This thesis presents the first successful realization of a compact, low-noise, and few-cycle light source in the mid-infrared wavelength region. By developing the technology of pumping femtosecond chromium-doped II-VI laser oscillators directly with the emission of broad-stripe single-emitter laser diodes, coherent light was generated with exceptionally low amplitude noise - crucial for numerous applications including spectroscopy at high sensitivities. Other key parameters of the oscillator's output, such as pulse duration and output power, matched and even surpassed previous state-of-the-art systems. As a demonstration of its unique capabilities, the oscillator's powerful output was used to drive - without further amplification - the nonlinear generation of coherent mid-infrared light spanning multiple octaves. The resulting table-top system uniquely combines high brilliance and ultrabroad spectral bandwidth in the important mid-infrared spectral range. The rapid development of this technology is comprehensively and lucidly documented in this PhD thesis. Together with a thorough review of literature and applications, and an extensive analysis of the theoretical foundations behind ultrafast laser oscillators, the thesis will serve as a valuable reference for the construction of a new generation of mid-infrared light sources.

Quantum logic gates are the crucial information-processing operation of quantumcomputers. Two crucial performance metrics for logic gates are their precision andspeed. Quantum processors based on trapped ions have always been the touchstonefor gate precision, but have suffered from slow speed relative to other quantum logicplatforms such as solid state systems. This thesis shows that it is possible to acceleratethe logic "clock speed" from kHz to MHz speeds, whilst maintaining a precision of99.8%. This is almost as high as the world record for conventional trapped-ion gates,but more than 20 times faster. It also demonstrates entanglement generation in atime (480ns) shorter than the natural timescale of the ions' motion in the trap, whichstarts to probe an interesting new regime of ion trap physics. In separate experiments, some of the first "mixed-species" quantum logic gates areperformed, both between two different elements, and between different isotopes.The mixed-isotope gate is used to make the first test of the quantum-mechanical Bellinequality between two different species of isolated atoms.

This book gathers contributions on a variety of flowing collective systems. While primarily focusing on pedestrian dynamics, they also reflect the latest developments in areas such as vehicular traffic and granular flows and address related emerging topics such as self-propelled particles, data transport, swarm behavior, intercellular transport, and collective dynamics of biological systems. Combining fundamental research and practical applications in the various fields discussed, the book offers a valuable asset for researchers and practitioners alike.

Gauge theory, which underlies modern particle physics as well as the theory of gravity, and hence all of physics as we know it today, is itself based on a few fundamental concepts, the consequences of which are often as beautiful as they are deep. Unfortunately, in view of the pressure to cover aspects of the theory that are necessary for its many important applications, very little space is usually devoted in textbooks and graduate courses to the treatment of these concepts. The present small volume is an attempt to help in some degree to redress this imbalance in the literature.The topics covered are elementary in the sense of being basic, not in the sense of being shallow or easy. Although all will already feature at the classical field level, and most even before the introduction of an action principle, they often lead one to pose some quite profound questions, so that much of the material treated is by necessity at the front line of research. The approach adopted is physically motivated, although there is no hesitation in introducing mathematical concepts when they are a help to understanding. In the presentation, little is assumed of the reader, and no pains has been spared to make the whole volume understandable to researchers in other fields and to graduate students, provided that the reader is willing to devote sufficient effort required by the subject matter. On the other hand, neither has there been any conscious attempt to avoid essential difficulties, or to trivialise concepts which are intrinsically abstruse. It is thus hoped that the result will be enjoyable reading for researchers and students alike.

A mind-bending excursion to the limits of science and mathematics
Are some scientific problems insoluble? In Beyond Reason, internationally acclaimed math and science author A. K. Dewdney answers this question by examining eight insurmountable mathematical and scientific roadblocks that have stumped thinkers across the centuries, from ancient mathematical conundrums such as "squaring the circle," first attempted by the Pythagoreans, to G?del's vexing theorem, from perpetual motion to the upredictable behavior of chaotic systems such as the weather.
A. K. Dewdney, PhD (Ontario, Canada), was the author of Scientific American's "Computer Recreations" column for eight years. He has written several critically acclaimed popular math and science books, including A Mathematical Mystery Tour (0-471-40734-8); Yes, We Have No Neutrons (0-471-29586-8); and 200% of Nothing (0-471-14574-2).

