@phdthesis{Mueller2008, author = {M{\"u}ller, Melanie J. I.}, title = {Bidirectional transport by molecular motors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18715}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2008}, abstract = {In biological cells, the long-range intracellular traffic is powered by molecular motors which transport various cargos along microtubule filaments. The microtubules possess an intrinsic direction, having a 'plus' and a 'minus' end. Some molecular motors such as cytoplasmic dynein walk to the minus end, while others such as conventional kinesin walk to the plus end. Cells typically have an isopolar microtubule network. This is most pronounced in neuronal axons or fungal hyphae. In these long and thin tubular protrusions, the microtubules are arranged parallel to the tube axis with the minus ends pointing to the cell body and the plus ends pointing to the tip. In such a tubular compartment, transport by only one motor type leads to 'motor traffic jams'. Kinesin-driven cargos accumulate at the tip, while dynein-driven cargos accumulate near the cell body. We identify the relevant length scales and characterize the jamming behaviour in these tube geometries by using both Monte Carlo simulations and analytical calculations. A possible solution to this jamming problem is to transport cargos with a team of plus and a team of minus motors simultaneously, so that they can travel bidirectionally, as observed in cells. The presumably simplest mechanism for such bidirectional transport is provided by a 'tug-of-war' between the two motor teams which is governed by mechanical motor interactions only. We develop a stochastic tug-of-war model and study it with numerical and analytical calculations. We find a surprisingly complex cooperative motility behaviour. We compare our results to the available experimental data, which we reproduce qualitatively and quantitatively.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Avila2011, author = {Avila, Gast{\´o}n}, title = {Asymptotic staticity and tensor decompositions with fast decay conditions}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-54046}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Corvino, Corvino and Schoen, Chruściel and Delay have shown the existence of a large class of asymptotically flat vacuum initial data for Einstein's field equations which are static or stationary in a neighborhood of space-like infinity, yet quite general in the interior. The proof relies on some abstract, non-constructive arguments which makes it difficult to calculate such data numerically by using similar arguments. A quasilinear elliptic system of equations is presented of which we expect that it can be used to construct vacuum initial data which are asymptotically flat, time-reflection symmetric, and asymptotic to static data up to a prescribed order at space-like infinity. A perturbation argument is used to show the existence of solutions. It is valid when the order at which the solutions approach staticity is restricted to a certain range. Difficulties appear when trying to improve this result to show the existence of solutions that are asymptotically static at higher order. The problems arise from the lack of surjectivity of a certain operator. Some tensor decompositions in asymptotically flat manifolds exhibit some of the difficulties encountered above. The Helmholtz decomposition, which plays a role in the preparation of initial data for the Maxwell equations, is discussed as a model problem. A method to circumvent the difficulties that arise when fast decay rates are required is discussed. This is done in a way that opens the possibility to perform numerical computations. The insights from the analysis of the Helmholtz decomposition are applied to the York decomposition, which is related to that part of the quasilinear system which gives rise to the difficulties. For this decomposition analogous results are obtained. It turns out, however, that in this case the presence of symmetries of the underlying metric leads to certain complications. The question, whether the results obtained so far can be used again to show by a perturbation argument the existence of vacuum initial data which approach static solutions at infinity at any given order, thus remains open. The answer requires further analysis and perhaps new methods.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Theves2013, author = {Theves, Matthias}, title = {Bacterial motility and growth in open and confined environments}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-70313}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2013}, abstract = {In the presence of a solid-liquid or liquid-air interface, bacteria can choose between a planktonic and a sessile lifestyle. Depending on environmental conditions, cells swimming in close proximity to the interface can irreversibly attach to the surface and grow into three-dimensional aggregates where the majority of cells is sessile and embedded in an extracellular polymer matrix (biofilm). We used microfluidic tools and time lapse microscopy to perform experiments with the polarly flagellated soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), a bacterial species that is able to form biofilms. We analyzed individual trajectories of swimming cells, both in the bulk fluid and in close proximity to a glass-liquid interface. Additionally, surface related growth during the early phase of biofilm formation was investigated. In the bulk fluid, P.putida shows a typical bacterial swimming pattern of alternating periods of persistent displacement along a line (runs) and fast reorientation events (turns) and cells swim with an average speed around 24 micrometer per second. We found that the distribution of turning angles is bimodal with a dominating peak around 180 degrees. In approximately six out of ten turning events, the cell reverses its swimming direction. In addition, our analysis revealed that upon a reversal, the cell systematically changes its swimming speed by a factor of two on average. Based on the experimentally observed values of mean runtime and rotational diffusion, we presented a model to describe the spreading of a population of cells by a run-reverse random walker with alternating speeds. We successfully recover the mean square displacement and, by an extended version of the model, also the negative dip in the directional autocorrelation function as observed in the experiments. The analytical solution of the model demonstrates that alternating speeds enhance a cells ability to explore its environment as compared to a bacterium moving at a constant intermediate speed. As compared to the bulk fluid, for cells swimming near a solid boundary we observed an increase in swimming speed at distances below d= 5 micrometer and an increase in average angular velocity at distances below d= 4 micrometer. While the average speed was maximal with an increase around 15\% at a distance of d= 3 micrometer, the angular velocity was highest in closest proximity to the boundary at d=1 micrometer with an increase around 90\% as compared to the bulk fluid. To investigate the swimming behavior in a confinement between two solid boundaries, we developed an experimental setup to acquire three-dimensional trajectories using a piezo driven objective mount coupled to a high speed camera. Results on speed and angular velocity were consistent with motility statistics in the presence of a single boundary. Additionally, an analysis of the probability density revealed that a majority of cells accumulated near the upper and lower boundaries of the microchannel. The increase in angular velocity is consistent with previous studies, where bacteria near a solid boundary were shown to swim on circular trajectories, an effect which can be attributed to a wall induced torque. The increase in speed at a distance of several times the size of the cell body, however, cannot be explained by existing theories which either consider the drag increase on cell body and flagellum near a boundary (resistive force theory) or model the swimming microorganism by a multipole expansion to account for the flow field interaction between cell and boundary. An accumulation of swimming bacteria near solid boundaries has been observed in similar experiments. Our results confirm that collisions with the surface play an important role and hydrodynamic interactions alone cannot explain the steady-state accumulation of cells near the channel walls. Furthermore, we monitored the number growth of cells in the microchannel under medium rich conditions. We observed that, after a lag time, initially isolated cells at the surface started to grow by division into colonies of increasing size, while coexisting with a comparable smaller number of swimming cells. After 5:50 hours, we observed a sudden jump in the number of swimming cells, which was accompanied by a breakup of bigger clusters on the surface. After approximately 30 minutes where planktonic cells dominated in the microchannel, individual swimming cells reattached to the surface. We interpret this process as an emigration and recolonization event. A number of complementary experiments were performed to investigate the influence of collective effects or a depletion of the growth medium on the transition. Similar to earlier observations on another bacterium from the same family we found that the release of cells to the swimming phase is most likely the result of an individual adaption process, where syntheses of proteins for flagellar motility are upregulated after a number of division cycles at the surface.