High quality factor nitride-based optical cavities: microdisks with embedded GaN/Al(Ga)N quantum dots

We compare the quality factor values of the whispery gallery modes of microdisks incorporating GaN quantum dots (QDs) grown on AlN and AlGaN barriers by performing room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL measurements show a large number of high Q factor (Q) resonant modes on the whole spectrum which allows us to identify the different radial mode families and to compare them with simulations. We report a considerable improvement of the Q factor which reflect the etching quality and the relatively low cavity loss by inserting QDs into the cavity. GaN/AlN QDs based microdisks show very high Q values (Q > 7000) whereas the Q factor is only up to 2000 in microdisks embedding QDs grown on AlGaN barrier layer. We attribute this difference to the lower absorption below bandgap for AlN barrier layers at the energies of our experimental investigation

Strain evolution in GaN Nanowires: from free-surface objects to coalesced templates

Top-down fabricated GaN nanowires, 250 nm in diameter and with various heights, have been used to experimentally determine the evolution of strain along the vertical direction of 1-dimensional objects. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence techniques have been used to obtain the strain profile inside the nanowires from their base to their top facet for both initial compressive and tensile strains. The relaxation behaviors derived from optical and structural characterizations perfectly match the numerical results of calculations based on a continuous media approach. By monitoring the elastic relaxation enabled by the lateral free-surfaces, the height from which the nanowires can be considered strain-free has been estimated. Based on this result, NWs sufficiently high to be strain-free have been coalesced to form a continuous GaN layer. X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence clearly show that despite the initial strain-free nanowires template, the final GaN layer is strained

Fabrication and Optical Properties of a Fully Hybrid Epitaxial ZnO-Based Microcavity in the Strong Coupling Regime

In order to achieve polariton lasing at room temperature, a new fabrication methodology for planar microcavities is proposed: a ZnO-based microcavity in which the active region is epitaxially grown on an AlGaN/AlN/Si substrate and in which two dielectric mirrors are used. This approach allows as to simultaneously obtain a high-quality active layer together with a high photonic confinement as demonstrated through macro-, and micro-photoluminescence ({\mu}-PL) and reflectivity experiments. A quality factor of 675 and a maximum PL emission at k=0 are evidenced thanks to {\mu}-PL, revealing an efficient polaritonic relaxation even at low excitation power.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

LO-phonon assisted polariton lasing in a ZnO based microcavity

Polariton relaxation mechanisms are analysed experimentally and theoretically in a ZnO-based polariton laser. A minimum lasing threshold is obtained when the energy difference between the exciton reservoir and the bottom of the lower polariton branch is resonant with the LO phonon energy. Tuning off this resonance increases the threshold, and exciton-exciton scattering processes become involved in the polariton relaxation. These observations are qualitatively reproduced by simulations based on the numerical solution of the semi-classical Boltzmann equations

Design of Ancillary Services for Battery Energy Storage Systems to Mitigate Voltage Unbalance in Power Distribution Networks

power system, voltage unbalance issues are expected to exacerbate. Single{phase connectedphotovoltaic (PV) panels may cause unequal three{phase power ows, resultingin unbalanced grid currents and voltages. In addition, the random charging behaviour ofPlug{in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) equipped with single{phase on{board chargersis expected to further contribute to voltage unbalance rise as the number of thesedevices grows. If voltage unbalance increases to unacceptable levels, it may have adverseeects on power system operation and on the equipment connected to it. Traditionally,the phase swapping technique has been deployed by distribution system operators forvoltage unbalance mitigation, while other mitigating techniques include the deploymentof power electronics-based devices. The majority of the devices reported in the literatureare based on three-phase congurations, including series and parallel active power lters,unied power quality conditioners (UPQCs), static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs)and, more recently, three-phase distributed generation (DG) inverters.This research proposes the use of single-phase battery energy storage systems (BESSs)for the provision of phase balancing services, which has been considered only in a few literatureworks, with most of these research papers focusing on three-phase BESSs. In thisthesis, a novel control strategy is proposed for single-phase BESS units to compensatevoltage unbalance by injecting both active and reactive power simultaneously. The proposedapproach is based on the coordinated operation of three independent single-phaseBESS inverters using local voltage and current measurements.Initially, a comprehensive literature review is performed with the following aims: arobust classication of the ancillary services currently oered by BESSs, harmonisation ofthe notation found in the literature for ancillary services, and identication of potentialfuture applications of BESSs to power grids with large number of Low Carbon Technologies(LCTs). Then, the eectiveness of the proposed voltage unbalance compensationmethod is validated in the simulation environment, where two realistic models of distributionsystems are developed. Next, the impact of increasing PV and EV penetrationlevels on voltage unbalance for a typical UK distribution system is assessed based on adeterministic approach. The control strategy is validated experimentally by carrying outHardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) tests. Finally, an equivalent model of the distribution systemand BESS inverter is derived, which allows to carry out a preliminary probabilisticstudy to cater for the uncertainties related to the location and size of the PVs and EVs,and to evaluate the voltage unbalance levels without and with the BESSs controlled toprovide voltage unbalance compensation.It is concluded that the proposed BESS control system may eectively reduce thevoltage unbalance levels under various loading and generating conditions

