSe, GaAs, and InP using both high-pressure techniques and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Under hydrothermal conditions chrysotile nanocrystals have been synthesized as a single phase and can be utilized as a very suitable for nanowires preparation filling their inner nanometer-sized cavity with metallic nanoparticles. In this research work we have synthesized and characterized Stoichiometric synthetic chrysotile nanotubes have been partially filled with bi and monometallic highly monodispersed nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 1,7 to 5,5 nm depending on the core composition (Au, Au4Ag1, Au1Ag4, Ag). In the case of 4 methylbenzenethiol protected silver nanoparticles, the filling was carried out by convection and capillarity effect at room temperature and pressure using a suitable organic solvent. We have obtained new interesting nanowires constituted of metallic nanoparticles filled in inorganic nanotubes with a inner cavity of 7 nm and an isolating wall with a thick ranging from 7 to 21 nm.

Elektrorheologie homogener Systeme

Zusammenfassung: Thema dieser Arbeit ist der Einfluss von elektrischen Feldern auf die Viskosität nematischer Flüssigkristalle sowie isotroper Polymerlösungen.Für zwei thermotrope nematische Flüssigkristalle, 4-(trans-4'-n-Pentylcyclohexyl)-benzonitril (PCH-5) und 4-n-Pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), wurde die Viskosität mit elektrorheologischen Messungen in Abhängigkeit von Feldstärke und Scherrate bestimmt. Alle Messwerte kommen bei Auftragung gegen E?/? auf einer Masterkurve zu liegen. Die Anpassung dieser Daten mit einer auf der Theorie von Ericksen und Leslie basierenden Gleichung liefert gleichzeitig die Scherviskositäten ? und ? sowie die Rotationsviskosität ? in guter Übereinstimmung mit Literaturwerten. Elektrorheologische Messungen stellen somit eine Methode zur Bestimmung dieser Viskositätskoeffizienten für Nematen dar, wenn diese eine ausreichend große positive dielektrische Anisotropie aufweisen. Bei den isotropen Polymerlösungen ließ sich der elektrorheologische Effekt des Systems Decalin/Polystyrol im Bereich der Entmischungstemperatur klären. Während im Ein-Phasen-Gebiet nur eine geringe Viskositätsänderung im E-Feld aufgrund elektrohydrodynamischer Strömungen zu beobachten ist, tritt unterhalb der Entmischungstemperatur ein deutlicher, aber nicht reproduzierbarer ER-Effekt auf. Dieser ist auf einen Einfluss des E-Felds auf die Zwei-Phasen-Morphologie zurückzuführen.Für das System Diethylbenzol/Isopentylcellulose wurde ein negativer elektrorheologischer Effekt auf die Dissoziation von assoziierten Polymermolekülen zurückgeführt. Die Dissoziation erfolgt aufgrund der Wirkung des elektrischen Feldes auf freie Ladungen.

Arbitrary Waveform Multilevel Generator for High Voltage High Frequency Plasma Actuators

This dissertation presents the theory and the conducted activity that lead to the construction of a high voltage high frequency arbitrary waveform voltage generator. The generator has been specifically designed to supply power to a wide range of plasma actuators. The system has been completely designed, manufactured and tested at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering of the University of Bologna. The generator structure is based on the single phase cascaded H-bridge multilevel topology and is comprised of 24 elementary units that are series connected in order to form the typical staircase output voltage waveform of a multilevel converter. The total number of voltage levels that can be produced by the generator is 49. Each level is 600 V making the output peak-to-peak voltage equal to 28.8 kV. The large number of levels provides high resolution with respect to the output voltage having thus the possibility to generate arbitrary waveforms. Maximum frequency of operation is 20 kHz. A study of the relevant literature shows that this is the first time that a cascaded multilevel converter of such dimensions has been constructed. Isolation and control challenges had to be solved for the realization of the system. The biggest problem of the current technology in power supplies for plasma actuators is load matching. Resonant converters are the most used power supplies and are seriously affected by this problem. The manufactured generator completely solves this issue providing consistent voltage output independently of the connected load. This fact is very important when executing tests and during the comparison of the results because all measures should be comparable and not dependent from matching issues. The use of the multilevel converter for power supplying a plasma actuator is a real technological breakthrough that has provided and will continue to provide very significant experimental results.

