Browsing Physics and Astronomy by Issue Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 623
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The electrostatic potential in a finite ionic crystal
(University of Waterloo, 1972-11-01)This thesis is written in two parts. In Part One, we develop a new method for evaluating three dimensional lattice summations and apply it to the evaluation of the electrostatic potential of a finite ionic crystal. We then ... -
A Quasilocal Hamiltonian for Gravity with Classical and Quantum Applications
(University of Waterloo, 2000)I modify the quasilocal energy formalism of Brown and York into a purely Hamiltonian form. As part of the reformulation, I remove their restriction that the time evolution of the boundary of the spacetime be orthogonal ... -
Modelling Quantum Well Lasers
(University of Waterloo, 2002)In this thesis, two methods to model quantum well lasers will be examined. The first model is based on well-known techniques to determine some of the spectral and dynamical properties of the laser. For the spectral ... -
Entropically Driven Formation of Hierarchically Ordered Nanocomposites
(American Physical Society, 2002)Using theoretical models, we undertake the first investigation into the rich behavior that emerges when binary particle mixtures are blended with microphase-separating copolymers. We isolate an example of coupled self-assembly ... -
Physics in Higher-Dimensional Manifolds
(University of Waterloo, 2003)In this thesis, we study various aspects of physics in higher-dimensional manifolds involving a single extra dimension. After giving some historical perspective on the motivation for studying higher-dimensional theories ... -
Characterisation and Optimization of Ultrashort Laser Pulses
(University of Waterloo, 2003)The ultrafast optical regime is defined, as it applies to laser pulses, along with a brief introduction to pulse generation and characterisation technologies. A more extensive description of our particular amplified ... -
HIGH RESOLUTION MICROWAVE SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRA COLD RYDBERG ATOMS AS A PROBE OF ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS
(University of Waterloo, 2003)In highly excited Rydberg atoms, the excited electron is in a large, loosely bound orbit. Hence, in contrast with the ground states, the Rydberg states are very sensitive to external electric field and can be ionized in ... -
Self-assembly of a binary mixture of particles and diblock copolymers
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2003)Using theoretical models, we undertake the first investigation into the synergy and rich phase behavior that emerges when binary particle mixtures are blended with microphase- separating copolymers. We isolate an example ... -
Field-Free Alignment and Strong Field Control of Molecular Rotors
(University of Waterloo, 2004)Methods of controlling molecular rotations using linearly polarized femtosecond and picosecond pulses are considered and analyzed theoretically. These laser pulses, typically in the infrared, are highly non-resonant ... -
Electrostatics of the Binding and Bending of Lipid Bilayers: Charge-Correlation Forces and Preferred Curvatures
(University of Waterloo, 2004)Lipid bilayers are key components of biomembranes; they are self-assembled two-dimensional structures, primarily serving as barriers to the leakage of cell's contents. Lipid bilayers are typically charged in aqueous ... -
Ordering mechanisms in triblock copolymers
(American Physical Society, 2004)The ordering mechanisms for an ABC triblock copolymer system are studied using self-consistent field theory. We find a two-phase mechanism, similar to what has been suggested experimentally two-step mecha- nism. Analysis ... -
Origins of Elastic Properties in Ordered Block Copolymer/Nanoparticle Composites
(American Chemical Society, 2004)We predict a diblock copolymer melt in the lamellar phase with added spherical nanoparticles that have an affinity for one block to have a lower tensile modulus than a pure diblock copolymer system. This weakening is due ... -
Improved convergence in block copolymer self-consistent field theory by Anderson mixing
(American Institute of Physics, 2004)A modification to real space polymeric self-consistent field theory algorithms that greatly improves the convergence properties is presented. The method is based on Anderson mixing (D. G. Anderson, J. Assoc. Comput. Mach. ... -
Elastic moduli of multiblock copolymers in the lamellar phase
(AIP Publishing, 2004-02-22)We study the linear elastic response of multiblock copolymer melts in the lamellar phase, where the molecules are composed of tethered symmetric AB diblock copolymers. We use a self-consistent field theory method, and ... -
Taub-NUT Spacetime in the (A)dS/CFT and M-Theory
(University of Waterloo, 2005)In the following thesis, I will conduct a thermodynamic analysis of the Taub-NUT spacetime in various dimensions, as well as show uses for Taub-NUT and other Hyper-Kahler spacetimes. <br /><br /> Thermodynamic analysis ... -
Minimal model for the secondary structures and conformational conversions in proteins
(University of Waterloo, 2005)Better understanding of protein folding process can provide physical insights on the function of proteins and makes it possible to benefit from genetic information accumulated so far. Protein folding process normally ... -
Spectroscopy of selected metal-containing diatomic molecules
(University of Waterloo, 2005)Fourier transform infrared emission spectra of MnH and MnD were observed in the ground <em>X</em><sup>7</sup>σ<sup>+</sup> electronic state. The vibration-rotation bands from <em>v</em> = 1 to 0 to <em>v</em> = ... -
The Development of an Average, Anatomically Based, Young Adult, GRIN Eye Model
(University of Waterloo, 2005)The purpose of this thesis is to describe the development of an anatomically based, young adult eye model, which includes a crystalline lens with a gradient refractive index (GRIN). This model will then be used to ... -
Topological methods in quantum gravity
(University of Waterloo, 2005)The main technical problem with background independent approaches to quantum gravity is inapplicability of standard quantum field theory methods. New methods are needed which would be adapted to the basic principles ... -
Fast Stochastic Global Optimization Methods and Their Applications to Cluster Crystallization and Protein Folding
(University of Waterloo, 2005)Two global optimization methods are proposed in this thesis. They are the multicanonical basin hopping (MUBH) method and the basin paving (BP) method. <br /><br /> The MUBH method combines the basin hopping (BH) ...