@misc{YangGuehrVecchioneetal.2016, author = {Yang, Jie and Guehr, Markus and Vecchione, Theodore and Robinson, Matthew Scott and Li, Renkai and Hartmann, Nick and Shen, Xiaozhe and Coffee, Ryan and Corbett, Jeff and Fry, Alan and Gaffney, Kelly and Gorkhover, Tais and Hast, Carsten and Jobe, Keith and Makasyuk, Igor and Reid, Alexander and Robinson, Joseph and Vetter, Sharon and Wang, Fenglin and Weathersby, Stephen and Yoneda, Charles and Wang, Xijie and Centurion, Martin}, title = {Femtosecond gas phase electron diffraction with MeV electrons}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-394989}, pages = {19}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present results on ultrafast gas electron diffraction (UGED) experiments with femtosecond resolution using the MeV electron gun at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. UGED is a promising method to investigate molecular dynamics in the gas phase because electron pulses can probe the structure with a high spatial resolution. Until recently, however, it was not possible for UGED to reach the relevant timescale for the motion of the nuclei during a molecular reaction. Using MeV electron pulses has allowed us to overcome the main challenges in reaching femtosecond resolution, namely delivering short electron pulses on a gas target, overcoming the effect of velocity mismatch between pump laser pulses and the probe electron pulses, and maintaining a low timing jitter. At electron kinetic energies above 3 MeV, the velocity mismatch between laser and electron pulses becomes negligible. The relativistic electrons are also less susceptible to temporal broadening due to the Coulomb force. One of the challenges of diffraction with relativistic electrons is that the small de Broglie wavelength results in very small diffraction angles. In this paper we describe the new setup and its characterization, including capturing static diffraction patterns of molecules in the gas phase, finding time-zero with sub-picosecond accuracy and first time-resolved diffraction experiments. The new device can achieve a temporal resolution of 100 fs root-mean-square, and sub-angstrom spatial resolution. The collimation of the beam is sufficient to measure the diffraction pattern, and the transverse coherence is on the order of 2 nm. Currently, the temporal resolution is limited both by the pulse duration of the electron pulse on target and by the timing jitter, while the spatial resolution is limited by the average electron beam current and the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection system. We also discuss plans for improving both the temporal resolution and the spatial resolution.}, language = {en} } @misc{vonReppertPuddellKocetal.2016, author = {von Reppert, Alexander and Puddell, J. and Koc, A. and Reinhardt, M. and Leitenberger, Wolfram and Dumesnil, K. and Zamponi, Flavio and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Persistent nonequilibrium dynamics of the thermal energies in the spin and phonon systems of an antiferromagnet}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-98710}, pages = {11}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present a temperature and fluence dependent Ultrafast X-Ray Diffraction study of a laser-heated antiferromagnetic dysprosium thin film. The loss of antiferromagnetic order is evidenced by a pronounced lattice contraction. We devise a method to determine the energy flow between the phonon and spin system from calibrated Bragg peak positions in thermal equilibrium. Reestablishing the magnetic order is much slower than the cooling of the lattice, especially around the N{\´e}el temperature. Despite the pronounced magnetostriction, the transfer of energy from the spin system to the phonons in Dy is slow after the spin-order is lost.}, language = {en} } @misc{TomovPenaRoqueetal.2016, author = {Tomov, Petar and Pena, Rodrigo F. O. and Roque, Antonio C. and Zaks, Michael A.}, title = {Mechanisms of self-sustained oscillatory states in hierarchical modular networks with mixtures of electrophysiological cell types}, series = {Frontiers in computational neuroscience}, journal = {Frontiers in computational neuroscience}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407724}, pages = {17}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In a network with a mixture of different electrophysiological types of neurons linked by excitatory and inhibitory connections, temporal evolution leads through repeated epochs of intensive global activity separated by intervals with low activity level. This behavior mimics "up" and "down" states, experimentally observed in cortical tissues in absence of external stimuli. We interpret global dynamical features in terms of individual dynamics of the neurons. In particular, we observe that the crucial role both in interruption and in resumption of global activity is played by distributions of the membrane recovery variable within the network. We also demonstrate that the behavior of neurons is more influenced by their presynaptic environment in the network than by their formal types, assigned in accordance with their response to constant current.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schulz2016, author = {Schulz, Alexander}, title = {Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung synoptisch-skaliger mit orographisch bedingten Prozessen in der arktischen Grenzschicht {\"u}ber Spitzbergen}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-400058}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {vi, 194}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die planetare Grenzschicht in Ny-{\AA}lesund, Spitzbergen, sowohl bez{\"u}glich kleinskaliger („mikrometeorologischer") Effekte als auch in ihrer Kopplung mit der Synoptik untersucht. Dazu werden verschiedene Beobachtungsdaten aus der S{\"a}ule und in Bodenn{\"a}he zusammengezogen und bewertet. Die so gewonnenen Datens{\"a}tze werden dann zur Validierung eines nicht-hydrostatischen, regionalen Klimamodells genutzt. Weiterhin werden orographisch bedingte Einfl{\"u}sse, die Untergrundbeschaffenheit und die lokale Heterogenit{\"a}t der Unterlage untersucht. Hierzu werden meteorologische Gr{\"o}ßen, wie die Variabilit{\"a}t der Temperatur und insbesondere die j{\"a}hrliche Windverteilung in Bodenn{\"a}he untersucht und es erfolgt ein Vergleich von in-situ gemessenen turbulenten Fl{\"u}ssen von den Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplexen bei Ny-{\AA}lesund und im Bayelva-Tal unter demselben Aspekt. Es zeigt sich, dass der Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplex im Bayelva-Tal sehr stark durch eine orographisch bedingte Kanalisierung der Str{\"o}mung beeinflusst ist und sich nicht f{\"u}r Vergleiche mit regionalen Klimamodellen mit horizontalen Aufl{\"o}sungen von <1km eignet. Die hohe Bodenfeuchte im Bayelva-Tal f{\"u}hrt zudem zu einem deutlich kleineren Bowen-Verh{\"a}ltnis, als es f{\"u}r diese Region zu erwarten ist. Der Eddy-Kovarianz-Messkomplex bei Ny-{\AA}lesund erweist sich hingegen als geeigneter f{\"u}r solche Modellvergleiche, aufgrund der typischen, k{\"u}stennahen Windverteilung und des repr{\"a}sentativen Footprints. Letzteres wird durch die Bestimmung der Footprint-Klimatologie des Jahres 2013 mit einem aktuellen Footprint-Modell erarbeitet. Weiterhin wird die Auswirkung von (Anti-) Zyklonen {\"u}ber den Archipel auf die zeitliche Variabilit{\"a}t der lokalen Grenzschichteigenschaften untersucht und bewertet. Dazu wird ein Zyklonen-Detektions-Algorithmus auf ERA-Interim-Reanalysedatens{\"a}tze angewendet, wodurch die H{\"a}ufigkeit von nahezu ideal konzentrischen Hoch- und die Tiefdruckgebieten f{\"u}r drei Jahre bestimmt wird. Aus dieser Verteilung werden insgesamt drei interessante Zeitr{\"a}ume zu verschiedenen Jahreszeiten ausgew{\"a}hlt und im Rahmen von Prozessstudien die lokalen bodennahen meteorologischen Messungen, der turbulente Austausch an der Oberfl{\"a}che und die Grenzschichtdynamik in der S{\"a}ule untersucht. Die zeitliche Variabilit{\"a}t der dynamischen Grenzschichtstabilit{\"a}t in der S{\"a}ule wird anhand von zeitlich hoch aufgel{\"o}sten vertikalen Profilen der Bulk-Richardson-Zahl aus Kompositprofilen aus Fernerkundungsinstrumenten (Radiometer, Wind-LIDAR) sowie Mastdaten (BSRN-Mast) untersucht und die Grenzschichth{\"o}he ermittelt. Aus diesen Analysen ergibt sich eine deutliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der thermischen Stabilit{\"a}t beim Durchzug von Fronten, eine damit einhergehende erhebliche Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Grenzschichtdynamik und der Grenzschichth{\"o}he sowie des turbulenten Austauschs von der zeitlichen Variabilit{\"a}t der Windgeschwindigkeit in der S{\"a}ule. Auf Grundlage der Standortanalysen und Prozessstudien erfolgt ein Vergleich der bodennahen Messungen und den Beobachtungen aus der S{\"a}ule, sowohl von den genannten Fernerkundungsinstrumenten als auch von In-situ-Messungen (Radiosonden) f{\"u}r den Zeitraum einer Radiosondierungskampagne mit dem nicht-hydrostatischen, regionalen Klimamodel WRF (ARW). Auf Grundlage der Fragestellung, inwieweit aktuelle Schemata die Grenzschichtcharakteristika in orographisch stark gegliedertem Gel{\"a}nde in der Arktis reproduzieren k{\"o}nnen, werden zwei Grenzschichtparametrisierungsschemata mit verschiedenen Ordnungen der Schließung validiert. Hierzu wird die zeitliche Variabilit{\"a}t der Temperatur, der Feuchte und des Windfeldes in der S{\"a}ule bis 2000m in den Simulationen mit den Beobachtungsdaten vergleichen. Es wird gezeigt, dass durch Modifikation der Initialwertfelder eine sehr gute {\"U}bereinstimmung zwischen den Simulationen und den Beobachtungen bereits bei einer horizontalen Aufl{\"o}sung von 1km erreicht werden kann und die Wahl des Grenzschichtschemas nur untergeordneten Einfluss hat. Hieraus werden Ans{\"a}tze der Weiterentwicklung der Parametrisierungen, aber auch Empfehlungen bez{\"u}glich der Initialwertfelder, wie der Landmaske und der Orographie, vorgeschlagen.