This thesis reports a rare combination of experiment and theory on the role of geometry in materials science. It is built on two significant findings: that curvature can be used to guide crack paths in a predictive way, and that protected topological order can exist in amorphous materials. In each, the underlying geometry controls the elastic behavior of quasi-2D materials, enabling the control of crack propagation in elastic sheets and the control of unidirectional waves traveling at the boundary of metamaterials. The thesis examines the consequences of this geometric control in a range of materials spanning many orders of magnitude in length scale, from amorphous macroscopic networks and elastic continua to nanoscale lattices.

The investigation of light-matter interactions in materials, especially those on the nanoscale, represents perhaps the most promising avenue for scientific progress in the fields of photonics and plasmonics. This book examines a variety of topics, starting from fundamental principles, leading to the current state of the art research. For example, this volume includes a chapter on the sensing of biological molecules with optical resonators (microspheres) combined with plasmonic systems, where the response this system are described in a fundamental and elegant manner using coupled mode theory. Symmetry plays a major role in the book. One chapter on time reversal symmetry in electromagnetic theory describes how to control the properties of light (e.g. scattering and directionality of the flow of light) in materials with certain topological invariants. Another chapter where symmetry is prominent reformulates, using a gentle and pedagogical approach, Maxwell's Equations into a new set of fields that reveal a "handedness" symmetry in electromagnetic theory, which can be applied to photonic systems in, for example, the sensing of chiral molecules and understanding the conditions for zero reflection. Also, for students and researchers starting in the field of nanoplasmonics, the book includes a tutorial on the finite element time domain simulation of nanoplasmonic systems. Other topics include photonic systems for quantum computing, nanoplasmonics, and optical properties of nano and bulk materials. The authors take a pedagogical approach to their topic, making the book an excellent reference for graduate students and scientists starting in the fields of photonics or plasmonics.

This book is the fifth volume in the successful book series Robot Operating System: The Complete Reference. The objective of the book is to provide the reader with comprehensive coverage on the Robot Operating System (ROS), which is currently considered to be the primary development framework for robotics applications, and the latest trends and contributing systems. The content is divided into six parts. Pat I presents for the first time the emerging ROS 2.0 framework, while Part II focuses on multi-robot systems, namely on SLAM and Swarm coordination. Part III provides two chapters on autonomous systems, namely self-driving cars and unmanned aerial systems. In turn, Part IV addresses the contributions of simulation frameworks for ROS. In Part V, two chapters explore robotic manipulators and legged robots. Finally, Part VI presents emerging topics in monocular SLAM and a chapter on fault tolerance systems for ROS. Given its scope, the book will offer a valuable companion for ROS users and developers, helping them deepen their knowledge of ROS capabilities and features.

Micromachined Ultrasound-Based Proximity Sensors presents a packaged ultrasound microsystem for object detection and distance metering based on micromachined silicon transducer elements. It describes the characterization, optimization and the long-term stability of silicon membrane resonators as well as appropriate packaging for ultrasound microsystems. Micromachined Ultrasound-Based Proximity Sensors describes a cost-effective approach to the realization of a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS). The micromachined silicon transducer elements were fabricated using industrial IC technology combined with standard silicon micromachining techniques. Additionally, this approach allows the cointegration of the driving and read-out circuitry. To ensure the industrial applicability of the fabricated transducer elements intensive long-term stability and reliability tests were performed under various environmental conditions such as high temperature and humidity. Great effort was undertaken to investigate the packaging and housing of the ultrasound system, which mainly determine the success or failure of an industrial microsystem. A low-stress mounting of the transducer element minimizes thermomechanical stress influences. The developed housing not only protects the silicon chip but also improves the acoustic performance of the transducer elements. The developed ultrasound proximity sensor system can determine object distances up to 10 cm with an accuracy of better than 0.8 mm. Micromachined Ultrasound-Based Proximity Sensors will be of interest to MEMS researchers as well as those involved in solid-state sensor development.

