http://hdl.handle.net/1974/807 2013-06-19T04:55:41Z http://hdl.handle.net/1974/8051 Title: Scanning Photocurrent and Photoluminescence Imaging of Frozen Polymer Light Emitting Electrochemical Cells Authors: Inayeh, Alex Abstract: A polymer light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) is a solid-state polymer device operating according to in situ electrochemical doping and the formation of a light-emitting polymer p-n junction. This operating mechanism, however, has been the subject of much debate. Planar LECs with millimeter scale interelectrode spacings offer great advantages for directly observing the electrochemical doping process. Photoluminescence quenching and the formation of a light-emitting junction have been observed in planar polymer LECs, demonstrating the existence of electrochemical doping. The chemical potential difference between the p- and n-doped regions creates a built-in potential/electric field in the junction region, which can be probed by measuring the optical beam induced current (OBIC). This study utilizes a versatile and easy-to-use method of performing OBIC analysis. The OBIC and photoluminescence profiles of LECs have been simultaneously measured by scanning a focused light beam across large planar LECs that have been turned on and cooled to freeze the doping profile. The photoluminescence intensity undergoes a sharp transition between the p- and n-doped regions. The OBIC photocurrent is only observed in the transition region that is narrower than the width of the excitation beam, which is about 35 μm. The results depict a static planar polymer p-n junction with a built-in electric field pointing from n to p. The electrode interfaces do not produce a measurable photocurrent indicating ohmic contact. Description: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-05-28 12:52:14.171 2013-05-29T04:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1974/8016 Title: Low Energy 8B Solar Neutrinos in SNO+: Controlling and Constraining Radon Backgrounds Authors: Seddighin, MARYAM Abstract: SNOLAB located in Sudbury, Canada, is hosting a new liquid scintillator experiment for studying neutrinos which is called SNO+. Many interesting physics topics such as measuring low energy solar neutrinos and searching for neutrinoless double beta decay are expected to be performed using the SNO+ detector. SNO+ is designed to measure the solar neutrino flux at a lower energy range than SNO, and therefore it is able to study LMA-MSW oscillations at this range of energy. This research is concerned with extracting low energy 8B solar neutrinos while studying the tagging and reduction of 214Bi by 99.8%, one of the main backgrounds in the energy range of interest. Ways to measure and control radon were also studied since it is the source of the 214Bi background. Scintillation material, zinc sulfide, was selected for use in fabrication of radon detectors known as Lucas cells. The fabrication of cover gas bags employed in the SNO+ experiment to react to mine air pressure fluctuations is described and the interior radon emanation of these bags was measured and calculated. Description: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-05-01 20:26:56.981 2013-05-02T04:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1974/7991 Title: Gigahertz Modulation of a Photonic Crystal Cavity Authors: Ali, Aaron Abstract: Photonic crystal (PtC) cavities are an increasingly important way to create all optical methods to control optical data. Not only must the data be controlled, but interfacing it with high frequency electrical signals is particularly interesting especially if this occurs in the 1.55µm telecom band. We present an experiment that uses Rayleigh surface acoustic waves (SAWs) to modulate the frequency of the guided mode of an L3-cavity PtC created on a silicon slab. This work has the potential to interface optical and electrical signals via a mechanical strain wave operating at gigahertz frequencies. Defects are carefully designed into a triangular lattice PtC to realize a waveguide coupled optical cavity. The cavity can be experimentally accessed through grating couplers excited by polarized light at 10 degrees incidence from normal. The optical components are fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator platform, with light confined to the silicon slab region. Through transmission experiments, the L3 cavity was found to have a narrow resonance characterized by a Lorentzian distribution. A quality factor of 165 centered at 6255 1/cm (1.599µm) was measured. Aluminum interdigitated transducers (IDTs) were fabricated through a lithography liftoff process. Their ability to create SAWs requires a piezoelectric medium. As silicon does not have this property, growth of a thin ZnO film was required. The transducers were measured using a network analyzer and were found to produce Rayleigh SAWs at a frequency of 179MHz and a wavelength of 24µm. The acoustic energy traveled 70µm to the target optical device. The L3 cavity has dimensions of around 4µm a side - less than 1/2 a SAW wavelength. Modulation of the L3 PtC resonant frequency was monitored through a repeat of the transmission experiment but with RF excitation of the IDTs at the SAW frequency. A broadening of the transmission spectrum was expected. Unfortunately no change in the fitting parameters could be measured. An HF etch was used to undercut the L3 PtC such that a silicon slab suspended in air could be realized. Simulations had been conducted showing an order of magnitude increase in the quality factor was possible. Broken wirebonds on the transducers created unintended etch channels rendering the SAW non-operational. Description: Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-04-29 12:33:49.254 2013-04-30T04:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1974/7956 Title: Dissipative dynamics of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates at zero temperature Authors: Wu, ZHIGANG Abstract: In this thesis we study various dissipative processes that are associated with the flow of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate at zero temperature. In particular, we investigate the effect of a weak correlated disorder potential on the collective dipole motion of a harmonically-confined elongated condensate. By using an extension of the Harmonic Potential Theorem, we demonstrate that the dynamics of the system can be described equivalently in terms of a disorder potential oscillating relative to a stationary condensate. This latter point of view allows the application of linear response theory to determine the drag force experienced by the condensate and to evaluate the damping rate of the centre of mass oscillation. The density response function for the elongated condensate is determined with a new local density approximation that takes into account the tight radial confinement of the atomic cloud. Our linear response theory reveals the detailed dependence of the damping rate on various system parameters. A comparison with available experimental data is only partially successful and points to the need for additional experiments. In addition to disorder induced dissipation, we also consider a variety of other problems that can be addressed by means of linear response theory. For example, we study momentum transferred to a condensate by a Bragg pulse and the energy absorption of a gas in an optical lattice that is parametrically modulated in different ways. All of these applications demonstrate the utility of linear response theory in describing the dynamics of Bose-condensed systems which are subjected to weak perturbations. Description: Thesis (Ph.D, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-04-26 10:54:11.915 2013-04-26T04:00:00Z