}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Schroeder2016, author = {Schr{\"o}der, Henning}, title = {Ultrafast electron dynamics in Fe(CO)5 and Cr(CO)6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-94589}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {v, 87}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In this thesis, the two prototype catalysts Fe(CO)₅ and Cr(CO)₆ are investigated with time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy at a high harmonic setup. In both of these metal carbonyls, a UV photon can induce the dissociation of one or more ligands of the complex. The mechanism of the dissociation has been debated over the last decades. The electronic dynamics of the first dissociation occur on the femtosecond timescale. For the experiment, an existing high harmonic setup was moved to a new location, was extended, and characterized. The modified setup can induce dynamics in gas phase samples with photon energies of 1.55eV, 3.10eV, and 4.65eV. The valence electronic structure of the samples can be probed with photon energies between 20eV and 40eV. The temporal resolution is 111fs to 262fs, depending on the combination of the two photon energies. The electronically excited intermediates of the two complexes, as well as of the reaction product Fe(CO)₄, could be observed with photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase for the first time. However, photoelectron spectroscopy gives access only to the final ionic states. Corresponding calculations to simulate these spectra are still in development. The peak energies and their evolution in time with respect to the initiation pump pulse have been determined, these peaks have been assigned based on literature data. The spectra of the two complexes show clear differences. The dynamics have been interpreted with the assumption that the motion of peaks in the spectra relates to the movement of the wave packet in the multidimensional energy landscape. The results largely confirm existing models for the reaction pathways. In both metal carbonyls, this pathway involves a direct excitation of the wave packet to a metal-to-ligand charge transfer state and the subsequent crossing to a dissociative ligand field state. The coupling of the electronic dynamics to the nuclear dynamics could explain the slower dissociation in Fe(CO)₅ as compared to Cr(CO)₆.}, language = {en} } @misc{SchickEckertPontiusetal.2016, author = {Schick, Daniel and Eckert, Sebastian and Pontius, Niko and Mitzner, Rolf and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Holldack, Karsten and Sorgenfrei, Florian}, title = {Versatile soft X-ray-optical cross-correlator for ultrafast applications}, series = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Zweitver{\"o}ffentlichungen der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {1331}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-43696}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-436962}, pages = {054304-1 -- 054304-8}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We present an X-ray-optical cross-correlator for the soft (> 150 eV) up to the hard X-ray regime based on a molybdenum-silicon superlattice. The cross-correlation is done by probing intensity and position changes of superlattice Bragg peaks caused by photoexcitation of coherent phonons. This approach is applicable for a wide range of X-ray photon energies as well as for a broad range of excitation wavelengths and requires no external fields or changes of temperature. Moreover, the cross-correlator can be employed on a 10 ps or 100 fs time scale featuring up to 50\% total X-ray reflectivity and transient signal changes of more than 20\%. (C) 2016 Author(s).}, language = {en} } @misc{RaetzelWilkensMenzel2016, author = {R{\"a}tzel, Dennis and Wilkens, Martin and Menzel, Ralf}, title = {Gravitational properties of light}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-90553}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The gravitational field of a laser pulse of finite lifetime, is investigated in the framework of linearized gravity. Although the effects are very small, they may be of fundamental physical interest. It is shown that the gravitational field of a linearly polarized light pulse is modulated as the norm of the corresponding electric field strength, while no modulations arise for circular polarization. In general, the gravitational field is independent of the polarization direction. It is shown that all physical effects are confined to spherical shells expanding with the speed of light, and that these shells are imprints of the spacetime events representing emission and absorption of the pulse. Nearby test particles at rest are attracted towards the pulse trajectory by the gravitational field due to the emission of the pulse, and they are repelled from the pulse trajectory by the gravitational field due to its absorption. Examples are given for the size of the attractive effect. It is recovered that massless test particles do not experience any physical effect if they are co-propagating with the pulse, and that the acceleration of massless test particles counter-propagating with respect to the pulse is four times stronger than for massive particles at rest. The similarities between the gravitational effect of a laser pulse and Newtonian gravity in two dimensions are pointed out. The spacetime curvature close to the pulse is compared to that induced by gravitational waves from astronomical sources.}, language = {en} } @misc{PimenovaGoldobinRosenblumetal.2016, author = {Pimenova, Anastasiya V. and Goldobin, Denis S. and Rosenblum, Michael and Pikovskij, Arkadij}, title = {Interplay of coupling and common noise at the transition to synchrony in oscillator populations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-103471}, pages = {7}, year = {2016}, abstract = {There are two ways to synchronize oscillators: by coupling and by common forcing, which can be pure noise. By virtue of the Ott-Antonsen ansatz for sine-coupled phase oscillators, we obtain analytically tractable equations for the case where both coupling and common noise are present. While noise always tends to synchronize the phase oscillators, the repulsive coupling can act against synchrony, and we focus on this nontrivial situation. For identical oscillators, the fully synchronous state remains stable for small repulsive coupling; moreover it is an absorbing state which always wins over the asynchronous regime. For oscillators with a distribution of natural frequencies, we report on a counter-intuitive effect of dispersion (instead of usual convergence) of the oscillators frequencies at synchrony; the latter effect disappears if noise vanishes.}, language = {en} } @misc{PavlenkoSanderMitzscherlingetal.2016, author = {Pavlenko, Elena S. and Sander, Mathias and Mitzscherling, Steffen and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Zamponi, Flavio and R{\"o}ssle, Matthias and Bojahr, Andre and Bargheer, Matias}, title = {Azobenzene - functionalized polyelectrolyte nanolayers as ultrafast optoacoustic transducers}, volume = {8}, doi = {10.1039/C6NR01448H}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-101996}, pages = {13297 -- 13302}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We introduce azobenzene-functionalized polyelectrolyte multilayers as efficient, inexpensive optoacoustic transducers for hyper-sound strain waves in the GHz range. By picosecond transient reflectivity measurements we study the creation of nanoscale strain waves, their reflection from interfaces, damping by scattering from nanoparticles and propagation in soft and hard adjacent materials like polymer layers, quartz and mica. The amplitude of the generated strain ε ∼ 5 × 10-4 is calibrated by ultrafast X-ray diffraction.