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Prokhorov2015, author = {Prokhorov, Boris E.}, title = {High-latitude coupling processes between thermospheric circulation and solar wind driven magnetospheric currents and plasma convection}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-92353}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {117}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The high-latitudinal thermospheric processes driven by the solar wind and Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) interaction with the Earth magnetosphere are highly variable parts of the complex dynamic plasma environment, which represent the coupled Magnetosphere - Ionosphere - Thermosphere (MIT) system. The solar wind and IMF interactions transfer energy to the MIT system via reconnection processes at the magnetopause. The Field Aligned Currents (FACs) constitute the energetic links between the magnetosphere and the Earth ionosphere. The MIT system depends on the highly variable solar wind conditions, in particular on changes of the strength and orientation of the IMF. In my thesis, I perform an investigation on the physical background of the complex MIT system using the global physical - numerical, three-dimensional, time-dependent and self-consistent Upper Atmosphere Model (UAM). This model describes the thermosphere, ionosphere, plasmasphere and inner magnetosphere as well as the electrodynamics of the coupled MIT system for the altitudinal range from 80 (60) km up to the 15 Earth radii. In the present study, I developed and investigated several variants of the high-latitudinal electrodynamic coupling by including the IMF dependence of FACs into the UAM model. For testing, the various variants were applied to simulations of the coupled MIT system for different seasons, geomagnetic activities, various solar wind and IMF conditions. Additionally, these variants of the theoretical model with the IMF dependence were compared with global empirical models. The modelling results for the most important thermospheric parameters like neutral wind and mass density were compared with satellite measurements. The variants of the UAM model with IMF dependence show a good agreement with the satellite observations. In comparison with the empirical models, the improved variants of the UAM model reproduce a more realistic meso-scale structures and dynamics of the coupled MIT system than the empirical models, in particular at high latitudes. The new configurations of the UAM model with IMF dependence contribute to the improvement of space weather prediction.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Breuer2016, author = {Breuer, David}, title = {The plant cytoskeleton as a transportation network}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-93583}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {164}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The cytoskeleton is an essential component of living cells. It is composed of different types of protein filaments that form complex, dynamically rearranging, and interconnected networks. The cytoskeleton serves a multitude of cellular functions which further depend on the cell context. In animal cells, the cytoskeleton prominently shapes the cell's mechanical properties and movement. In plant cells, in contrast, the presence of a rigid cell wall as well as their larger sizes highlight the role of the cytoskeleton in long-distance intracellular transport. As it provides the basis for cell growth and biomass production, cytoskeletal transport in plant cells is of direct environmental and economical relevance. However, while knowledge about the molecular details of the cytoskeletal transport is growing rapidly, the organizational principles that shape these processes on a whole-cell level remain elusive. This thesis is devoted to the following question: How does the complex architecture of the plant cytoskeleton relate to its transport functionality? The answer requires a systems level perspective of plant cytoskeletal structure and transport. To this end, I combined state-of-the-art confocal microscopy, quantitative digital image analysis, and mathematically powerful, intuitively accessible graph-theoretical approaches. This thesis summarizes five of my publications that shed light on the plant cytoskeleton as a transportation network: (1) I developed network-based frameworks for accurate, automated quantification of cytoskeletal structures, applicable in, e.g., genetic or chemical screens; (2) I showed that the actin cytoskeleton displays properties of efficient transport networks, hinting at its biological design principles; (3) Using multi-objective optimization, I demonstrated that different plant cell types sustain cytoskeletal networks with cell-type specific and near-optimal organization; (4) By investigating actual transport of organelles through the cell, I showed that properties of the actin cytoskeleton are predictive of organelle flow and provided quantitative evidence for a coordination of transport at a cellular level; (5) I devised a robust, optimization-based method to identify individual cytoskeletal filaments from a given network representation, allowing the investigation of single filament properties in the network context. The developed methods were made publicly available as open-source software tools. Altogether, my findings and proposed frameworks provide quantitative, system-level insights into intracellular transport in living cells. Despite my focus on the plant cytoskeleton, the established combination of experimental and theoretical approaches is readily applicable to different organisms. Despite the necessity of detailed molecular studies, only a complementary, systemic perspective, as presented here, enables both understanding of cytoskeletal function in its evolutionary context as well as its future technological control and utilization.}, language = {en} } @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} } @phdthesis{Schmidt2014, author = {Schmidt, Lukas}, title = {Aerosols and boundary layer structure over Arctic sea ice based on airborne lidar and dropsonde measurements}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-75076}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {vii, 98, xiii}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The atmosphere over the Arctic Ocean is strongly influenced by the distribution of sea ice and open water. Leads in the sea ice produce strong convective fluxes of sensible and latent heat and release aerosol particles into the atmosphere. They increase the occurrence of clouds and modify the structure and characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and thereby influence the Arctic climate. In the course of this study aircraft measurements were performed over the western Arctic Ocean as part of the campaign PAMARCMIP 2012 of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). Backscatter from aerosols and clouds within the lower troposphere and the ABL were measured with the nadir pointing Airborne Mobile Aerosol Lidar (AMALi) and dropsondes were launched to obtain profiles of meteorological variables. Furthermore, in situ measurements of aerosol properties, meteorological variables and turbulence were part of the campaign. The measurements covered a broad range of atmospheric and sea ice conditions. In this thesis, properties of the ABL over Arctic sea ice with a focus on the influence of open leads are studied based on the data from the PAMARCMIP campaign. The height of the ABL is determined by different methods that are applied to dropsonde and AMALi backscatter profiles. ABL heights are compared for different flights representing different conditions of the atmosphere and of sea ice and open water influence. The different criteria for ABL height that are applied show large variation in terms of agreement among each other, depending on the characteristics of the ABL and its history. It is shown that ABL height determination from lidar backscatter by methods commonly used under mid-latitude conditions is applicable to the Arctic ABL only under certain conditions. Aerosol or clouds within the ABL are needed as a tracer for ABL height detection from backscatter. Hence an aerosol source close to the surface is necessary, that is typically found under the present influence of open water and therefore convective conditions. However it is not always possible to distinguish residual layers from the actual ABL. Stable boundary layers are generally difficult to detect. To illustrate the complexity of the Arctic ABL and processes therein, four case studies are analyzed each of which represents a snapshot of the interplay between atmosphere and underlying sea ice or water surface. Influences of leads and open water on the aerosol and clouds within the ABL are identified and discussed. Leads are observed to cause the formation of fog and cloud layers within the ABL by humidity emission. Furthermore they decrease the stability and increase the height of the ABL and consequently facilitate entrainment of air and aerosol layers from the free troposphere.