The Textbook of Ion Channels is a set of three volumes providing a wide-ranging reference source on ion channels for students, instructors, and researchers. Ion channels are membrane proteins that control the electrical properties of neurons and cardiac cells, mediate the detection and response to sensory stimuli like light, sound, odor, and taste, and regulate the response to physical stimuli like temperature and pressure. In non-excitable tissues, ion channels are instrumental for the regulation of basic salt balance that is critical for homeostasis. Ion channels are located at the surface membrane of cells, giving them the unique ability to communicate with the environment, as well as the membrane of intracellular organelles, allowing them to regulate internal homeostasis. Ion channels are fundamentally important for human health and diseases, and are important targets for pharmaceuticals in mental illness, heart disease, anesthesia, pain and other clinical applications. The modern methods used in their study are powerful and diverse, ranging from single ion-channel measurement techniques to models of ion channel diseases in animals, and human clinical trials for ion channel drugs. All three volumes give the reader an introduction to fundamental concepts needed to understand the mechanism of ion channels, a guide to the technical aspects of ion channel research, offer a modern guide to the properties of major ion channel families, and include coverage of key examples of regulatory, physiological, and disease roles for ion channels.

The study of nonlinear dynamical systems has exploded in the past 25 years, and Robert L. Devaney has made these advanced research developments accessible to undergraduate and graduate mathematics students as well as researchers in other disciplines with the introduction of this widely praised book. In this second edition of his best-selling text, Devaney includes new material on the orbit diagram fro maps of the interval and the Mandelbrot set, as well as striking color photos illustrating both Julia and Mandelbrot sets. This book assumes no prior acquaintance with advanced mathematical topics such as measure theory, topology, and differential geometry. Assuming only a knowledge of calculus, Devaney introduces many of the basic concepts of modern dynamical systems theory and leads the reader to the point of current research in several areas.

The Boussinesq equation is the first model of surface waves in shallow water that considers the nonlinearity and the dispersion and their interaction as a reason for wave stability known as the Boussinesq paradigm. This balance bears solitary waves that behave like quasi-particles. At present, there are some Boussinesq-like equations. The prevalent part of the known analytical and numerical solutions, however, relates to the 1d case while for multidimensional cases, almost nothing is known so far. An exclusion is the solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation. The difficulties originate from the lack of known analytic initial conditions and the nonintegrability in the multidimensional case. Another problem is which kind of nonlinearity will keep the temporal stability of localized solutions. The system of coupled nonlinear Schroedinger equations known as well as the vector Schroedinger equation is a soliton supporting dynamical system. It is considered as a model of light propagation in Kerr isotropic media. Along with that, the phenomenology of the equation opens a prospect of investigating the quasi-particle behavior of the interacting solitons. The initial polarization of the vector Schroedinger equation and its evolution evolves from the vector nature of the model. The existence of exact (analytical) solutions usually is rendered to simpler models, while for the vector Schroedinger equation such solutions are not known. This determines the role of the numerical schemes and approaches. The vector Schroedinger equation is a spring-board for combining the reduced integrability and conservation laws in a discrete level. The experimental observation and measurement of ultrashort pulses in waveguides is a hard job and this is the reason and stimulus to create mathematical models for computer simulations, as well as reliable algorithms for treating the governing equations. Along with the nonintegrability, one more problem appears here - the multidimensionality and necessity to split and linearize the operators in the appropriate way.

Compendium of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 2: Hydrogen Storage, Distribution and Infrastructure focuses on the storage and transmission of hydrogen. As many experts believe the hydrogen economy will, at some point, replace the fossil fuel economy as the primary source of the world's energy, this book details hydrogen storage in pure form, including chapters on hydrogen liquefaction, slush production, as well as underground and pipeline storage. Other sections in the book explore physical and chemical storage, including environmentally sustainable methods of hydrogen production from water, with final chapters dedicated to hydrogen distribution and infrastructure.