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Pavlenko2016, author = {Pavlenko, Elena}, title = {Hybrid nanolayer architectures for ultrafast acousto-plasmonics in soft matter}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-99544}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {85}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The goal of the presented work is to explore the interaction between gold nanorods (GNRs) and hyper-sound waves. For the generation of the hyper-sound I have used Azobenzene-containing polymer transducers. Multilayer polymer structures with well-defined thicknesses and smooth interfaces were built via layer-by-layer deposition. Anionic polyelectrolytes with Azobenzene side groups (PAzo) were alternated with cationic polymer PAH, for the creation of transducer films. PSS/PAH multilayer were built for spacer layers, which do not absorb in the visible light range. The properties of the PAzo/PAH film as a transducer are carefully characterized by static and transient optical spectroscopy. The optical and mechanical properties of the transducer are studied on the picosecond time scale. In particular the relative change of the refractive index of the photo-excited and expanded PAH/PAzo is Δn/n = - 2.6*10-4. Calibration of the generated strain is performed by ultrafast X-ray diffraction calibrated the strain in a Mica substrate, into which the hyper-sound is transduced. By simulating the X-ray data with a linear-chain-model the strain in the transducer under the excitation is derived to be Δd/d ~ 5*10-4. Additional to the investigation of the properties of the transducer itself, I have performed a series of experiments to study the penetration of the generated strain into various adjacent materials. By depositing the PAzo/PAH film onto a PAH/PSS structure with gold nanorods incorporated in it, I have shown that nanoscale impurities can be detected via the scattering of hyper-sound. Prior to the investigation of complex structures containing GNRs and the transducer, I have performed several sets of experiments on GNRs deposited on a small buffer of PSS/PAH. The static and transient response of GNRs is investigated for different fluence of the pump beam and for different dielectric environments (GNRs covered by PSS/PAH). A systematic analysis of sample architectures is performed in order to construct a sample with the desired effect of GNRs responding to the hyper-sound strain wave. The observed shift of a feature related to the longitudinal plasmon resonance in the transient reflection spectra is interpreted as the event of GNRs sensing the strain wave. We argue that the shift of the longitudinal plasmon resonance is caused by the viscoelastic deformation of the polymer around the nanoparticle. The deformation is induced by the out of plane difference in strain in the area directly under a particle and next to it. Simulations based on the linear chain model support this assumption. Experimentally this assumption is proven by investigating the same structure, with GNRs embedded in a PSS/PAH polymer layer. The response of GNRs to the hyper-sound wave is also observed for the sample structure with GNRs embedded in PAzo/PAH films. The response of GNRs in this case is explained to be driven by the change of the refractive index of PAzo during the strain propagation.}, language = {en} } @misc{NiskanenKooserKoskeloetal.2016, author = {Niskanen, Johannes and Kooser, Kuno and Koskelo, Jaakko and K{\"a}{\"a}mbre, Tanel and Kunnus, Kristjan and Pietzsch, Annette and Quevedo, Wilson and Hakala, Mikko and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander and Huotari, Simo and Kukk, Edwin}, title = {Density functional simulation of resonant inelastic X-ray scattering experiments in liquids: acetonitrile}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-395133}, pages = {7}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In this paper we report an experimental and computational study of liquid acetonitrile (H3C-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N) by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at the N K-edge. The experimental spectra exhibit clear signatures of the electronic structure of the valence states at the N site and incident-beam-polarization dependence is observed as well. Moreover, we find fine structure in the quasielastic line that is assigned to finite scattering duration and nuclear relaxation. We present a simple and light-to-evaluate model for the RIXS maps and analyze the experimental data using this model combined with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. In addition to polarization-dependence and scattering-duration effects, we pinpoint the effects of different types of chemical bonding to the RIXS spectrum and conclude that the H2C-C[double bond, length as m-dash]NH isomer, suggested in the literature, does not exist in detectable quantities. We study solution effects on the scattering spectra with simulations in liquid and in vacuum. The presented model for RIXS proved to be light enough to allow phase-space-sampling and still accurate enough for identification of transition lines in physical chemistry research by RIXS.}, language = {en} } @misc{NishikawaMizunoNiemiecetal.2016, author = {Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi and Mizuno, Yosuke and Niemiec, Jacek and Kobzar, Oleh and Pohl, Martin and G{\´o}mez, Jose L. and Duţan, Ioana and Pe'er, Asaf and Frederiksen, Jacob Trier and Nordlund, {\AA}ke and Meli, Athina and Sol, Helene and Hardee, Philip E. and Hartmann, Dieter H.}, title = {Microscopic processes in global relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields}, series = {Galaxies}, journal = {Galaxies}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407604}, pages = {9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron-proton (e(-)-p(+)) and electron-positron (e(+/-)) relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of "global" jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the e(-)-p(+) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the e(+/-) jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by a kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without helical magnetic field. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.}, language = {en} } @misc{NeherKniepertElimelechetal.2016, author = {Neher, Dieter and Kniepert, Juliane and Elimelech, Arik and Koster, L. Jan Anton}, title = {A New Figure of Merit for Organic Solar Cells with Transport-limited Photocurrents}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-91414}, pages = {9}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Compared to their inorganic counterparts, organic semiconductors suffer from relatively low charge carrier mobilities. Therefore, expressions derived for inorganic solar cells to correlate characteristic performance parameters to material properties are prone to fail when applied to organic devices. This is especially true for the classical Shockley-equation commonly used to describe current-voltage (JV)-curves, as it assumes a high electrical conductivity of the charge transporting material. Here, an analytical expression for the JV-curves of organic solar cells is derived based on a previously published analytical model. This expression, bearing a similar functional dependence as the Shockley-equation, delivers a new figure of merit α to express the balance between free charge recombination and extraction in low mobility photoactive materials. This figure of merit is shown to determine critical device parameters such as the apparent series resistance and the fill factor.