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Goswami2014, author = {Goswami, Bedartha}, title = {Uncertainties in climate data analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-78312}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Scientific inquiry requires that we formulate not only what we know, but also what we do not know and by how much. In climate data analysis, this involves an accurate specification of measured quantities and a consequent analysis that consciously propagates the measurement errors at each step. The dissertation presents a thorough analytical method to quantify errors of measurement inherent in paleoclimate data. An additional focus are the uncertainties in assessing the coupling between different factors that influence the global mean temperature (GMT). Paleoclimate studies critically rely on `proxy variables' that record climatic signals in natural archives. However, such proxy records inherently involve uncertainties in determining the age of the signal. We present a generic Bayesian approach to analytically determine the proxy record along with its associated uncertainty, resulting in a time-ordered sequence of correlated probability distributions rather than a precise time series. We further develop a recurrence based method to detect dynamical events from the proxy probability distributions. The methods are validated with synthetic examples and demonstrated with real-world proxy records. The proxy estimation step reveals the interrelations between proxy variability and uncertainty. The recurrence analysis of the East Asian Summer Monsoon during the last 9000 years confirms the well-known `dry' events at 8200 and 4400 BP, plus an additional significantly dry event at 6900 BP. We also analyze the network of dependencies surrounding GMT. We find an intricate, directed network with multiple links between the different factors at multiple time delays. We further uncover a significant feedback from the GMT to the El Ni{\~n}o Southern Oscillation at quasi-biennial timescales. The analysis highlights the need of a more nuanced formulation of influences between different climatic factors, as well as the limitations in trying to estimate such dependencies.}, 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} } @phdthesis{Bittermann2015, author = {Bittermann, Klaus}, title = {Semi-empirical sea-level modelling}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-93881}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {v, 88}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Semi-empirical sea-level models (SEMs) exploit physically motivated empirical relationships between global sea level and certain drivers, in the following global mean temperature. This model class evolved as a supplement to process-based models (Rahmstorf (2007)) which were unable to fully represent all relevant processes. They thus failed to capture past sea-level change (Rahmstorf et al. (2012)) and were thought likely to underestimate future sea-level rise. Semi-empirical models were found to be a fast and useful tool for exploring the uncertainties in future sea-level rise, consistently giving significantly higher projections than process-based models. In the following different aspects of semi-empirical sea-level modelling have been studied. Models were first validated using various data sets of global sea level and temperature. SEMs were then used on the glacier contribution to sea level, and to infer past global temperature from sea-level data via inverse modelling. Periods studied encompass the instrumental period, covered by tide gauges (starting 1700 CE (Common Era) in Amsterdam) and satellites (first launched in 1992 CE), the era from 1000 BCE (before CE) to present, and the full length of the Holocene (using proxy data). Accordingly different data, model formulations and implementations have been used. It could be shown in Bittermann et al. (2013) that SEMs correctly predict 20th century sea-level when calibrated with data until 1900 CE. SEMs also turned out to give better predictions than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th assessment report (AR4, IPCC (2007)) models, for the period from 1961-2003 CE. With the first multi-proxy reconstruction of global sea-level as input, estimate of the human-induced component of modern sea-level change and projections of future sea-level rise were calculated (Kopp et al. (2016)). It turned out with 90\% confidence that more than 40 \% of the observed 20th century sea-level rise is indeed anthropogenic. With the new semi-empirical and IPCC (2013) 5th assessment report (AR5) projections the gap between SEM and process-based model projections closes, giving higher credibility to both. Combining all scenarios, from strong mitigation to business as usual, a global sea-level rise of 28-131 cm relative to 2000 CE, is projected with 90\% confidence. The decision for a low carbon pathway could halve the expected global sea-level rise by 2100 CE. Present day temperature and thus sea level are driven by the globally acting greenhouse-gas forcing. Unlike that, the Milankovich forcing, acting on Holocene timescales, results mainly in a northern-hemisphere temperature change. Therefore a semi-empirical model can be driven with northernhemisphere temperatures, which makes it possible to model the main subcomponent of sea-level change over this period. It showed that an additional positive constant rate of the order of the estimated Antarctic sea-level contribution is then required to explain the sea-level evolution over the Holocene. Thus the global sea level, following the climatic optimum, can be interpreted as the sum of a temperature induced sea-level drop and a positive long-term contribution, likely an ongoing response to deglaciation coming from Antarctica.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Shenar2017, author = {Shenar, Tomer}, title = {Comprehensive analyses of massive binaries and implications on stellar evolution}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-104857}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {187}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Via their powerful radiation, stellar winds, and supernova explosions, massive stars (Mini \& 8 M☉) bear a tremendous impact on galactic evolution. It became clear in recent decades that the majority of massive stars reside in binary systems. This thesis sets as a goal to quantify the impact of binarity (i.e., the presence of a companion star) on massive stars. For this purpose, massive binary systems in the Local Group, including OB-type binaries, high mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), and Wolf-Rayet (WR) binaries, were investigated by means of spectral, orbital, and evolutionary analyses. The spectral analyses were performed with the non-local thermodynamic equillibrium (non-LTE) Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. Thanks to critical updates in the calculation of the hydrostatic layers, the code became a state-of-the-art tool applicable for all types of hot massive stars (Chapter 2). The eclipsing OB-type triple system δ Ori served as an intriguing test-case for the new version of the PoWR code, and provided key insights regarding the formation of X-rays in massive stars (Chapter 3). We further analyzed two prototypical HMXBs, Vela X-1 and IGR J17544-2619, and obtained fundamental conclusions regarding the dichotomy of two basic classes of HMXBs (Chapter 4). We performed an exhaustive analysis of the binary R 145 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which was claimed to host the most massive stars known. We were able to disentangle the spectrum of the system, and performed an orbital, polarimetric, and spectral analysis, as well as an analysis of the wind-wind collision region. The true masses of the binary components turned out to be significantly lower than suggested, impacting our understanding of the initial mass function and stellar evolution at low metallicity (Chapter 5). Finally, all known WR binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) were analyzed. Although it was theoretical predicted that virtually all WR stars in the SMC should be formed via mass-transfer in binaries, we find that binarity was not important for the formation of the known WR stars in the SMC, implying a strong discrepancy between theory and observations (Chapter 6).