This monograph deals with theoretical aspects and numerical simulations of the interaction of electromagnetic fields with nonlinear materials. It focuses in particular on media with nonlinear polarization properties. It addresses the direct problem of nonlinear Electrodynamics, that is to understand the nonlinear behavior in the induced polarization and to analyze or even to control its impact on the propagation of electromagnetic fields in the matter. The book gives a comprehensive presentation of the results obtained by the authors during the last decade and put those findings in a broader, unified context and extends them in several directions.It is divided into eight chapters and three appendices. Chapter 1 starts from the Maxwell's equations and develops a wave propagation theory in plate-like media with nonlinear polarizability. In chapter 2 a theoretical framework in terms of weak solutions is given in order to prove the existence and uniqueness of a solution of the semilinear boundary-value problem derived in the first chapter. Chapter 3 presents a different approach to the solvability theory of the reduced frequency-domain model. Here the boundary-value problem is reduced to finding solutions of a system of one-dimensional nonlinear Hammerstein integral equations. Chapter 4 describes an approach to the spectral analysis of the linearized system of integral equations. Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to the numerical approximation of the solutions of the corresponding mathematical models. Chapter 7 contains detailed descriptions, discussions and evaluations of the numerical experiments. Finally, chapter 8 gives a summary of the results and an outlook for future work.

Designed to sit alongside more conventional established condensed matter physics textbooks, this compact volume offers a concise presentation of the principles of solid state theory, ideal for advanced students and researchers requiring an overview or a quick refresher on a specific topic. The book starts from the one-electron theory of solid state physics, moving through electron-electron interaction and many-body approximation schemes, to lattice oscillations and their interactions with electrons. Subsequent chapters discuss transport theory and optical properties, phase transitions and some properties of low-dimensional semiconductors. This extensively expanded second edition includes new material on adiabatic perturbation theory, kinetic coefficients, the Nyquist theorem, Bose condensation, and the field-theoretical approach to non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics. Throughout the text, mathematical proofs are often only sketched, and the final chapter of the book reviews some of the key concepts and formulae used in theoretical physics. Aimed primarily at graduate and advanced undergraduate students taking courses on condensed matter theory, the book serves as a study guide to reinforce concepts learned through conventional solid state texts. Researchers and lecturers will also find it a useful resource as a concise set of notes on fundamental topics.

This book collects chapters on Aerospace Mechatronics and Control Technology as selected contributions from the 7th Asia Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering (MEAE) in 2021. The book focuses on novel techniques for aviation infrastructure in aerospace mechatronics and avionics systems, mechanical engineering in aerospace, and mechanical design and control system domains. The contents make valuable contributions to academic researchers and engineers in the industry. The MEAE 2021 provides a forum to discuss the latest trends and advances in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering and related fields, and foster the exchange of ideas and international collaboration in the field.

This book introduces piezoelectric microelectromechanical (pMEMS) resonators to a broad audience by reviewing design techniques including use of finite element modeling, testing and qualification of resonators, and fabrication and large scale manufacturing techniques to help inspire future research and entrepreneurial activities in pMEMS. The authors discuss the most exciting developments in the area of materials and devices for the making of piezoelectric MEMS resonators, and offer direct examples of the technical challenges that need to be overcome in order to commercialize these types of devices. Some of the topics covered include: Widely-used piezoelectric materials, as well as materials in which there is emerging interest Principle of operation and design approaches for the making of flexural, contour-mode, thickness-mode, and shear-mode piezoelectric resonators, and examples of practical implementation of these devices Large scale manufacturing approaches, with a focus on the practical aspects associated with testing and qualification Examples of commercialization paths for piezoelectric MEMS resonators in the timing and the filter markets ...and more! The authors present industry and academic perspectives, making this book ideal for engineers, graduate students, and researchers.

Wide Bandgap Power Semiconductor Packaging: Materials, Components, and Reliability addresses the key challenges that WBG power semiconductors face during integration, including heat resistance, heat dissipation and thermal stress, noise reduction at high frequency and discrete components, and challenges in interfacing, metallization, plating, bonding and wiring. Experts on the topic present the latest research on materials, components and methods of reliability and evaluation for WBG power semiconductors and suggest solutions to pave the way for integration. As wide bandgap (WBG) power semiconductors, SiC and GaN, are the latest promising electric conversion devices because of their excellent features, such as high breakdown voltage, high frequency capability, and high heat-resistance beyond 200 C, this book is a timely resource on the topic.