Developed for the new International A Level specification, these new resources are specifically designed for international students, with a strong focus on progression, recognition and transferable skills, allowing learning in a local context to a global standard. Recognised by universities worldwide and fully comparable to UK reformed GCE A levels. Supports a modular approach, in line with the specification. Appropriate international content puts learning in a real-world context, to a global standard, making it engaging and relevant for all learners. Reviewed by a language specialist to ensure materials are written in a clear and accessible style. The embedded transferable skills, needed for progression to higher education and employment, are signposted so students understand what skills they are developing and therefore go on to use these skills more effectively in the future. Exam practice provides opportunities to assess understanding and progress, so students can make the best progress they can.

This book presents the results of a European-Chinese collaborative research project, Manipulation of Reynolds Stress for Separation Control and Drag Reduction (MARS), including an analysis and discussion of the effects of a number of active flow control devices on the discrete dynamic components of the turbulent shear layers and Reynolds stress. From an application point of view, it provides a positive and necessary step to control individual structures that are larger in scale and lower in frequency compared to the richness of the temporal and spatial scales in turbulent separated flows.

This is the proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Theoretical, Applied and Experimental Mechanics that was held in Corfu, Greece, June 23-26, 2019. It presents papers focusing on all aspects of theoretical, applied and experimental mechanics, including biomechanics, composite materials, computational mechanics, constitutive modeling of materials, dynamics, elasticity, experimental mechanics, fracture, mechanical properties of materials, micromechanics, nanomechanics, plasticity, stress analysis, structures, wave propagation. The papers update the latest research in their field, carried out since the last conference in 2018. This book is suitable for engineers, students and researchers who want to obtain an up-to-date view of the recent advances in the area of mechanics.

This book introduces readers to the characteristic features of electromagnetic phenomena in superconductivity. It first demonstrates not only that the diamagnetism in the superconductivity complies with Maxwell's theory, which was formulated before the discovery of superconductivity, but also that the dominant E-B analogy in the electromagnetism loses perfection without the superconductivity. The book then explores flux pinning, which is responsible for the non-dissipative current in DC, leading to irreversibility in AC. Drawing on Maxwell's work, it also proves theoretically that if there is no energy dissipation in the superconductivity caused by the break in time reversal symmetry, it contradicts the thermodynamic principle of energy conservation - something that had previously only been proved experimentally. Lastly, the book addresses the longitudinal magnetic field effect, and explains how this phenomenon leads to a new development of Maxwell's theory. Featuring numerous appendices to help readers understand the methods of derivation of equations, this book offers students and young scientists an introduction to applied superconductivity, especially in the context of power applications. Presenting the characteristic features of electromagnetic phenomena in superconductivity from basic to advanced topics for applications, the book offers a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers studying superconductivity as well as engineers working in electric utility industry.

This book explains the physics behind seismic ground motions and seismic waves to graduate and upper undergraduate students as well as to professionals. Both seismic ground motions and seismic waves are terms for "shaking" due to earthquakes, but it is common that shaking in the near-field of an earthquake source is called seismic ground motion and in the far-field is called seismic waves. Seismic ground motion is often described by the tensor formula based on the representation theorem, but in this book explicit formulation is emphasized beginning with Augustus Edward Hough Love (1863 - 1940). The book also explains in depth the equations and methods used for analysis and computation of shaking close to an earthquake source. In addition, it provides in detail information and knowledge related to teleseismic body waves, which are frequently used in the analysis of the source of an earthquake.

This book highlights a novel and holistic approach to multiscaled PVA bionanocomposite films used for electrical sensing, medical and packaging applications. With a combination of material characterization and modeling to understand the effect of nanoparticle size and shape, as well as 3D interphase properties and features such as interphase modulus and nanoscale dimensions, this book substantiates how excellent mechanical and thermal properties of these materials are achieved. Also it addresses the importance of using economical and ecofriendly bionanocomposites as potential green materials to support the goal of environmental sustainability with multifunctional properties.