}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{FrancoGonzalez2002, author = {Franco Gonz{\´a}lez, Olga}, title = {Structural and spectroscopical study of crystals of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives at high pressure}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000572}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2002}, abstract = {Die Suche nach neuen Materialien von technischem Interesse hat in den letzten Jahren neue Antriebe zu der Untersuchung organischer Verbindungen gegeben. Organische Substanzen haben viele Vorteile wie z.B. die M{\"o}glichkeit, ihre Eigenschaften durch verschiedene chemische und physikalische Techniken im Herstellung-Prozess f{\"u}r ein bestimmtes Ziel zu modifizieren. Oxadiazolverbindungen sind interessant aufgrund ihrer Nutzung als Material f{\"u}r Licht emittierende Dioden und Scintillatoren. Die physikalischen Eigenschaften eines Festk{\"o}rpers h{\"a}ngen von seiner Struktur ab. Unterschiedliche Strukturen entwickeln unterschiedliche intra- und intermolek{\"u}lare Wechselwirkungen. Eine ausgezeichnete Weise, um sowohl die intra- als auch die intermolekularen Wechselwirkungen eines bestimmtes Stoffes zu beeinflussen, ohne seine chemischen Charakteristiken zu {\"a}ndern, ist die Verwendung von hohem Druck. Wir haben den Einfluss von hohem Druck und hoher Temperatur auf die super-molekulare Struktur einiger Oxadiazolverbindungen im kristallinem Zustand untersucht. Aus diesen Untersuchungsergebnissen wurde eine Zustandsgleichung f{\"u}r diese Kristalle bestimmt. {\"U}berdies wurden die spektroskopischen Eigenschaften dieser Materialien unter hohem Druck charakterisiert.}, subject = {Oxadiazolderivate ; Kristallstruktur ; Hochdruck ; UV-VIS-Spektroskopie ; Raman-Spektroskopie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kuhlbrodt2002, author = {Kuhlbrodt, Till}, title = {Stability and variability of open-ocean deep convection in deterministic and stochastic simple models}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000622}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2002}, abstract = {Die Tiefenkonvektion ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Zirkulation im Nordatlantik. Sie beeinflusst den nordw{\"a}rtigen W{\"a}rmetransport der thermohalinen Zirkulation. Ein Verst{\"a}ndnis ihrer Stabilit{\"a}t und Variabilit{\"a}t ist daher n{\"o}tig, um Klimaver{\"a}nderungen im Bereich des Nordatlantiks einsch{\"a}tzen zu k{\"o}nnen. Diese Arbeit hat zum Ziel, das konzeptionelle Verst{\"a}ndnis der Stabilit{\"a}t und der Variabilit{\"a}t der Tiefenkonvektion zu verbessern. Beobachtungsdaten aus der Labradorsee zeigen Phasen mit und ohne Tiefenkonvektion. Ein einfaches Modell mit zwei Boxen wird an diese Daten angepasst. Das Ergebnis legt nahe, dass die Labradorsee zwei koexistierende stabile Zust{\"a}nde hat, einen mit regelm{\"a}ßiger Tiefenkonvektion und einen ohne Tiefenkonvektion. Diese Bistabilit{\"a}t ergibt sich aus einer positiven Salzgehalts-R{\"u}ckkopplung, deren Ursache ein Netto-S{\"u}ßwassereintrag in die Deckschicht ist. Der konvektive Zustand kann schnell instabil werden, wenn der mittlere Antrieb sich hin zu w{\"a}rmeren oder weniger salzhaltigen Bedingungen {\"a}ndert. Die wetterbedingte Variabilit{\"a}t des externen Antriebs wird durch die Addition eines stochastischen Antriebsterms in das Modell eingebaut. Es zeigt sich, dass dann die Tiefenkonvektion h{\"a}ufig an- und wieder ausgeschaltet wird. Die mittlere Aufenthaltszeit in beiden Zust{\"a}nden ist ein Maß ihrer stochastischen Stabilit{\"a}t. Die stochastische Stabilit{\"a}t h{\"a}ngt in glatter Weise von den Parametern des Antriebs ab, im Gegensatz zu der deterministischen (nichtstochastischen) Stabilit{\"a}t, die sich abrupt {\"a}ndern kann. Sowohl das Mittel als auch die Varianz des stochastischen Antriebs beeinflussen die H{\"a}ufigkeit von Tiefenkonvektion. Eine Abnahme der Konvektionsh{\"a}ufigkeit, als Reaktion auf eine Abnahme des Salzgehalts an der Oberfl{\"a}che, kann zum Beispiel durch eine Zunahme der Variabilit{\"a}t in den W{\"a}rmefl{\"u}ssen kompensiert werden. Mit einem weiter vereinfachten Box-Modell werden einige Eigenschaften der stochastischen Stabilit{\"a}t analytisch untersucht. Es wird ein neuer Effekt beschrieben, die wandernde Monostabilit{\"a}t: Auch wenn die Tiefenkonvektion aufgrund ge{\"a}nderter Parameter des Antriebs kein stabiler Zustand mehr ist, kann der stochastische Antrieb immer noch h{\"a}ufig Konvektionsereignisse ausl{\"o}sen. Die analytischen Gleichungen zeigen explizit, wie die wandernde Monostabilit{\"a}t sowie andere Effekte von den Modellparametern abh{\"a}ngen. Diese Abh{\"a}ngigkeit ist f{\"u}r die mittleren Aufenthaltszeiten immer exponentiell, f{\"u}r die Wahrscheinlichkeit langer nichtkonvektiver Phasen dagegen nur dann, wenn diese Wahrscheinlichkeit gering ist. Es ist zu erwarten, dass wandernde Monostabilit{\"a}t auch in anderen Teilen des Klimasystems eine Rolle spielt. Insgesamt zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass die Stabilit{\"a}t der Tiefenkonvektion in der Labradorsee sehr empfindlich auf den Antrieb reagiert. Die Rolle der Variabilit{\"a}t ist entscheidend f{\"u}r ein Verst{\"a}ndnis dieser Empfindlichkeit. Kleine {\"A}nderungen im Antrieb k{\"o}nnen bereits die H{\"a}ufigkeit von Tiefenkonvektionsereignissen deutlich mindern, was sich vermutlich stark auf das regionale Klima auswirkt.}, subject = {Labradorsee ; Thermohaline Konvektion ; Stochastisches Modell}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kraut2001, author = {Kraut, Suso}, title = {Multistable systems under the influence of noise}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000424}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2001}, abstract = {Nichtlineare multistabile Systeme unter dem Einfluss von Rauschen weisen vielschichtige dynamische Eigenschaften auf. Ein mittleres Rauschlevel zeitigt ein Springen zwischen den metastabilen Zustaenden. Dieser "attractor-hopping" Prozess ist gekennzeichnet durch laminare Bewegung in der Naehe von Attraktoren und erratische Bewegung, die sich auf chaotischen Satteln abspielt, welche in die fraktalen Einzugsgebietsgrenzen eingebettet sind. Er hat rauschinduziertes Chaos zur Folge. Bei der Untersuchung der dissipativen Standardabbildung wurde das Phaenomen der Praeferenz von Attraktoren durch die Wirkung des Rauschens gefunden. Dies bedeutet, dass einige Attraktoren eine groessere Wahrscheinlichkeit erhalten aufzutreten, als dies fuer das rauschfreie System der Fall waere. Bei einer bestimmten Rauschstaerke ist diese Bevorzugung maximal. Andere Attraktoren werden aufgrund des Rauschens weniger oft angelaufen. Bei einer entsprechend hohen Rauschstaerke werden sie komplett ausgeloescht. Die Komplexitaet des Sprungprozesses wird fuer das Modell zweier gekoppelter logistischer Abbildungen mit symbolischer Dynamik untersucht. Bei Variation eines Parameters steigt an einem bestimmten Wert des Parameters die topologische Entropie steil an, die neben der Shannon Entropie als Komplexitaetsmass verwendet wird. Dieser Anstieg wird auf eine neuartige Bifurkation von chaotischen Satteln zurueckgefuehrt, die in einem Verschmelzen zweier Sattel besteht und durch einen "Snap-back"-Repellor vermittelt wird. Skalierungsgesetze sowohl der Verweilzeit auf einem der zuvor getrennten Teile des Sattels als auch des Wachsens der fraktalen Dimension des entstandenen Sattels beschreiben diese neuartige Bifurkation genauer. Wenn ein chaotischer Sattel eingebettet in der offenen Umgebung eines Einzugsgebietes eines metastabilen Zustandes liegt, fuehrt das zu einer deutlichen Senkung der Schwelle des rauschinduzierten Tunnelns. Dies wird anhand der Ikeda-Abbildung, die ein Lasersystem mit einer zeitverzoegerden Interferenz beschreibt, demonstriert. Dieses Resultat wird unter Verwendung der Theorie der Quasipotentiale erzielt. Sowohl dieser Effekt, die Senkung der Schwelle f{\"u}r rauschinduziertes Tunneln aus einem metastabilen Zustand durch einen chaotischen Sattel, als auch die beiden Skalierungsgesteze sind von experimenteller Relevanz.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Breidenich2000, author = {Breidenich, Markus}, title = {Polymers at membranes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000284}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2000}, abstract = {Die Oberfl{\"a}che biologischer Zellen besteht aus einer Lipidmembran und einer Vielzahl von Proteinen und Polymeren, die in die Membran eingebaut sind. Die Beeinflussung der Membran durch Polymere, die mit einem Ende an der Membran verankert sind, wird im Rahmen dieser Arbeit anhand eines vereinfachten biomimetischen Systems studiert. Der entropische Druck, den das Polymer durch St{\"o}ße auf die Membran aus{\"u}bt, f{\"u}hrt dazu, dass sich die Membran vom Polymer weg kr{\"u}mmt. Die resultierende Membranform ist ein Kegel in der N{\"a}he des Ankers und ein Katenoid in grossem Abstand vom Ankerpunkt. Monte Carlo-Simulationen best{\"a}tigen die perturbativ berechneten Resultate. Bei Hinzunahme eines attraktiven Potentials zwischen Polymer und Membran verringert sich die urspr{\"u}nglich vom Polymer induzierte Kr{\"u}mmung. Im Limes starker Adsorption, in welchem das Polymer ganz auf der Membranoberfl{\"a}che lokalisiert ist, verschwindet der Polymerdruck und die durch diesen induzierte Kr{\"u}mmung der Membran. Falls das Polymer nicht direkt auf der Membranoberfl{\"a}che verankert ist, sondern in endlichem Ankerabstand, biegt sich die Membran im adsorbierten Fall zum Polymer hin. Im letzten Teil der Arbeit werden nicht verankerte Polymere in L{\"o}sung betrachtet. Untersucht wird der Einfluss einer solchen Polymerl{\"o}sung auf die Kr{\"u}mmung der Membran. Im Grenzfall einer rein sterischen, repulsiven Wechselwirkung zwischen Polymeren und Membran biegt sich diese, im Gegensatz zur verankerten Situation, zur L{\"o}sung hin. Bei zunehmender Attraktion biegt sich die Membran im Limes starker Adsorption der Polymere von der L{\"o}sung weg.