Turbulence models in the atmospheric boundary layer under convective conditions

In this work a modelization of the turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, under convective condition, is made. For this aim, the equations that describe the atmospheric motion are expressed through Reynolds averages and, then, they need closures. This work consists in modifying the TKE-l closure used in the BOLAM (Bologna Limited Area Model) forecast model. In particular, the single column model extracted from BOLAM is used, which is modified to obtain other three different closure schemes: a non-local term is added to the flux- gradient relations used to close the second order moments present in the evolution equation of the turbulent kinetic energy, so that the flux-gradient relations become more suitable for simulating an unstable boundary layer. Furthermore, a comparison among the results obtained from the single column model, the ones obtained from the three new schemes and the observations provided by the known case in literature ”GABLS2” is made.

Adsorption of macromolecules on interfaces studied by isothermal titration calorimetry

The mixing of nanoparticles with polymers to form composite materials has been applied for decades. They combine the advantages of polymers (e.g., elasticity, transparency, or dielectric properties) and inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., specific absorption of light, magneto resistance effects, chemical activity, and catalysis etc.). Nanocomposites exhibit several new characters that single-phase materials do not have. Filling the polymeric matrix with an inorganic material requires its homogeneous distribution in order to achieve the highest possible synergetic effect. To fulfill this requirement, the incompatibility between the filler and the matrix, originating from their opposite polarity, has to be resolved. A very important parameter here is the strength and irreversibility of the adsorption of the surface active compound on the inorganic material. In this work the Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was applied as a method to quantify and investigate the adsorption process and binding efficiencies in organic-inorganic–hybrid-systems by determining the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS, ΔG, KB as well as the stoichiometry n). These values provide quantification and detailed understanding of the adsorption process of surface active molecules onto inorganic particles. In this way, a direct correlation between the adsorption strength and structure of the surface active compounds can be achieved. Above all, knowledge of the adsorption mechanism in combination with the structure should facilitate a more rational design into the mainly empirically based production and optimization of nanocomposites.

Power Converters and Electric Drives for Smart Grid Applications

The present dissertation aims to explore, theoretically and experimentally, the problems and the potential advantages of different types of power converters for “Smart Grid” applications, with particular emphasis on multi-level architectures, which are attracting a rising interest even for industrial requests. The models of the main multilevel architectures (Diode-Clamped and Cascaded) are shown. The best suited modulation strategies to function as a network interface are identified. In particular, the close correlation between PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) approach and SVM (Space Vector Modulation) approach is highlighted. An innovative multilevel topology called MMC (Modular Multilevel Converter) is investigated, and the single-phase, three-phase and "back to back" configurations are analyzed. Specific control techniques that can manage, in an appropriate way, the charge level of the numerous capacitors and handle the power flow in a flexible way are defined and experimentally validated. Another converter that is attracting interest in “Power Conditioning Systems” field is the “Matrix Converter”. Even in this architecture, the output voltage is multilevel. It offers an high quality input current, a bidirectional power flow and has the possibility to control the input power factor (i.e. possibility to participate to active and reactive power regulations). The implemented control system, that allows fast data acquisition for diagnostic purposes, is described and experimentally verified.