This book presents recent advances in the design, fabrication and implementation of flexible printed sensors. It explores a range of materials for developing the electrode and substrate parts of the sensors, on the basis of their electrical and mechanical characteristics. The sensors were processed using laser cutting and 3D printing techniques, and the sensors developed were employed in a number of healthcare, environmental and industrial applications, including: monitoring of physiological movements, respiration, salinity and nitrate measurement, and tactile sensing. The type of sensor selected for each application depended on its dimensions, robustness and sensitivity. The sensors fabricated were also embedded in an IoT-based system, allowing them to be integrated into real-time applications.

This book compiles the accomplishments of the recent research project on photochemistry "Photosynergetics", supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, aiming to develop and elucidate new methods and molecules leading to advanced utilization of photo-energies. Topics include photochemical responses induced by multiple excitation, multiphoton absorption, strong modulation of electronic states, developments of new photofunctional molecules, mesoscopic actuations induced by photoexcitation, and novel photoresponses in molecules and molecular assemblies. The authors stress that these approaches based on the synergetic interaction among many photons and many molecules enable the expansion of the accessibility to specific electronic states. As well, they explain how the development of reaction sequences and molecules/molecular assemblies ensure "additivity" and "integration" without loss of the photon energy, leading to new photoresponsive assemblies in meso- and macroscopic scales.

Bioimaging is a sophisticated non-invasive and non-destructive technique for direct visualization of biological processes. Highly luminescent quantum dots combined with magnetic nanoparticles or ions form an exciting class of new materials for bioimaging. These materials can be prepared in cost-effective ways and show unique optical behaviours. Magnetic Quantum Dots for Bioimaging explores leading research in the fabrication, characterization, properties, and application of magnetic quantum dots in bioimaging. * Covers synthesis, properties, and bioimaging techniques. * Discusses modern manufacturing technologies and purification of magnetic quantum dots. * Explores thoroughly the properties and extent of magnetization to various imaging techniques. * Describes the biocompatibility, suitability, and toxic effects of magnetic quantum dots. * Reviews recent innovations, applications, opportunities, and future directions in magnetic quantum dots and their surface decorated nanomaterials. This comprehensive reference offers a roadmap of the use of these innovative materials for researchers, academics, technologists, and advanced students working in materials engineering and sensor technology.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concept, design, working protocols, and diverse photo-chemicals aspects of different solar cell systems with promising prospects, using computational and experimental techniques. It presents and demonstrates the art of designing and developing various solar cell systems through practical examples. Compared to most existing books in the market, which usually analyze existing solar cell approaches this volume provides a more comprehensive view on the field. Thus, it offers an in-depth discussion of the basic concepts of solar cell design and their development, leading to higher power conversion efficiencies. The book will appeal to readers who are interested in both fundamental and application-oriented research while it will also be an excellent tool for graduates, researchers, and professionals working in the field of photovoltaics and solar cell systems.

The book presents a systematic journey of analog signal processing in order of the growing complexity of the circuits. It begins by discussing interfacing circuits, different types of amplifiers, single-time constant networks, and higher order networks for system design applications. The book- Presents designing analog circuits using the current-mode technique in a comprehensive manner. Highlights the importance of using current mode building blocks in designing high-performance analog circuits and systems. Discusses in detail the waveform generation circuits and their applications in communication. Covers higher-order analog filters, mixed-mode filter circuits, and electronically tunable filters. Explains instrumentation amplifiers, summing amplifiers, single-ended amplifiers, and voltage to current-converter in detail. This book discusses the electronic tuning aspects of circuits with the help of solved examples and unsolved exercises. It further presents the non-linear applications using current-mode techniques, signal generation for various communication and instrumentation systems, current-mode analog cells, and tuning of analog cells. Each chapter covers the IC compatibility issue, which provides useful direction for carrying out laboratory exercises on the subject. It will serve as an ideal reference text for senior undergraduate, and graduate students in fields including electrical engineering, electronics, and communications engineering.