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Moreira2001, author = {Moreira, Andr{\´e} Gu{\´e}rin}, title = {Charged systems in bulk and at interfaces}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000677}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2001}, abstract = {Eine der Faustregeln der Kolloid- und Oberfl{\"a}chenphysik ist, dass die meisten Oberfl{\"a}chen geladen sind, wenn sie mit einem L{\"o}sungsmittel, normalerweise Wasser, in Kontakt treten. Dies ist zum Beispiel bei ladungsstabilisierten Kolloidalen Suspensionen der Fall, bei denen die Oberfl{\"a}che der Kolloidteilchen geladen ist (gew{\"o}hnlich mit einer Ladung von mehreren Hunderttausend Elementarladungen), oder bei Monoschichten ionischer Tenside, die auf einer Luft-Wasser Grenzfl{\"a}che sitzen (wobei die wasserliebenden Kopfgruppen durch die Freisetzung von Gegenionen geladen werden), sowie bei Doppelschichten, die geladene phospholipide enthalten (wie Zellmembranen). In dieser Arbeit betrachten wir einige Modellsysteme, die zwar eine vereinfachte Fassung der Realit{\"a}t darstellen, von denen wir aber dennoch erwarten koennen, dass wir mit ihrer Hilfe einige physikalische Eigenschaften realer geladener Systeme (Kolloide und Elektrolyte) einfangen k{\"o}nnen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{GilMerinoRubio2003, author = {Gil-Merino Rubio, Rodrigo}, title = {Cosmology through gravitational lenses}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001030}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2003}, abstract = {In dieser Dissertation nutze ich den Gravitationslinseneffekt, um eine Reihe von kosmologischen Fragen zu untersuchen. Der Laufzeitunterschied des Gravitationslinsensystems HE1104-1805 wurde mit unterschiedlichen Methoden bestimmt. Zwischen den beiden Komponenten erhalte ich einen Unterschied von Delta_t(A-B) = -310 +-20 Tagen (2 sigma Konfidenzintervall). Außerdem nutze ich eine dreij{\"a}hrige Beobachtungskampagne, um den Doppelquasar Q0957+561 zu untersuchen. Die beobachteten Fluktuationen in den Differenzlichtkurven lassen sich durch Rauschen erkl{\"a}ren, ein Mikrogravitationslinseneffekt wird zur Erkl{\"a}rung nicht ben{\"o}tigt. Am Vierfachquasar Q2237+0305 untersuchte ich den Mikrogravitationslinseneffekt anhand der Daten der GLITP-Kollaboration (Okt. 1999-Feb. 2000). Durch die Abwesenheit eines starken Mikrogravitationslinsensignals konnte ich eine obere Grenze von v=600 km/s f f{\"u}r die effektive Transversalgeschwindigkeit der Linsengalaxie bestimmen (unter der Annahme von Mikrolinsen mit 0.1 Sonnenmassen). Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit untersuchte ich die Verteilung der Dunklen Materie in Galaxienhaufen. F{\"u}r den Galaxienhaufen Cl0024+1654 erhalte ich ein Masse-Leuchtkraft-Verh{\"a}ltnis von M/L = 200 M_sun/L_sun (innerhalb eines Radius von 3 Bogenminuten). Im Galaxienhaufen RBS380 finde ich eine relativ geringe R{\"o}ntgenleuchtkraft von L =2*10^(44) erg/s, obwohl im optischen eine große Anzahl von Galaxien gefunden wurde.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fuessel2003, author = {F{\"u}ssel, Hans-Martin}, title = {Impacts analysis for inverse integrated assessments of climate change}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001089}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2003}, abstract = {Diese Dissertation beschreibt die Entwicklung und Anwendung des Klimawirkungsmoduls des ICLIPS-Modells, eines integrierten Modells des Klimawandels ('Integrated Assessment'-Modell). Vorangestellt ist eine Diskussion des gesellschaftspolitischen Kontexts, in dem modellbasiertes 'Integrated Assessment' stattfindet, aus der wichtige Anforderungen an die Spezifikation des Klimawirkungsmoduls abgeleitet werden. Das 'Integrated Assessment' des Klimawandels umfasst eine weiten Bereich von Aktivit{\"a}ten zur wissenschaftsbasierten Unterst{\"u}tzung klimapolitischer Entscheidungen. Hierbei wird eine Vielzahl von Ans{\"a}tzen verfolgt, um politikrelevante Informationen {\"u}ber die erwarteten Auswirkungen des Klimawandels zu ber{\"u}cksichtigen. Wichtige Herausforderungen in diesem Bereich sind die große Bandbreite der relevanten r{\"a}umlichen und zeitlichen Skalen, die multifaktorielle Verursachung vieler 'Klimafolgen', erhebliche wissenschaftliche Unsicherheiten sowie die Mehrdeutigkeit unvermeidlicher Werturteile. Die Entwicklung eines hierarchischen Konzeptmodells erlaubt die Strukturierung der verschiedenen Ans{\"a}tze sowie die Darstellung eines mehrstufigen Entwicklungsprozesses, der sich in der Praxis und der zu Grunde liegenden Theorie von Studien zur Vulnerabilit{\"a}t hinsichtlich des Klimawandels wiederspiegelt. 'Integrated Assessment'-Modelle des Klimawandels sind wissenschaftliche Werkzeuge, welche eine vereinfachte Beschreibung des gekoppelten Mensch-Klima-Systems enthalten. Die wichtigsten entscheidungstheoretischen Ans{\"a}tze im Bereich des modellbasierten 'Integrated Assessment' werden im Hinblick auf ihre F{\"a}higkeit zur ad{\"a}quaten Darstellung klimapolitischer Entscheidungsprobleme bewertet. Dabei stellt der 'Leitplankenansatz' eine 'inverse' Herangehensweise zur Unterst{\"u}tzung klimapolitischer Entscheidungen dar, bei der versucht wird, die Gesamtheit der klimapolitischen Strategien zu bestimmen, die mit einer Reihe von zuvor normativ bestimmten Mindestkriterien (den sogenannten 'Leitplanken') vertr{\"a}glich sind. Dieser Ansatz verbindet bis zu einem gewissen Grad die wissenschaftliche Strenge und Objektivit{\"a}t simulationsbasierter Ans{\"a}tze mit der F{\"a}higkeit von Optimierungsans{\"a}tzen, die Gesamtheit aller Entscheidungsoptionen zu ber{\"u}cksichtigen. Das ICLIPS-Modell ist das erste 'Integrated Assessment'-Modell des Klimawandels, welches den Leitplankenansatz implementiert. Die Darstellung von Klimafolgen ist eine wichtige Herausforderung f{\"u}r 'Integrated Assessment'-Modelle des Klimawandels. Eine Betrachtung bestehender 'Integrated Assessment'-Modelle offenbart große Unterschiede in der Ber{\"u}cksichtigung verschiedener vom Klimawandel betroffenen Sektoren, in der Wahl des bzw. der Indikatoren zur Darstellung von Klimafolgen, in der Ber{\"u}cksichtigung nicht-klimatischer Entwicklungen einschließlich gezielter Anpassungsmaßnahmen an den Klimawandel, in der Behandlung von Unsicherheiten und in der Ber{\"u}cksichtigung von 'singul{\"a}ren' Ereignissen. 'Integrated Assessment'-Modelle, die auf einem Inversansatz beruhen, stellen besondere Anforderungen an die Darstellung von Klimafolgen. Einerseits muss der Detaillierungsgrad hinreichend sein, um Leitplanken f{\"u}r Klimafolgen sinnvoll definieren zu k{\"o}nnen; andererseits muss die Darstellung effizient genug sein, um die Gesamtheit der m{\"o}glichen klimapolitischen Strategien erkunden zu k{\"o}nnen. Großr{\"a}umige Singularit{\"a}ten k{\"o}nnen h{\"a}ufig durch vereinfachte dynamische Modelle abgebildet werden. Diese Methode ist jedoch weniger geeignet f{\"u}r regul{\"a}re Klimafolgen, bei denen die Bestimmung relevanter Ergebnisse in der Regel die Ber{\"u}cksichtigung der Heterogenit{\"a}t von klimatischen, naturr{\"a}umlichen und sozialen Faktoren auf der lokalen oder regionalen Ebene erfordert. Klimawirkungsfunktionen stellen sich als die geeignetste Darstellung regul{\"a}rer Klimafolgen im ICLIPS-Modell heraus. Eine Klimawirkungsfunktion beschreibt in aggregierter Form die Reaktion eines klimasensitiven Systems, wie sie von einem geographisch expliziten Klimawirkungsmodell f{\"u}r eine repr{\"a}sentative Teilmenge m{\"o}glicher zuk{\"u}nftiger Entwicklungen simuliert wurde. Die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Klimawirkungsfunktionen nutzen die globale Mitteltemperatur sowie die atmosph{\"a}rische CO2-Konzentration als Pr{\"a}diktoren f{\"u}r global und regional aggregierte Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf nat{\"u}rliche {\"O}kosysteme, die landwirtschaftliche Produktion und die Wasserverf{\"u}gbarkeit. Die Anwendung einer 'Musterskalierungstechnik' erm{\"o}glicht hierbei die Ber{\"u}cksichtigung der regionalen und saisonalen Muster des Klima{\"a}nderungssignals aus allgemeinen Zirkulationsmodellen, ohne die Effizienz der dynamischen Modellkomponenten zu beeintr{\"a}chtigen. Bem{\"u}hungen zur quantitativen Absch{\"a}tzung zuk{\"u}nftiger Klimafolgen sehen sich bei der Wahl geeigneter Indikatoren in der Regel einem Zielkonflikt zwischen der Relevanz eines Indikators f{\"u}r Entscheidungstr{\"a}ger und der Zuverl{\"a}ssigkeit, mit der dieser bestimmt werden kann, gegen{\"u}ber. Eine Reihe von nichtmonet{\"a}ren Indikatoren zur aggregierten Darstellung von Klimafolgen in Klimawirkungsfunktionen wird pr{\"a}sentiert, welche eine Balance zwischen diesen beiden Zielen anstreben und gleichzeitig die Beschr{\"a}nkungen ber{\"u}cksichtigen, die sich aus anderen