57 Fe and 119 Sn Mössbauer studies on new Heusler compounds for spintronic applications

Seit der Entwicklung einer großen Vielfalt von Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Spintronik auf Basis von Heusler Verbindungen innerhalb der letzten Dekade kann der Forschungsfortschritt an dieser Material Klasse in einer Vielzahl von Publikationen verfolgt werden. Eine typische Heusler Verbindung X2YZ besteht aus zwei Übergangsmetallen (X, Y) und einem Hauptgruppenelement (Z). Diese Arbeit berichtet von Heusler Verbindungen mit besonderem Augenmerk auf deren potentielle halbmetallische Eigenschaften und davon insbesondere solche, die eine richtungsabhängige magnetische Anisotropie (perpendicular magnetic anisotropy- PMA) zeigen könnten. PMA ist insbesondere für Spin transfer Torque (STT) Bauelemente von großem Interesse und tritt in tetragonalrnverzerrten Heusler Verbindungen auf. Bei STT-Elementen werden mittels spinpolarisierter Ströme die magnetische Orientierung von magnetischen Schichten beeinflusst.rnDie signifikantesten Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit sind: die Synthese neuer kubischen Heusler Phasen Fe2YZ, die theoretisch als tetragonal vorausgesagt wurden (Kapitel 1), die Synthese von Mn2FeGa, das in der tetragonal verzerrten Struktur kristallisiert und Potential für STT Anwendungen zeigt (Kapitel 2); die Synthese von Fe2MnGa, das einen magnetischen Phasenübergang mit exchange-bias (EB) Effekt zeigt, der auf einer Koexistenz von ferromagnetischen (FM) und antiferromagnetischen (AFM) Phasen beruht (Kapitel 3); Schlussendlich wird in Kapitel 4 die Synthese von Mn3−xRhxSn diskutiert, in welcher insbesondere tetragonales Mn2RhSn als potentielles Material für Anwendungen in derrnSpintronik vorgestellt wird.rnIn dieser Arbeit wurden hauptsächlich Heusler Verbindungen mit mößbaueraktiven Elementen 57Fe und 119Sn, synthetisiert und untersucht. Im Falle der hier untersuchten Heusler Verbindungen spielt die Charakterisierung durch Mößbauer Spektroskopie eine entscheidende Rolle, da Heusler Verbindungen meistens ein gewisses Maß an Fehlordnung aufweisen, welche deren magnetischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften beeinflussen kann. Die Art der Fehlordnung jedoch kann nur schwer durch standard Pulver-Röntgendiffraktion bestimmt werden, weshalb wir die Vorteile der Mößbauer Spektroskopie als lokale Methode nutzen, um den Typ und den Grad der Fehlordnung aufzuklären. rnDiese Arbeit ist wie folgt gegliedert:rnIn Kapitel 1 wurden die neuen, kubisch-weichferromagnetischen Heuslerphasen Fe2NiGe, Fe2CuGa und Fe2CuAl synthetisiert und charakterisiert. In vorangegangenen theoretischen Studien wurde für deren Existenz in tetragonaler Heuslerstruktur vorhergesagt.rnUngeachtet dessen belegten unsere experimentellen Untersuchungen, dass diese Verbindungen hauptsächlich in der kubischen invers Heusler(X-) struktur mit unterschiedlichen Anteilen an atomarer Fehlordnung kristallisieren. Alle Verbindungen sind weiche Ferromagneten mit hoher Curietemperatur bis zu 900K, weswegen alle als potentielle Materialien für magnetische Anwendungen geeignet sind. In Kapitel 2 wurde Mn2FeGa synthetisiert. Es zeigte sich, dass Mn2FeGa nach Temperatur Nachbehandlung bei 400°C die invers tetragonale Struktur (I4m2) annimmt. Theoretisch wurde die Existenz in der inversen kubischen Heuslerstruktur vorausgesagt. Abhängig von den Synthesebedingungen ändern sich die magnetischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften von Mn2FeGa eklatant. Deshalb ändert sich die Kristallstruktur von M2FeGa bei Temperung bei 800 °C zu einer pseudokubischen Cu3Au-artigen Struktur, in welcher Fe- und Mn-Atome statistisch verteilt vorliegen. Dieser Übergang der Kristallstrukturen wurde durch Mößbauer Spektroskopie anhand des Vorliegens oder Fehlens der Quadrupolaufspaltung im Falle der invers tetragonalen bzw. pseudokubischen Modifikation nachgewiesen. In Kapitel 3 wurde Fe2MnGa ebenfalls erfolgreich synthetisiert und durch verschiedene Methoden charakterisiert. Der Zusammenhang von Kristallstruktur und magnetischen Eigenschaften wurde durch verschiedene Temperungskonditionen und mechanischer Behandlung untersucht. Der Schwerpunkt lag auf einer geschmolzenen Probe ohne weitere Temperung, die einen FM-AFM Phasenübergang zeigte. Diese magnetische Phasenumwandlung führt zu einem starken EB-Verhalten, welches seinen Ursprung hauptsächlich in der Koexistenz von FM- und AFM-Phasen unterhalb der FMAFM- Übergangstemperatur hat. Kapitel 4 ist den neuen Mn-basierten Heusler-Verbindungen Mn3−xRhxSn gewidmet, bei denen wir versuchten, durch den Austausch von Mn durch das größere Rh eine Umwandlung zu einer tetragonalen Struktur von den hexagonalen Mn3Sn-Struktur zu erreichen. Als interessant stellten sich Mn2RhSn und Mn2.1Rh0.9Sn heraus, da sie aus nur einer Phase vorzuliegen scheinen, wohingegen die anderen Verbindungen aus gemischten Phasen mit gleichzeitiger starken Fehlordnung bestehen. Im abschließenden Anhang wurden die Fehlordnung und gelegentliche Mischphasen einer großen Auswahl von Mn3−xFexGa Materialien mit 1≤x≤3, dokumentiert.rn