}, language = {en} } @misc{KurpiersNeher2016, author = {Kurpiers, Jona and Neher, Dieter}, title = {Dispersive Non-Geminate Recombination in an Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Blend}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-91541}, pages = {10}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Recombination of free charge is a key process limiting the performance of solar cells. For low mobility materials, such as organic semiconductors, the kinetics of non-geminate recombination (NGR) is strongly linked to the motion of charges. As these materials possess significant disorder, thermalization of photogenerated carriers in the inhomogeneously broadened density of state distribution is an unavoidable process. Despite its general importance, knowledge about the kinetics of NGR in complete organic solar cells is rather limited. We employ time delayed collection field (TDCF) experiments to study the recombination of photogenerated charge in the high-performance polymer:fullerene blend PCDTBT:PCBM. NGR in the bulk of this amorphous blend is shown to be highly dispersive, with a continuous reduction of the recombination coefficient throughout the entire time scale, until all charge carriers have either been extracted or recombined. Rapid, contact-mediated recombination is identified as an additional loss channel, which, if not properly taken into account, would erroneously suggest a pronounced field dependence of charge generation. These findings are in stark contrast to the results of TDCF experiments on photovoltaic devices made from ordered blends, such as P3HT:PCBM, where non-dispersive recombination was proven to dominate the charge carrier dynamics under application relevant conditions.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Herenz2016, author = {Herenz, Edmund Christian}, title = {Detecting and understanding extragalactic Lyman α emission using 3D spectroscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102341}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {175}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In this thesis we use integral-field spectroscopy to detect and understand of Lyman α (Lyα) emission from high-redshift galaxies. Intrinsically the Lyα emission at λ = 1216 {\AA} is the strongest recombination line from galaxies. It arises from the 2p → 1s transition in hydrogen. In star-forming galaxies the line is powered by ionisation of the interstellar gas by hot O- and B- stars. Galaxies with star-formation rates of 1 - 10 Msol/year are expected to have Lyα luminosities of 42 dex - 43 dex (erg/s), corresponding to fluxes ~ -17 dex - -18 dex (erg/s/cm²) at redshifts z~3, where Lyα is easily accessible with ground-based telescopes. However, star-forming galaxies do not show these expected Lyα fluxes. Primarily this is a consequence of the high-absorption cross-section of neutral hydrogen for Lyα photons σ ~ -14 dex (cm²). Therefore, in typical interstellar environments Lyα photons have to undergo a complex radiative transfer. The exact conditions under which Lyα photons can escape a galaxy are poorly understood. Here we present results from three observational projects. In Chapter 2, we show integral field spectroscopic observations of 14 nearby star-forming galaxies in Balmer α radiation (Hα, λ = 6562.8 {\AA}). These observations were obtained with the Potsdam Multi Aperture Spectrophotometer at the Calar-Alto 3.5m Telescope}. Hα directly traces the intrinsic Lyα radiation field. We present Hα velocity fields and velocity dispersion maps spatially registered onto Hubble Space Telescope Lyα and Hα images. From our observations, we conjecture a causal connection between spatially resolved Hα kinematics and Lyα photometry for individual galaxies. Statistically, we find that dispersion-dominated galaxies are more likely to emit Lyα photons than galaxies where ordered gas-motions dominate. This result indicates that turbulence in actively star-forming systems favours an escape of Lyα radiation. Not only massive stars can power Lyα radiation, but also non-thermal emission from an accreting super-massive black hole in the galaxy centre. If a galaxy harbours such an active galactic nucleus, the rate of hydrogen-ionising photons can be more than 1000 times higher than that of a typical star-forming galaxy. This radiation can potentially ionise large regions well outside the main stellar body of galaxies. Therefore, it is expected that the neutral hydrogen from these circum-galactic regions shines fluorescently in Lyα. Circum-galactic gas plays a crucial role in galaxy formation. It may act as a reservoir for fuelling star formation, and it is also subject to feedback processes that expel galactic material. If Lyα emission from this circum-galactic medium (CGM) was detected, these important processes could be studied in-situ around high-z galaxies. In Chapter 3, we show observations of five radio-quiet quasars with PMAS to search for possible extended CGM emission in the Lyα line. However, in four of the five objects, we find no significant traces of this emission. In the fifth object, there is evidence for a weak and spatially quite compact Lyα excess at several kpc outside the nucleus. The faintness of these structures is consistent with the idea that radio-quiet quasars typically reside in dark matter haloes of modest masses. While we were not able to detect Lyα CGM emission, our upper limits provide constraints for the new generation of IFS instruments at 8--10m class telescopes. The Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at ESOs Very Large Telescopeis such an unique instrument. One of the main motivating drivers in its construction was the use as a survey instrument for Lyα emitting galaxies at high-z. Currently, we are conducting such a survey that will cover a total area of ~100 square arcminutes with 1 hour exposures for each 1 square arcminute MUSE pointing. As a first result from this survey we present in Chapter 5 a catalogue of 831 emission-line selected galaxies from a 22.2 square arcminute region in the Chandra Deep Field South. In order to construct the catalogue, we developed and implemented a novel source detection algorithm -- LSDCat -- based on matched filtering for line emission in 3D spectroscopic datasets (Chapter 4). Our catalogue contains 237 Lyα emitting galaxies in the redshift range 3 ≲ z ≲ 6. Only four of those previously had spectroscopic redshifts in the literature. We conclude this thesis with an outlook on the construction of a Lyα luminosity function based on this unique sample (Chapter 6).}, language = {en} } @misc{Guehr2016, author = {G{\"u}hr, Markus}, title = {Ultrafast Soft X-ray Probing of Gas Phase Molecular Dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-97215}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The molecular ability to selectively and efficiently convert sunlight into other forms of energy like heat, bond change, or charge separation is truly remarkable. The decisive steps in these transformations often happen on a femtosecond timescale and require transitions among different electronic states that violate the Born-Oppenheimer approximation (BOA). Non-BOA transitions pose challenges to both theory and experiment. From a theoretical point of view, excited state dynamics and nonadiabatic transitions both are difficult problems (see Figure 1(a)). However, the theory on non-BOA dynamics has advanced significantly over the last two decades. Full dynamical simulations for molecules of the size of nucleobases have been possible for a couple of years and allow predictions of experimental observables like photoelectron energy or ion yield. The availability of these calculations for isolated molecules has spurred new experimental efforts to develop methods that are sufficiently different from all optical techniques. For determination of transient molecular structure, femtosecond X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction have been implemented on optically excited molecules.}, language = {en} } @misc{Goychuk2016, author = {Goychuk, Igor}, title = {Quantum ergodicity breaking in semi-classical electron transfer dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102264}, pages = {11}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Can the statistical properties of single-electron transfer events be correctly predicted within a common equilibrium ensemble description? This fundamental in nanoworld question of ergodic behavior is scrutinized within a very basic semi-classical curve-crossing problem. It is shown that in the limit of non-adiabatic electron transfer (weak tunneling) well-described by the Marcus-Levich-Dogonadze(MLD) rate the answer is yes. However, in the limit of the so-called solvent-controlled adiabatic electron transfer, a profound breaking of ergodicity occurs. Namely, a common description based on the ensemble reduced density matrix with an initial equilibrium distribution of the reaction coordinate is not able to reproduce the statistics of single-trajectory events in this seemingly classical regime. For sufficiently large activation barriers, the ensemble survival probability in a state remains nearly exponential with the inverse rate given by the sum of the adiabatic curve crossing (Kramers) time and the inverse MLD rate. In contrast, near to the adiabatic regime, the single-electron survival probability is clearly non-exponential, even though it possesses an exponential tail which agrees well with the ensemble description. Initially, it is well described by a Mittag-Leffler distribution with a fractional rate. Paradoxically, the mean transfer time in this classical on the ensemble level regime is well described by the inverse of the nonadiabatic quantum tunneling rate on a single particle level. An analytical theory is developed which perfectly agrees with stochastic simulations and explains our findings.