Komponenten des ICLIPS-Modells ergeben. Klimawirkungsfunktionen werden durch verschiedene Typen von Diagrammen visualisiert, welche jeweils unterschiedliche Perspektiven auf die Ergebnismenge der Klimawirkungssimulationen erlauben. Die schiere Anzahl von Klimawirkungsfunktionen verhindert ihre umfassende Darstellung in dieser Arbeit. Ausgew{\"a}hlte Ergebnisse zu Ver{\"a}nderungen in der r{\"a}umlichen Ausdehnung von Biomen, im landwirtschaftlichen Potential verschiedener L{\"a}nder und in der Wasserverf{\"u}gbarkeit in mehreren großen Einzugsgebieten werden diskutiert. Die Gesamtheit der Klimawirkungsfunktionen wird zug{\"a}nglich gemacht durch das 'ICLIPS Impacts Tool', eine graphische Benutzeroberfl{\"a}che, die einen bequemen Zugriff auf {\"u}ber 100.000 Klimawirkungsdiagramme erm{\"o}glicht. Die technischen Aspekte der Software sowie die zugeh{\"o}rige Datenbasis wird beschrieben. Die wichtigste Anwendung von Klimawirkungsfunktionen ist im 'Inversmodus', wo sie genutzt werden, um Leitplanken zur Begrenzung von Klimafolgen in gleichzeitige Randbedingungen f{\"u}r Variablen aus dem optimierenden ICLIPS-Klima-Weltwirtschafts-Modell zu {\"u}bersetzen. Diese {\"U}bersetzung wird erm{\"o}glicht durch Algorithmen zur Bestimmung von Mengen erreichbarer Klimazust{\"a}nde ('reachable climate domains') sowie zur parametrisierten Approximation zul{\"a}ssiger Klimafenster ('admissible climate windows'), die aus Klimawirkungsfunktionen abgeleitet werden. Der umfassende Bestand an Klimawirkungsfunktionen zusammen mit diesen Algorithmen erm{\"o}glicht es dem integrierten ICLIPS-Modell, in flexibler Weise diejenigen klimapolitischen Strategien zu bestimmen, welche bestimmte in biophysikalischen Einheiten ausgedr{\"u}ckte Begrenzungen von Klimafolgen explizit ber{\"u}cksichtigen. Diese M{\"o}glichkeit bietet kein anderes intertemporal optimierendes 'Integrated Assessment'-Modell. Eine Leitplankenanalyse mit dem integrierten ICLIPS-Modell unter Anwendung ausgew{\"a}hlter Klimawirkungsfunktionen f{\"u}r Ver{\"a}nderungen nat{\"u}rlicher {\"O}kosysteme wird beschrieben. In dieser Analyse werden so genannte 'notwendige Emissionskorridore' berechnet, die vorgegebene Beschr{\"a}nkungen hinsichtlich der maximal zul{\"a}ssigen globalen Vegetationsver{\"a}nderungen und der regionalen Klimaschutzkosten ber{\"u}cksichtigen. Dies geschieht sowohl f{\"u}r eine 'Standardkombination' der drei gew{\"a}hlten Kriterien als auch f{\"u}r deren systematische Variation. Eine abschließende Diskussion aktueller Entwicklungen in der 'Integrated Assessment'-Modellierung stellt diese Arbeit mit anderen einschl{\"a}gigen Bem{\"u}hungen in Beziehung.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Heinig2003, author = {Heinig, Peter}, title = {The geometry of interacting liquid domains in Langmuir monolayers}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000814}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2003}, abstract = {Es werden die Strukturbildung und Benetzung zweidimensionaler (2D) Phasen von Langmuir-Monolagen im lokalen thermodynamischen Gleichgewicht untersucht. Eine Langmuir-Monolage ist ein isoliertes 2D System von Surfaktanten an der Wasser/Luft-Grenzfl{\"a}che, in dem kristalline, fl{\"u}ssigkristalline, fl{\"u}ssige oder gasf{\"o}rmige Phasen auftreten, die sich in Positionsordnung und/oder Orientierungsordnung unterscheiden. Permanente elektrische Dipolmomente der Surfaktanten f{\"u}hren zu einer langreichweitigen repulsiven Selbstwechselwirkung der Monolage und zur Bildung mesoskopischer Strukturen. Es wird ein Wechselwirkungsmodell verwendet, das die Strukturbildung als Wechselspiel kurzreichweitiger Anziehung (nackte Linienspannung) und langreichweitiger Abstoßung (Oberfl{\"a}chenpotential) auf einer Skala Delta beschreibt. Physikalisch trennt Delta die beiden L{\"a}ngenskalen der lang- und kurzreichweitigen Wechselwirkung. In dieser Arbeit werden die thermodynamischen Stabilit{\"a}tsbedingungen f{\"u}r die Form einer Phasengrenzlinie (Young-Laplace-Gleichung) und Dreiphasenkontaktpunkt (Young-Bedingung) hergeleitet und zur Beschreibung experimenteller Daten genutzt: Die Linienspannung benetzender 2D Tropfen wird mit Hilfe h{\"a}ngender-Tropfen-Tensiometrie gemessen. Die Blasenform und -gr{\"o}ße von 2D Sch{\"a}umen wird theoretisch modelliert und mit experimentellen 2D Sch{\"a}umen verglichen. Kontaktwinkel werden durch die Anpassung von experimentellen Tropfen mit numerischen L{\"o}sungen der Young-Laplace-Gleichung auf Mikrometerskalen gemessen. Das Skalenverhalten des Kontaktwinkels erm{\"o}glicht die Bestimmung einer unteren Schranke von Delta. Weiterhin wird diskutiert, inwieweit das Schalten von 2D Benetzungsmodi in biologischen Membranen zur Steuerung der Reaktionskinetik ein Rolle spielen k{\"o}nnte. Hierzu werden Experimente aus unserer Gruppe, die in einer Langmuir-Monolage durchgef{\"u}hrt wurden, herangezogen. Abschließend wird die scheinbare Verletzung der Gibbs\′schen Phasenregel in Langmuir-Monolagen (nicht-horizontales Plateau der Oberfl{\"a}chendruck-Fl{\"a}che Isotherme, ausgedehntes Dreiphasengebiet in Einkomponentensystemen) quantitativ untersucht. Eine Verschmutzung der verwendeten Substanzen ist demnach die wahscheinlichste Erkl{\"a}rung, w{\"a}hrend Finite-Size-Effekte oder der Einfluss der langreichweitigen Elektrostatik die Gr{\"o}ßenordnung des Effektes nicht beschreiben k{\"o}nnen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Loeffler2005, author = {L{\"o}ffler, Frank}, title = {Numerical simulations of neutron star - black hole mergers}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7743}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Collisions of black holes and neutron stars, named mixed binaries in the following, are interesting because of at least two reasons. Firstly, it is expected that they emit a large amount of energy as gravitational waves, which could be measured by new detectors. The form of those waves is expected to carry information about the internal structure of such systems. Secondly, collisions of such objects are the prime suspects of short gamma ray bursts. The exact mechanism for the energy emission is unknown so far. In the past, Newtonian theory of gravitation and modifications to it were often used for numerical simulations of collisions of mixed binary systems. However, near to such objects, the gravitational forces are so strong, that the use of General Relativity is necessary for accurate predictions. There are a lot of problems in general relativistic simulations. However, systems of two neutron stars and systems of two black holes have been studies extensively in the past and a lot of those problems have been solved. One of the remaining problems so far has been the use of hydrodynamic on excision boundaries. Inside excision regions, no evolution is carried out. Such regions are often used inside black holes to circumvent instabilities of the numerical methods near the singularity. Methods to handle hydrodynamics at such boundaries have been described and tests are shown in this work. One important test and the first application of those methods has been the simulation of a collapsing neutron star to a black hole. The success of these simulations and in particular the performance of the excision methods was an important step towards simulations of mixed binaries. Initial data are necessary for every numerical simulation. However, the creation of such initial data for general relativistic situations is in general very complicated. In this work it is shown how to obtain initial data for mixed binary systems using an already existing method for initial data of two black holes. These initial data have been used for evolutions of such systems and problems encountered are discussed in this work. One of the problems are instabilities due to different methods, which could be solved by dissipation of appropriate strength. Another problem is the expected drift of the black hole towards the neutron star. It is shown, that this can be solved by using special gauge conditions, which prevent the black hole from moving on the computational grid. The methods and simulations shown in this work are only the starting step for a much more detailed study of mixed binary system. Better methods, models and simulations with higher resolution and even better gauge conditions will be focus of future work. It is expected that such detailed studies can give information about the emitted gravitational waves, which is important in view of the newly built gravitational wave detectors. In addition, these simulations could give insight into the processes responsible for short gamma ray bursts.