Präparation von Bismutsulfid-Absorberschichten für Dünnschichtsolarzellen mittels physikalischer Gasphasenabscheidung

Angesichts der sich abzeichnenden Erschöpfung fossiler Ressourcen ist die Erforschung alternativer Energiequellen derzeit eines der meistbeachteten Forschungsgebiete. Durch ihr enormes Potential ist die Photovoltaik besonders im Fokus der Wissenschaft. Um großflächige Beschichtungsverfahren nutzen zu können, wird seit einigen Jahren auf dem Gebiet der Dünnschichtphotovoltaik intensiv geforscht. Jedoch sind die gegenwärtigen Solarzellenkonzepte allesamt durch die Verwendung giftiger (Cd, As) oder seltener Elemente (In, Ga) oder durch eine komplexe Phasenbildung in ihrem Potential beschränkt. Die Entwicklung alternativer Konzepte erscheint daher naheliegend.rnAufgrund dessen wurde in einem BMBF-geförderten Verbundprojekt die Abscheidung von Dünnschichten des binären Halbleiters Bi2S3 mittels physikalischer Gasphasenabscheidung mit dem Ziel der Etablierung als quasi-intrinsischer Absorber in Solarzellenstrukturen mit p-i-n-Schichtfolge hin untersucht.rnDurch sein von einem hochgradig anisotropen Bindungscharakter geprägtes Kristallwachstum war die Abscheidung glatter, einphasiger und für die Integration in eine Multischichtstruktur geeigneter Schichten mit Schichtdicken von einigen 100 nm eine der wichtigsten Herausforderungen. Die Auswirkungen der beiden Parameter Abscheidungstemperatur und Stöchiometrie wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Auswirkungen auf die relevanten Kenngrößen (wie Morphologie, Dotierungsdichte und Photolumineszenz) untersucht. Es gelang, erfolgreich polykristalline Schichten mit geeigneter Rauigkeit und einer Dotierungsdichte von n ≈ 2 1015cm-3 auf anwendungsrelevanten Substraten abzuscheiden, wobei eine besonders starke Abhängigkeit von der Gasphasenzusammensetzung ermittelt werden. Es konnten weiterhin die ersten Messungen der elektronischen Zustandsdichte unter Verwendung von Hochenergie-Photoemissionsspektroskopie durchgeführt werden, die insbesondere den Einfluss variabler Materialzusammensetzungen offenbarten.rnZum Nachweis der Eignung des Materials als Absorberschicht standen innerhalb des Projektes mit SnS, Cu2O und PbS prinzipiell geeignete p-Kontaktmaterialien zur Verfügung. Es konnten trotz der Verwendung besonders sauberer Abscheidungsmethoden im Vakuum keine funktionstüchtigen Solarzellen mit Bi2S3 deponiert werden. Jedoch war es unter Verwendung von Photoemissionspektroskopie möglich, die relevanten Grenzflächen zu spektroskopieren und die Ursachen für die Beobachtungen zu identifizieren. Zudem konnte erfolgreich die Notwendigkeit von Puffermaterialien bei der Bi2S3-Abscheidung nachgewiesen werden, um Oberflächenreaktionen zu unterbinden und die Transporteigenschaften an der Grenzfläche zu verbessern.rn

An empirical examination of the integration of causal attribution and social learning theories in achievement situations

Using path analysis, the present investigation sought to clarify possible operational linkages among constructs from social learning and attribution theories within the context of a self-esteem system. Subjects were 300 undergraduate university students who completed a measure of self-esteem and indicated expectancies for success and minimal goal levels for an experimental task. After completing the task and receiving feedback about their performance, subjects completed causal attribution and self-esteem questionnaires. Results revealed gender differences in the degree and strength of the proposed relations, but not in the mean levels of the variables studied. Results suggested that the integration of social learning and attribution theories within a single conceptual model provides a better understanding of students' behaviors and self-esteem in achievement situations.