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gomez2016, author = {Gomez, David}, title = {Mechanisms of biochemical reactions within crowded environments}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-94593}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {vii, 112}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The cell interior is a highly packed environment in which biological macromolecules evolve and function. This crowded media has effects in many biological processes such as protein-protein binding, gene regulation, and protein folding. Thus, biochemical reactions that take place in such crowded conditions differ from diluted test tube conditions, and a considerable effort has been invested in order to understand such differences. In this work, we combine different computationally tools to disentangle the effects of molecular crowding on biochemical processes. First, we propose a lattice model to study the implications of molecular crowding on enzymatic reactions. We provide a detailed picture of how crowding affects binding and unbinding events and how the separate effects of crowding on binding equilibrium act together. Then, we implement a lattice model to study the effects of molecular crowding on facilitated diffusion. We find that obstacles on the DNA impair facilitated diffusion. However, the extent of this effect depends on how dynamic obstacles are on the DNA. For the scenario in which crowders are only present in the bulk solution, we find that at some conditions presence of crowding agents can enhance specific-DNA binding. Finally, we make use of structure-based techniques to look at the impact of the presence of crowders on the folding a protein. We find that polymeric crowders have stronger effects on protein stability than spherical crowders. The strength of this effect increases as the polymeric crowders become longer. The methods we propose here are general and can also be applied to more complicated systems.}, language = {en} } @misc{GhoshCherstvyPetrovetal.2016, author = {Ghosh, Surya K. and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Petrov, Eugene P. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Interactions of rod-like particles on responsive elastic sheets}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-95882}, year = {2016}, abstract = {What are the physical laws of the mutual interactions of objects bound to cell membranes, such as various membrane proteins or elongated virus particles? To rationalise this, we here investigate by extensive computer simulations mutual interactions of rod-like particles adsorbed on the surface of responsive elastic two-dimensional sheets. Specifically, we quantify sheet deformations as a response to adhesion of such filamentous particles. We demonstrate that tip-to-tip contacts of rods are favoured for relatively soft sheets, while side-by-side contacts are preferred for stiffer elastic substrates. These attractive orientation-dependent substrate-mediated interactions between the rod-like particles on responsive sheets can drive their aggregation and self-assembly. The optimal orientation of the membrane-bound rods is established via responding to the elastic energy profiles created around the particles. We unveil the phase diagramme of attractive-repulsive rod-rod interactions in the plane of their separation and mutual orientation. Applications of our results to other systems featuring membrane-associated particles are also discussed.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fournier2016, author = {Fournier, Yori}, title = {Dynamics of the rise of magnetic flux tubes in stellar interiors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-394533}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xii, 98}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In sonnen{\"a}hnlichen Sternen erh{\"a}lt ein Dynamo-Mechanismus die Magnetfelder. Der Babcock-Leighton-Dynamo beruht auf einem solchen Mechanismus und erfordert insbesondere die Existenz von magnetischen Flussr{\"o}hren. Man nimmt an, dass magnetische Flussr{\"o}hren am Boden der Konvetionszone entstehen und durch Auftrieb bis zur Oberfl{\"a}che steigen. Es wird ein spezielles Dynamomodell vorgeschlagen, in dem der Verz{\"o}gerungseffekt durch das Aufsteigen der Flussr{\"o}hren ber{\"u}cksichtigt wird. Die vorliegende Dissertation besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit der Anwendbarkeit des Babcock-Leighton-Dynamos auf andere Sterne. Zu diesem Zweck versuchen wir, die Aufstiegszeiten von magnetischen Flussr{\"o}hren mit Hilfe von kompressiblen MHD-Simulationen in sp{\"a}rischen Kugelschalen mit Dichteschichtung zu bestimmen und einzugrenzen. Derartige Simulationen sind allerdings nur in einem unrealistischen Parameterbereich m{\"o}glich. Deshalb ist eine Skalierungsrelation n{\"o}tig, die die Ergebnisse auf realistische physikalische Regimes {\"u}bertr{\"a}gt. Wir erweitern fr{\"u}here Arbeiten zu Skalierungsrelationen in 2D und leiten ein allgemeines Skalierungsgesetz ab, das f{\"u}r 2D- und 3D-Flussr{\"o}hren g{\"u}ltig ist. In einem umfangreichen Satz von numerischen Simulationen zeigen wir, dass die abgeleitete Skalierungsrelation auch im vollst{\"a}ndig nichtlinearen Fall gilt. Wir haben damit ein Gesetz f{\"u}r die Aufstiegszeit von magnetischen Flussr{\"o}hren gefunden, dass in jedem sonnen{\"a}hnlichen Stern G{\"u}ltigkeit hat. Schließlich implementieren wir dieses Gesetz in einem Dynamomodell mit Verz{\"o}gerungsterm. Die Simulationen eines solchen verz{\"o}gerten Flussr{\"o}hren/Babcock-Leighton-Dynamos auf der Basis der Meanfield-Formulierung f{\"u}hrten auf ein neues Dynamo-Regime, das nur bei Anwesenheit der Verz{\"o}gerung existiert. Die erforderlichen Verz{\"o}gerungen sind von der Gr{\"o}{\"y}enordnung der Zyklusl{\"a}nge, die resultierenden Magnetfelder sind schw{\"a}cher als die {\"A}quipartitions-Feldst{\"a}rke. Dieses neue Regime zeigt, dass auch bei sehr langen Aufstiegszeiten der Flussr{\"o}hren/Babcock-Leighton-Dynamo noch nichtzerfallende L{\"o}sungen liefern und daher auf ein breites Spektrum von Sternen anwendbar sein kann.}, language = {en} } @misc{FeldmannMaduarSanteretal.2016, author = {Feldmann, David and Maduar, Salim R. and Santer, Mark and Lomadze, Nino and Vinogradova, Olga I. and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Manipulation of small particles at solid liquid interface}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-100338}, pages = {10}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The strong adhesion of sub-micron sized particles to surfaces is a nuisance, both for removing contaminating colloids from surfaces and for conscious manipulation of particles to create and test novel micro/nano-scale assemblies. The obvious idea of using detergents to ease these processes suffers from a lack of control: the action of any conventional surface-modifying agent is immediate and global. With photosensitive azobenzene containing surfactants we overcome these limitations. Such photo-soaps contain optical switches (azobenzene molecules), which upon illumination with light of appropriate wavelength undergo reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization resulting in a subsequent change of the physico-chemical molecular properties. In this work we show that when a spatial gradient in the composition of trans- and cis- isomers is created near a solid-liquid interface, a substantial hydrodynamic flow can be initiated, the spatial extent of which can be set, e.g., by the shape of a laser spot. We propose the concept of light induced diffusioosmosis driving the flow, which can remove, gather or pattern a particle assembly at a solid-liquid interface. In other words, in addition to providing a soap we implement selectivity: particles are mobilized and moved at the time of illumination, and only across the illuminated area.}, language = {en} } @misc{deCarvalhoMetzlerCherstvy2016, author = {de Carvalho, Sidney J. and Metzler, Ralf and Cherstvy, Andrey G.