}, subject = {Relativistische Astrophysik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Prevot2006, author = {Prevot, Michelle Elizabeth}, title = {Introduction of a thermo-sensitive non-polar species into polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules for drug delivery}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7785}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) of polyelectrolytes has been extensively studied for the preparation of ultrathin films due to the versatility of the build-up process. The control of the permeability of these layers is particularly important as there are potential drug delivery applications. Multilayered polyelectrolyte microcapsules are also of great interest due to their possible use as microcontainers. This work will present two methods that can be used as employable drug delivery systems, both of which can encapsulate an active molecule and tune the release properties of the active species. Poly-(N-isopropyl acrylamide), (PNIPAM) is known to be a thermo-sensitive polymer that has a Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) around 32oC; above this temperature PNIPAM is insoluble in water and collapses. It is also known that with the addition of salt, the LCST decreases. This work shows Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) evidence that the LCST of the PNIPAM can be tuned with salt type and concentration. Microcapsules were used to encapsulate this thermo-sensitive polymer, resulting in a reversible and tunable stimuli- responsive system. The encapsulation of the PNIPAM inside of the capsule was proven with Raman spectroscopy, DSC (bulk LCST measurements), AFM (thickness change), SEM (morphology change) and CLSM (in situ LCST measurement inside of the capsules). The exploitation of the capsules as a microcontainer is advantageous not only because of the protection the capsules give to the active molecules, but also because it facilitates easier transport. The second system investigated demonstrates the ability to reduce the permeability of polyelectrolyte multilayer films by the addition of charged wax particles. The incorporation of this hydrophobic coating leads to a reduced water sensitivity particularly after heating, which melts the wax, forming a barrier layer. This conclusion was proven with Neutron Reflectivity by showing the decreased presence of D2O in planar polyelectrolyte films after annealing creating a barrier layer. The permeability of capsules could also be decreased by the addition of a wax layer. This was proved by the increase in recovery time measured by Florescence Recovery After Photobleaching, (FRAP) measurements. In general two advanced methods, potentially suitable for drug delivery systems, have been proposed. In both cases, if biocompatible elements are used to fabricate the capsule wall, these systems provide a stable method of encapsulating active molecules. Stable encapsulation coupled with the ability to tune the wall thickness gives the ability to control the release profile of the molecule of interest.}, subject = {Mikrokapsel}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Jappsen2005, author = {Jappsen, Anne-Katharina}, title = {Present and early star formation : a study on rotational and thermal properties}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7591}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We investigate the rotational and thermal properties of star-forming molecular clouds using hydrodynamic simulations. Stars form from molecular cloud cores by gravoturbulent fragmentation. Understanding the angular momentum and the thermal evolution of cloud cores thus plays a fundamental role in completing the theoretical picture of star formation. This is true not only for current star formation as observed in regions like the Orion nebula or the ρ-Ophiuchi molecular cloud but also for the formation of stars of the first or second generation in the universe. In this thesis we show how the angular momentum of prestellar and protostellar cores evolves and compare our results with observed quantities. The specific angular momentum of prestellar cores in our models agree remarkably well with observations of cloud cores. Some prestellar cores go into collapse to build up stars and stellar systems. The resulting protostellar objects have specific angular momenta that fall into the range of observed binaries. We find that collapse induced by gravoturbulent fragmentation is accompanied by a substantial loss of specific angular momentum. This eases the "angular momentum problem" in star formation even in the absence of magnetic fields. The distribution of stellar masses at birth (the initial mass function, IMF) is another aspect that any theory of star formation must explain. We focus on the influence of the thermodynamic properties of star-forming gas and address this issue by studying the effects of a piecewise polytropic equation of state on the formation of stellar clusters. We increase the polytropic exponent γ from a value below unity to a value above unity at a certain critical density. The change of the thermodynamic state at the critical density selects a characteristic mass scale for fragmentation, which we relate to the peak of the IMF observed in the solar neighborhood. Our investigation generally supports the idea that the distribution of stellar masses depends mainly on the thermodynamic state of the gas. A common assumption is that the chemical evolution of the star-forming gas can be decoupled from its dynamical evolution, with the former never affecting the latter. Although justified in some circumstances, this assumption is not true in every case. In particular, in low-metallicity gas the timescales for reaching the chemical equilibrium are comparable or larger than the dynamical timescales. In this thesis we take a first approach to combine a chemical network with a hydrodynamical code in order to study the influence of low levels of metal enrichment on the cooling and collapse of ionized gas in small protogalactic halos. Our initial conditions represent protogalaxies forming within a fossil HII region -- a previously ionized HII region which has not yet had time to cool and recombine. We show that in these regions, H2 is the dominant and most effective coolant, and that it is the amount of H2 formed that controls whether or not the gas can collapse and form stars. For metallicities Z <= 10-3 Zsun, metal line cooling alters the density and temperature evolution of the gas by less than 1\% compared to the metal-free case at densities below 1 cm-3 and temperatures above 2000 K. We also find that an external ultraviolet background delays or suppresses the cooling and collapse of the gas regardless of whether it is metal-enriched or not. Finally, we study the dependence of this process on redshift and mass of the dark matter halo.}, subject = {Sternentstehung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{SchneidervonDeimling2006, author = {Schneider von Deimling, Thomas}, title = {Constraining uncertainty in climate sensitivity : an ensemble simulation approach based on glacial climate}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7778}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Uncertainty about the sensitivity of the climate system to changes in the Earth's radiative balance constitutes a primary source of uncertainty for climate projections. Given the continuous increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, constraining the uncertainty range in such type of sensitivity is of vital importance. A common measure for expressing this key characteristic for climate models is the climate sensitivity, defined as the simulated change in global-mean equilibrium temperature resulting from a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentration. The broad range of climate sensitivity estimates (1.5-4.5°C as given in the last Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001), inferred from comprehensive climate models, illustrates that the strength of simulated feedback mechanisms varies strongly among different models. The central goal of this thesis is to constrain uncertainty in climate sensitivity. For this objective we first generate a large ensemble of model simulations, covering different feedback strengths, and then request their consistency with present-day observational data and proxy-data from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Our analyses are based on an ensemble of fully-coupled simulations, that were realized with a climate model of intermediate complexity (CLIMBER-2). These model versions cover a broad range of different climate sensitivities, ranging from 1.3 to 5.5°C, and have been generated by simultaneously perturbing a set of 11 model parameters. The analysis of the simulated model feedbacks reveals that the spread in climate sensitivity results from different realizations of the feedback strengths in water vapour, clouds, lapse rate and albedo. The calculated spread in the sum of all feedbacks spans almost the entire plausible range inferred from a sampling of more complex models. We show that the requirement for consistency between simulated pre-industrial climate and a set of seven global-mean data constraints represents a comparatively weak test for model sensitivity (the data constrain climate sensitivity to 1.3-4.9°C). Analyses of the simulated latitudinal profile and of the seasonal cycle suggest that additional present-day data constraints, based on these characteristics, do not further constrain uncertainty in climate sensitivity. The novel approach presented in this thesis consists in systematically combining a large set of LGM simulations with data information from reconstructed regional glacial cooling. Irrespective of uncertainties in model parameters and feedback strengths, the set of our model versions reveals a close link between the simulated warming due to a doubling of CO2, and the cooling obtained for the LGM. Based on this close relationship between past and future temperature evolution, we define a method (based on linear regression) that allows us to estimate robust 5-95\% quantiles for climate sensitivity. We thus constrain the range of climate sensitivity to 1.3-3.5°C using proxy-data from the LGM at low and high latitudes. Uncertainties in glacial radiative forcing enlarge this estimate to 1.2-4.3°C, whereas the assumption of large structural uncertainties may increase the upper limit by an additional degree. Using proxy-based data constraints for tropical and Antarctic cooling we show that very different absolute temperature changes in high and low latitudes all yield very similar estimates of climate sensitivity. On the whole, this thesis highlights that LGM proxy-data information can offer an effective means of constraining the uncertainty range in climate sensitivity and thus underlines the potential of paleo-climatic data to reduce uncertainty in future climate projections.