Cyclotomic Factors and LRS-Degeneracy

We present three new, practical algorithms for polynomials in $\mathbb{Z}[x]$: one to test if a polynomial is cyclotomic, one to determine which cyclotomic polynomials are factors, and one to determine whether the given polynomial is LRS-degenerate. A polynomial is ``LRS-degenerate'' iff it has two distinct roots $\alpha, \beta$ such that $\beta = \zeta \alpha$ for some root of unity $\zeta$. All three algorithms are based on ``intelligent brute force''. The first two produce the indexes of the cyclotomic polynomials; the third produces a list of degeneracy orders. The algorithms are implemented in CoCoALib

CERN

As a team, we decided to elaborate on the CERN center for scientific research. We are going to refer to topics such as; the history of the institute, the countries that have participated in the foundation of CERN, the main projects that take place there and lastly the contribution of our country, Greece,  in the scientific research taking place there.

Optoelectronic properties of InAs GaAs columnar quantum dot laser diodes

In this thesis results are described with the aim of examining the optoelectronic properties of InAs/GaAs columnar quantum-dots and comparing them with those of more conventional self-assembled quantum-dots. The polarisation properties of a set of columnar quantum-dot samples — of varied aspect ratio and In compositional contrast between the rod-shaped dot and the surrounding 2-D layer — are studied. For this investigation a new method to obtain the ratio of the fundamental TE/TM optical response using edge photo-absorption spectroscopy is proposed, which corrects for the polarisation-dependent features of the experimental set-up. The method is verified by application to compressive and tensile strained InGaP quantum well structures, where the results are in agreement with known ratios of the band-edge matrix elements. When applied to columnar quantum-dot samples it is shown that the TE/TM optical response depends on the dot aspect ratio and the In compositional contrast. A polarisation-independent photo-absorption is illustrated for a columnar quantum-dot of an aspect ratio (dot's height over diameter) 3.51:1, which is desired for use in semiconductor optical amplifiers. For the columnar dot of an extremely high aspect ratio, 7.5:1, a room temperature TM-dominant polarisation lasing emission is observed. By studying the Quantum-Confined Stark Effect, a dramatic enhancement of the Stark shift amplitude is shown for columnar quantum-dot samples of an increased dot aspect ratio from 0.63:1 up to 1.12:1, which may have application in optical modulation/switching. For a higher aspect ratio columnar quantum-dot the shift of the band edge of the photo-absorption spectra is reduced dramatically and this has been attributed to an overall effect where the observable shift becomes the result of higher energy transitions, where their oscillator strength change very rapidly within the studied range of field. For the highest aspect ratio dot, i.e. of aspect ratio 10:1, there is no any observable shift.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

EFFECT OF DESICCANT CHARACTERISTICS ON THE PROPERTIES OF PS/ZEOLITE FUNCTIONAL PACKAGING MATERIALS

Desiccant composites were prepared from a polystyrene homopolymer (PS) and a high impact copolymer (HIPS). Five zeolites were used as adsorbents which included the A and X types frequently used in industrial practice. Composites containing zeolites up to 50 vol% were homogenized in an internal mixer and then compression molded to 1 mm thick plates. The results proved that the water adsorption capacity of zeolites depends on the total volume of the pores, while the rate of adsorption on thermodynamics, on the equilibrium con-stant of adsorption. On the other hand, zeolite characteristics influence the moisture ad-sorption of the composites only marginally; adsorption capacity is determined by zeolite content, while the rate of adsorption by the properties of the polymer. Composites prepared with X type zeolites have somewhat smaller water adsorption capacity than those containing their A type counterparts. The dispersion of the zeolite is very good both in PS and in HIPS composites. Mechanical properties are excellent mainly because of the good interfacial adhesion between the components. Because of their larger surface energy, composites containing X type zeolites have larger viscosity and they reinforce the polymer more than A type desiccants. Matrix properties influence mainly application related properties, reinforcement and ductility is better in HIPS than in PS composites