}, title = {Critical adsorption of polyelectrolytes onto planar and convex highly charged surfaces}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-100295}, pages = {17}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We study the adsorption-desorption transition of polyelectrolyte chains onto planar, cylindrical and spherical surfaces with arbitrarily high surface charge densities by massive Monte Carlo computer simulations. We examine in detail how the well known scaling relations for the threshold transition—demarcating the adsorbed and desorbed domains of a polyelectrolyte near weakly charged surfaces—are altered for highly charged interfaces. In virtue of high surface potentials and large surface charge densities, the Debye-H{\"u}ckel approximation is often not feasible and the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann approach should be implemented. At low salt conditions, for instance, the electrostatic potential from the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation is smaller than the Debye-H{\"u}ckel result, such that the required critical surface charge density for polyelectrolyte adsorption σc increases. The nonlinear relation between the surface charge density and electrostatic potential leads to a sharply increasing critical surface charge density with growing ionic strength, imposing an additional limit to the critical salt concentration above which no polyelectrolyte adsorption occurs at all. We contrast our simulations findings with the known scaling results for weak critical polyelectrolyte adsorption onto oppositely charged surfaces for the three standard geometries. Finally, we discuss some applications of our results for some physical-chemical and biophysical systems.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Daschewski2016, author = {Daschewski, Maxim}, title = {Thermophony in real gases}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-98866}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {79}, year = {2016}, abstract = {A thermophone is an electrical device for sound generation. The advantages of thermophones over conventional sound transducers such as electromagnetic, electrostatic or piezoelectric transducers are their operational principle which does not require any moving parts, their resonance-free behavior, their simple construction and their low production costs. In this PhD thesis, a novel theoretical model of thermophonic sound generation in real gases has been developed. The model is experimentally validated in a frequency range from 2 kHz to 1 MHz by testing more then fifty thermophones of different materials, including Carbon nano-wires, Titanium, Indium-Tin-Oxide, different sizes and shapes for sound generation in gases such as air, argon, helium, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride. Unlike previous approaches, the presented model can be applied to different kinds of thermophones and various gases, taking into account the thermodynamic properties of thermophone materials and of adjacent gases, degrees of freedom and the volume occupied by the gas atoms and molecules, as well as sound attenuation effects, the shape and size of the thermophone surface and the reduction of the generated acoustic power due to photonic emission. As a result, the model features better prediction accuracy than the existing models by a factor up to 100. Moreover, the new model explains previous experimental findings on thermophones which can not be explained with the existing models. The acoustic properties of the thermophones have been tested in several gases using unique, highly precise experimental setups comprising a Laser-Doppler-Vibrometer combined with a thin polyethylene film which acts as a broadband and resonance-free sound-pressure detector. Several outstanding properties of the thermophones have been demonstrated for the first time, including the ability to generate arbitrarily shaped acoustic signals, a greater acoustic efficiency compared to conventional piezoelectric and electrostatic airborne ultrasound transducers, and applicability as powerful and tunable sound sources with a bandwidth up to the megahertz range and beyond. Additionally, new applications of thermophones such as the study of physical properties of gases, the thermo-acoustic gas spectroscopy, broad-band characterization of transfer functions of sound and ultrasound detection systems, and applications in non-destructive materials testing are discussed and experimentally demonstrated.}, language = {en} } @misc{CherstvyMetzler2016, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Anomalous diffusion in time-fluctuating non-stationary diffusivity landscapes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-95901}, pages = {23840 -- 23852}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We investigate the ensemble and time averaged mean squared displacements for particle diffusion in a simple model for disordered media by assuming that the local diffusivity is both fluctuating in time and has a deterministic average growth or decay in time. In this study we compare computer simulations of the stochastic Langevin equation for this random diffusion process with analytical results. We explore the regimes of normal Brownian motion as well as anomalous diffusion in the sub- and superdiffusive regimes. We also consider effects of the inertial term on the particle motion. The investigation of the resulting diffusion is performed for unconfined and confined motion.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Breitling2016, author = {Breitling, Frank}, title = {Propagation of energetic electrons in the solar corona observed with LOFAR}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-396893}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xiii, 101}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This work reports about new high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic observations of solar type III radio bursts at low radio frequencies in the range from 30 to 80 MHz. Solar type III radio bursts are understood as result of the beam-plasma interaction of electron beams in the corona. The Sun provides a unique opportunity to study these plasma processes of an active star. Its activity appears in eruptive events like flares, coronal mass ejections and radio bursts which are all accompanied by enhanced radio emission. Therefore solar radio emission carries important information about plasma processes associated with the Sun's activity. Moreover, the Sun's atmosphere is a unique plasma laboratory with plasma processes under conditions not found in terrestrial laboratories. Because of the Sun's proximity to Earth, it can be studied in greater detail than any other star but new knowledge about the Sun can be transfer to them. This "solar stellar connection" is important for the understanding of processes on other stars. The novel radio interferometer LOFAR provides imaging and spectroscopic capabilities to study these processes at low frequencies. Here it was used for solar observations. LOFAR, the characteristics of its solar data and the processing and analysis of the latter with the Solar Imaging Pipeline and Solar Data Center are described. The Solar Imaging Pipeline is the central software that allows using LOFAR for solar observations. So its development was necessary for the analysis of solar LOFAR data and realized here. Moreover a new density model with heat conduction and Alfv{\´e}n waves was developed that provides the distance of radio bursts to the Sun from dynamic radio spectra. Its application to the dynamic spectrum of a type III burst observed on March 16, 2016 by LOFAR shows a nonuniform radial propagation velocity of the radio emission. The analysis of an imaging observation of type III bursts on June 23, 2012 resolves a burst as bright, compact region localized in the corona propagating in radial direction along magnetic field lines with an average velocity of 0.23c. A nonuniform propagation velocity is revealed. A new beam model is presented that explains the nonuniform motion of the radio source as a propagation effect of an electron ensemble with a spread velocity distribution and rules out a monoenergetic electron distribution. The coronal electron number density is derived in the region from 1.5 to 2.5 R☉ and fitted with the newly developed density model. It determines the plasma density for the interplanetary space between Sun and Earth. The values correspond to a 1.25- and 5-fold Newkirk model for harmonic and fundamental emission, respectively. In comparison to data from other radio instruments the LOFAR data shows a high sensitivity and resolution in space, time and frequency. The new results from LOFAR's high resolution imaging spectroscopy are consistent with current theories of solar type III radio bursts and demonstrate its capability to track fast moving radio sources in the corona. LOFAR solar data is found to be a valuable source for solar radio physics and opens a new window for studying plasma processes associated with highly energetic electrons in the solar corona.