This book is jointly authored by leading academic and industry researchers. The material is unique in that it spans IC interconnect topics ranging from IBM's revolutionary copper process to an in-depth exploration into interconnect-aware computer architectures.

The release of this second volume of CHIPS 2020 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Moore's Law, a critical year marked by the end of the nanometer roadmap and by a significantly reduced annual rise in chip performance. At the same time, we are witnessing a data explosion in the Internet, which is consuming 40% more electrical power every year, leading to fears of a major blackout of the Internet by 2020. The messages of the first CHIPS 2020, published in 2012, concerned the realization of quantum steps for improving the energy efficiency of all chip functions. With this second volume, we review these messages and amplify upon the most promising directions: ultra-low-voltage electronics, nanoscale monolithic 3D integration, relevant-data, brain- and human-vision-inspired processing, and energy harvesting for chip autonomy. The team of authors, enlarged by more world leaders in low-power, monolithic 3D, video, and Silicon brains, presents new vistas in nanoelectronics, promising Moore-like exponential growth sustainable through to the 2030s.

MXenes offer single step processing, excellent electrical conductivity, easy heat dissipation behavior, and capacitor-like properties and are used in photodetectors, lithium-ion batteries, solar cells, photocatalysis, electrochemiluminescence sensors, and supercapacitors. Because of their superior electrical and thermal conductivities, these composites are an ideal choice in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. MXene Nanocomposites: Design, Fabrication, and Shielding Applications presents a comprehensive overview of these emerging materials, including their underlying chemistry, fabrication strategies, and cutting-edge applications in EMI shielding. * Covers modern fabrication technologies, processing, properties, nanostructure formation, and mechanisms of reinforcement. * Discuss biocompatibility, suitability, and toxic effects. * Details innovations, applications, opportunities, and future directions in EMI shielding applications. This book is aimed at researchers and advanced students in materials science and engineering and is unique in its detailed coverage of MXene-based polymer composites for EMI shielding.

This book offers a complete overview of photonic-enhanced materials from material development to a final photonic biomedical application. It includes fundamental, applied, and industrial photonics. The authors cover synthesis, the modification and the processing of a variety of (bio)polymers including thermoplasts (e.g. polyesters) and hydrogels (e.g. proteins and polysaccharides) for a plethora of applications in the field of optics and regenerative medicine.

The text covers fiber optic sensors for biosensing and photo-detection, graphene and CNT-based sensors for glucose, cholesterol, and dopamine detection, and implantable sensors for detecting physiological, bio-electrical, biochemical, and metabolic changes in a comprehensive manner. It further presents a chapter on sensors for military and aerospace applications. It will be useful for senior undergraduate, graduate students, academic researchers in the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and communication engineering. The book Discusses implantable sensors for detecting physiological, bio-electrical, biochemical, and metabolic changes. Covers applications of sensors in diverse fields including healthcare, industrial flow, consumer electronics, and military. Includes experimental studies such as the detection of biomolecules using SPR sensors and electrochemical sensors for biomolecule detection. Presents artificial neural networks (ANN) based industrial flow sensor modeling. Highlights case studies on surface plasmon resonance sensors, MEMS-based fluidic sensors, and MEMS-based electrochemical gas sensors. The text presents case studies on surface plasmon resonance sensors, MEMS-based fluidic sensors, and MEMS-based electrochemical gas sensors in a single volume. The text will be useful for senior undergraduate, graduate students, academic researchers in the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, and communication engineering.

The past three decades have witnessed the great success of lithium-ion batteries, especially in the areas of 3C products, electrical vehicles, and smart grid applications. However, further optimization of the energy/power density, coulombic efficiency, cycle life, charge speed, and environmental adaptability are still needed. To address these issues, a thorough understanding of the reaction inside a battery or dynamic evolution of each component is required. Microscopy and Microanalysis for Lithium-Ion Batteries discusses advanced analytical techniques that offer the capability of resolving the structure and chemistry at an atomic resolution to further drive lithium-ion battery research and development. * Provides comprehensive techniques that probe the fundamentals of Li-ion batteries. * Covers the basic principles of the techniques involved as well as its application in battery research. * Describes details of experimental set-ups and procedure for successful experiments. This reference is aimed at researchers, engineers, and scientists studying lithium-ion batteries including chemical, materials, and electrical engineers, as well as chemists and physicists.

Covers potential energy storage (rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors) and energy conversion (solar cells and fuel cells) materials. Develops theoretical predictions and experimental observations under a unified quasi-particle framework. Illustrate up-to-date calculation results and experimental measurements. Describes successful synthesis, fabrication, and measurements, as well as potential applications and near future challenges.

Features • Provides a cutting edge review of the latest emerging science, technology and applications in the field. • Tackles a topic with fast growing interest in USA, Europe and China. • Explores the simple and cheap design and tests of lasers, and outline the feasible applications.

This book provides expert coverage of the physical properties of new non-crystalline solids-tellurite glass smart materials-and the latest applications of these materials, offering insights into innovative applications for radiation shielding, energy harvesting, laser devices, and temperature sensing, among others. In particular, there is a focus on optics, energy conversion technology and laser devices, structural and luminescence properties for laser applications, optothermal and optical properties in the presence of gold nanoparticles, and lanthanide doped zinc oxyfluoro-tellurite glass as a new smart material. Additional chapters address the properties and uses of tellurite glasses in optical sensing, the significance of Near Infrared (NIR) emissions, solar cells, solar energy harvesting, luminescent displays, and the development of bioactive-based tellurite-lanthanide (Te-Ln) doped hydroxyapatite composites for biomedical applications. As the world's reliance on glass increases, this book serves as a link between the latest findings on tellurite glasses and real-world technological advancement. Academic researchers and industry professionals alike will find this book a useful resource in keeping abreast of recent developments in the field.

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of laser-plasma interactions (LPI), based on a graduate course taught by the author. The emphasis is on high-energy-density physics (HEDP) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF), with a comprehensive description of the propagation, absorption, nonlinear effects and parametric instabilities of high energy lasers in plasmas. The recent demonstration of a burning plasma on the verge of nuclear fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, has marked the beginning of a new era of ICF and fusion research. These new developments make LPI more relevant than ever, and the resulting influx of new scientists necessitates new pedagogical material on the subject. In contrast to the classical textbooks on LPI, this book provides a complete description of all wave-coupling instabilities in unmagnetized plasmas in the kinetic as well as fluid pictures, and includes a comprehensive description of the optical smoothing techniques used on high-power lasers and their impact on laser-plasma instabilities. It summarizes all the key developments from the 1970s to the present day in view of the current state of LPI and ICF research; it provides a derivation of the key LPI metrics and formulas from first principles, and connects the theory to experimental observables. With exercises and plenty of illustrations, this book is ideal as a textbook for a course on laser-plasma interactions or as a supplementary text for graduate introductory plasma physics course. Students and researchers will also find it to be an invaluable reference and self-study resource.

Owing to their high-power density, long life and environmental compatibility, supercapacitors are emerging as one of the promising storage technologies but with challenges around energy and power requirements for specific applications. This book focusses on supercapacitors including details on classification, charge storage mechanisms, related kinetics, and thermodynamics. Materials used as electrodes, electrolytes and separators, and procedures followed, characterization methods and modeling are covered along with emphasis on related applications. Features: Provides an in-depth look at supercapacitors, including their working concepts, and design. Reviews detailed explanation of various characterization and modeling techniques. Give special focus to the application of supercapacitors in major areas of environmental as well as social importance. Covers Cyclic Voltammetry, Charging-Discharging Curves, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as characterization techniques. Includes a detailed chapter on historical perspectives on evolution of supercapacitors. This book aims at researchers, and graduate students in materials science and engineering, nanotechnology, chemistry in batteries, and physics.