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Brauer2016, author = {Brauer, Doroth{\´e}e}, title = {Chemo-kinematic constraints on Milky Way models from the spectroscopic surveys SEGUE \& RAVE}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-403968}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {vii, 197}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The Milky Way is only one out of billions of galaxies in the universe. However, it is a special galaxy because it allows to explore the main mechanisms involved in its evolution and formation history by unpicking the system star-by-star. Especially, the chemical fingerprints of its stars provide clues and evidence of past events in the Galaxy's lifetime. These information help not only to decipher the current structure and building blocks of the Milky Way, but to learn more about the general formation process of galaxies. In the past decade a multitude of stellar spectroscopic Galactic surveys have scanned millions of stars far beyond the rim of the solar neighbourhood. The obtained spectroscopic information provide unprecedented insights to the chemo-dynamics of the Milky Way. In addition analytic models and numerical simulations of the Milky Way provide necessary descriptions and predictions suited for comparison with observations in order to decode the physical properties that underlie the complex system of the Galaxy. In the thesis various approaches are taken to connect modern theoretical modelling of galaxy formation and evolution with observations from Galactic stellar surveys. With its focus on the chemo-kinematics of the Galactic disk this work aims to determine new observational constraints on the formation of the Milky Way providing also proper comparisons with two different models. These are the population synthesis model TRILEGAL based on analytical distribution functions, which aims to simulate the number and distribution of stars in the Milky Way and its different components, and a hybrid model (MCM) that combines an N-body simulation of a Milky Way like galaxy in the cosmological framework with a semi-analytic chemical evolution model for the Milky Way. The major observational data sets in use come from two surveys, namely the "Radial Velocity Experiment" (RAVE) and the "Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration" (SEGUE). In the first approach the chemo-kinematic properties of the thin and thick disk of the Galaxy as traced by a selection of about 20000 SEGUE G-dwarf stars are directly compared to the predictions by the MCM model. As a necessary condition for this, SEGUE's selection function and its survey volume are evaluated in detail to correct the spectroscopic observations for their survey specific selection biases. Also, based on a Bayesian method spectro-photometric distances with uncertainties below 15\% are computed for the selection of SEGUE G-dwarfs that are studied up to a distance of 3 kpc from the Sun. For the second approach two synthetic versions of the SEGUE survey are generated based on the above models. The obtained synthetic stellar catalogues are then used to create mock samples best resembling the compiled sample of observed SEGUE G-dwarfs. Generally, mock samples are not only ideal to compare predictions from various models. They also allow validation of the models' quality and improvement as with this work could be especially achieved for TRILEGAL. While TRILEGAL reproduces the statistical properties of the thin and thick disk as seen in the observations, the MCM model has shown to be more suitable in reproducing many chemo-kinematic correlations as revealed by the SEGUE stars. However, evidence has been found that the MCM model may be missing a stellar component with the properties of the thick disk that the observations clearly show. While the SEGUE stars do indicate a thin-thick dichotomy of the stellar Galactic disk in agreement with other spectroscopic stellar studies, no sign for a distinct metal-poor disk is seen in the MCM model. Usually stellar spectroscopic surveys are limited to a certain volume around the Sun covering different regions of the Galaxy's disk. This often prevents to obtain a global view on the chemo-dynamics of the Galactic disk. Hence, a suitable combination of stellar samples from independent surveys is not only useful for the verification of results but it also helps to complete the picture of the Milky Way. Therefore, the thesis closes with a comparison of the SEGUE G-dwarfs and a sample of RAVE giants. The comparison reveals that the chemo-kinematic relations agree in disk regions where the samples of both surveys show a similar number of stars. For those parts of the survey volumes where one of the surveys lacks statistics they beautifully complement each other. This demonstrates that the comparison of theoretical models on the one side, and the combined observational data gathered by multiple surveys on the other side, are key ingredients to understand and disentangle the structure and formation history of the Milky Way.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bojahr2016, author = {Bojahr, Andre}, title = {Hypersound interaction studied by time-resolved inelastic light and x-ray scattering}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-93860}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xxiii, 201}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This publications-based thesis summarizes my contribution to the scientific field of ultrafast structural dynamics. It consists of 16 publications, about the generation, detection and coupling of coherent gigahertz longitudinal acoustic phonons, also called hypersonic waves. To generate such high frequency phonons, femtosecond near infrared laser pulses were used to heat nanostructures composed of perovskite oxides on an ultrashort timescale. As a consequence the heated regions of such a nanostructure expand and a high frequency acoustic phonon pulse is generated. To detect such coherent acoustic sound pulses I use ultrafast variants of optical Brillouin and x-ray scattering. Here an incident optical or x-ray photon is scattered by the excited sound wave in the sample. The scattered light intensity measures the occupation of the phonon modes. The central part of this work is the investigation of coherent high amplitude phonon wave packets which can behave nonlinearly, quite similar to shallow water waves which show a steepening of wave fronts or solitons well known as tsunamis. Due to the high amplitude of the acoustic wave packets in the solid, the acoustic properties can change significantly in the vicinity of the sound pulse. This may lead to a shape change of the pulse. I have observed by time-resolved Brillouin scattering, that a single cycle hypersound pulse shows a wavefront steepening. I excited hypersound pulses with strain amplitudes until 1\% which I have calibrated by ultrafast x-ray diffraction (UXRD). On the basis of this first experiment we developed the idea of the nonlinear mixing of narrowband phonon wave packets which we call "nonlinear phononics" in analogy with the nonlinear optics, which summarizes a kaleidoscope of surprising optical phenomena showing up at very high electric fields. Such phenomena are for instance Second Harmonic Generation, four-wave-mixing or solitons. But in case of excited coherent phonons the wave packets have usually very broad spectra which make it nearly impossible to look at elementary scattering processes between phonons with certain momentum and energy. For that purpose I tested different techniques to excite narrowband phonon wave packets which mainly consist of phonons with a certain momentum and frequency. To this end epitaxially grown metal films on a dielectric substrate were excited with a train of laser pulses. These excitation pulses drive the metal film to oscillate with the frequency given by their inverse temporal displacement and send a hypersonic wave of this frequency into the substrate. The monochromaticity of these wave packets was proven by ultrafast optical Brillouin and x-ray scattering. Using the excitation of such narrowband phonon wave packets I was able to observe the Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) of coherent phonons as a first example of nonlinear wave mixing of nanometric phonon wave packets.}, language = {en} } @misc{BodrovaChechkinCherstvyetal.2016, author = {Bodrova, Anna S. and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Safdari, Hadiseh and Sokolov, Igor M. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Underdamped scaled Brownian motion}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-97158}, pages = {16}, year = {2016}, abstract = {It is quite generally assumed that the overdamped Langevin equation provides a quantitative description of the dynamics of a classical Brownian particle in the long time limit. We establish and investigate a paradigm anomalous diffusion process governed by an underdamped Langevin equation with an explicit time dependence of the system temperature and thus the diffusion and damping coefficients. We show that for this underdamped scaled Brownian motion (UDSBM) the overdamped limit fails to describe the long time behaviour of the system and may practically even not exist at all for a certain range of the parameter values. Thus persistent inertial effects play a non-negligible role even at significantly long times. From this study a general questions on the applicability of the overdamped limit to describe the long time motion of an anomalously diffusing particle arises, with profound consequences for the relevance of overdamped anomalous diffusion models. We elucidate our results in view of analytical and simulations results for the anomalous diffusion of particles in free cooling granular gases.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bendre2016, author = {Bendre, Abhijit B.}, title = {Growth and saturation of dynamo in spiral galaxies via direct simulations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-407517}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xviii, 133}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We do magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of local box models of turbulent Interstellar Medium (ISM) and analyse the process of amplification and saturation of mean magnetic fields with methods of mean field dynamo theory. It is shown that the process of saturation of mean fields can be partially described by the prolonged diffusion time scales in presence of the dynamically significant magnetic fields. However, the outward wind also plays an essential role in the saturation in higher SN rate case. Algebraic expressions for the back reaction of the magnetic field onto the turbulent transport coefficients are derived, which allow a complete description of the nonlinear dynamo. We also present the effects of dynamically significant mean fields on the ISM configuration and pressure distribution. We further add the cosmic ray component in the simulations and investigate the kinematic growth of mean fields with a dynamo perspective.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Ata2016, author = {Ata, Metin}, title = {Phase-space reconstructions of cosmic velocities and the cosmic web}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-403565}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xi, 155}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the current paradigm of cosmology, the formation of large-scale structures is mainly driven by non-radiating dark matter, making up the dominant part of the matter budget of the Universe. Cosmological observations however, rely on the detection of luminous galaxies, which are biased tracers of the underlying dark matter. In this thesis I present cosmological reconstructions of both, the dark matter density field that forms the cosmic web, and cosmic velocities, for which both aspects of my work are delved into, the theoretical formalism and the results of its applications to cosmological simulations and also to a galaxy redshift survey.The foundation of our method is relying on a statistical approach, in which a given galaxy catalogue is interpreted as a biased realization of the underlying dark matter density field. The inference is computationally performed on a mesh grid by sampling from a probability density function, which describes the joint posterior distribution of matter density and the three dimensional velocity field. The statistical background of our method is described in Chapter "Implementation of argo", where the introduction in sampling methods is given, paying special attention to Markov Chain Monte-Carlo techniques. In Chapter "Phase-Space Reconstructions with N-body Simulations", I introduce and implement a novel biasing scheme to relate the galaxy number density to the underlying dark matter, which I decompose into a deterministic part, described by a non-linear and scale-dependent analytic expression, and a stochastic part, by presenting a negative binomial (NB) likelihood function that models deviations from Poissonity. Both bias components had already been studied theoretically, but were so far never tested in a reconstruction algorithm. I test these new contributions againstN-body simulations to quantify improvements and show that, compared to state-of-the-art methods, the stochastic bias is inevitable at wave numbers of k≥0.15h Mpc^-1 in the power spectrum in order to obtain unbiased results from the reconstructions. In the second part of Chapter "Phase-Space Reconstructions with N-body Simulations" I describe and validate our approach to infer the three dimensional cosmic velocity field jointly with the dark matter density. I use linear perturbation theory for the large-scale bulk flows and a dispersion term to model virialized galaxy motions, showing that our method is accurately recovering the real-space positions of the redshift-space distorted galaxies. I analyze the results with the isotropic and also the two-dimensional power spectrum.Finally, in Chapter "Phase-space Reconstructions with Galaxy Redshift Surveys", I show how I combine all findings and results and apply the method to the CMASS (for Constant (stellar) Mass) galaxy catalogue of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). I describe how our method is accounting for the observational selection effects inside our reconstruction algorithm. Also, I demonstrate that the renormalization of the prior distribution function is mandatory to account for higher order contributions in the structure formation model, and finally a redshift-dependent bias factor is theoretically motivated and implemented into our method. The various refinements yield unbiased results of the dark matter until scales of k≤0.2 h Mpc^-1in the power spectrum and isotropize the galaxy catalogue down to distances of r∼20h^-1 Mpc in the correlation function. We further test the results of our cosmic velocity field reconstruction by comparing them to a synthetic mock galaxy catalogue, finding a strong correlation between the mock and the reconstructed velocities. The applications of both, the density field without redshift-space distortions, and the velocity reconstructions, are very broad and can be used for improved analyses of the baryonic acoustic oscillations, environmental studies of the cosmic web, the kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovic or integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{AmaroSeoane2016, author = {Amaro-Seoane, Pau}, title = {Dense stellar systems and massive black holes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-95439}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {239}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Gravity dictates the structure of the whole Universe and, although it is triumphantly described by the theory of General Relativity, it is the force that we least understand in nature. One of the cardinal predictions of this theory are black holes. Massive, dark objects are found in the majority of galaxies. Our own galactic center very contains such an object with a mass of about four million solar masses. Are these objects supermassive black holes (SMBHs), or do we need alternatives? The answer lies in the event horizon, the characteristic that defines a black hole. The key to probe the horizon is to model the movement of stars around a SMBH, and the interactions between them, and look for deviations from real observations. Nuclear star clusters harboring a massive, dark object with a mass of up to ~ ten million solar masses are good testbeds to probe the event horizon of the potential SMBH with stars. The channel for interactions between stars and the central MBH are the fact that (a) compact stars and stellar-mass black holes can gradually inspiral into the SMBH due to the emission of gravitational radiation, which is known as an "Extreme Mass Ratio Inspiral" (EMRI), and (b) stars can produce gases which will be accreted by the SMBH through normal stellar evolution, or by collisions and disruptions brought about by the strong central tidal field. Such processes can contribute significantly to the mass of the SMBH. These two processes involve different disciplines, which combined will provide us with detailed information about the fabric of space and time. In this habilitation I present nine articles of my recent work directly related with these topics.}, language = {en} }