}, subject = {Dynamische Modellierung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmeja2006, author = {Schmeja, Stefan}, title = {Properties of turbulent star-forming clusters : models versus observations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7364}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Stars are born in turbulent molecular clouds that fragment and collapse under the influence of their own gravity, forming a cluster of hundred or more stars. The star formation process is controlled by the interplay between supersonic turbulence and gravity. In this work, the properties of stellar clusters created by numerical simulations of gravoturbulent fragmentation are compared to those from observations. This includes the analysis of properties of individual protostars as well as statistical properties of the entire cluster. It is demonstrated that protostellar mass accretion is a highly dynamical and time-variant process. The peak accretion rate is reached shortly after the formation of the protostellar core. It is about one order of magnitude higher than the constant accretion rate predicted by the collapse of a classical singular isothermal sphere, in agreement with the observations. For a more reasonable comparison, the model accretion rates are converted to the observables bolometric temperature, bolometric luminosity, and envelope mass. The accretion rates from the simulations are used as input for an evolutionary scheme. The resulting distribution in the Tbol-Lbol-Menv parameter space is then compared to observational data by means of a 3D Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The highest probability found that the distributions of model tracks and observational data points are drawn from the same population is 70\%. The ratios of objects belonging to different evolutionary classes in observed star-forming clusters are compared to the temporal evolution of the gravoturbulent models in order to estimate the evolutionary stage of a cluster. While it is difficult to estimate absolute ages, the realtive numbers of young stars reveal the evolutionary status of a cluster with respect to other clusters. The sequence shows Serpens as the youngest and IC 348 as the most evolved of the investigated clusters. Finally the structures of young star clusters are investigated by applying different statistical methods like the normalised mean correlation length and the minimum spanning tree technique and by a newly defined measure for the cluster elongation. The clustering parameters of the model clusters correspond in many cases well to those from observed ones. The temporal evolution of the clustering parameters shows that the star cluster builds up from several subclusters and evolves to a more centrally concentrated cluster, while the cluster expands slower than new stars are formed.}, subject = {Sternentstehung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zou2007, author = {Zou, Yong}, title = {Exploring recurrences in quasiperiodic systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-16497}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {In this work, some new results to exploit the recurrence properties of quasiperiodic dynamical systems are presented by means of a two dimensional visualization technique, Recurrence Plots(RPs). Quasiperiodicity is the simplest form of dynamics exhibiting nontrivial recurrences, which are common in many nonlinear systems. The concept of recurrence was introduced to study the restricted three body problem and it is very useful for the characterization of nonlinear systems. I have analyzed in detail the recurrence patterns of systems with quasiperiodic dynamics both analytically and numerically. Based on a theoretical analysis, I have proposed a new procedure to distinguish quasiperiodic dynamics from chaos. This algorithm is particular useful in the analysis of short time series. Furthermore, this approach demonstrates to be efficient in recognizing regular and chaotic trajectories of dynamical systems with mixed phase space. Regarding the application to real situations, I have shown the capability and validity of this method by analyzing time series from fluid experiments.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Miteva2007, author = {Miteva, Rositsa Stoycheva}, title = {Electron acceleration at localized wave structures in the solar corona}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-14775}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Our dynamic Sun manifests its activity by different phenomena: from the 11-year cyclic sunspot pattern to the unpredictable and violent explosions in the case of solar flares. During flares, a huge amount of the stored magnetic energy is suddenly released and a substantial part of this energy is carried by the energetic electrons, considered to be the source of the nonthermal radio and X-ray radiation. One of the most important and still open question in solar physics is how the electrons are accelerated up to high energies within (the observed in the radio emission) short time scales. Because the acceleration site is extremely small in spatial extent as well (compared to the solar radius), the electron acceleration is regarded as a local process. The search for localized wave structures in the solar corona that are able to accelerate electrons together with the theoretical and numerical description of the conditions and requirements for this process, is the aim of the dissertation. Two models of electron acceleration in the solar corona are proposed in the dissertation: I. Electron acceleration due to the solar jet interaction with the background coronal plasma (the jet--plasma interaction) A jet is formed when the newly reconnected and highly curved magnetic field lines are relaxed by shooting plasma away from the reconnection site. Such jets, as observed in soft X-rays with the Yohkoh satellite, are spatially and temporally associated with beams of nonthermal electrons (in terms of the so-called type III metric radio bursts) propagating through the corona. A model that attempts to give an explanation for such observational facts is developed here. Initially, the interaction of such jets with the background plasma leads to an (ion-acoustic) instability associated with growing of electrostatic fluctuations in time for certain range of the jet initial velocity. During this process, any test electron that happen to feel this electrostatic wave field is drawn to co-move with the wave, gaining energy from it. When the jet speed has a value greater or lower than the one, required by the instability range, such wave excitation cannot be sustained and the process of electron energization (acceleration and/or heating) ceases. Hence, the electrons can propagate further in the corona and be detected as type III radio burst, for example. II. Electron acceleration due to attached whistler waves in the upstream region of coronal shocks (the electron--whistler--shock interaction) Coronal shocks are also able to accelerate electrons, as observed by the so-called type II metric radio bursts (the radio signature of a shock wave in the corona). From in-situ observations in space, e.g., at shocks related to co-rotating interaction regions, it is known that nonthermal electrons are produced preferably at shocks with attached whistler wave packets in their upstream regions. Motivated by these observations and assuming that the physical processes at shocks are the same in the corona as in the interplanetary medium, a new model of electron acceleration at coronal shocks is presented in the dissertation, where the electrons are accelerated by their interaction with such whistlers. The protons inflowing toward the shock are reflected there by nearly conserving their magnetic moment, so that they get a substantial velocity gain in the case of a quasi-perpendicular shock geometry, i.e, the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field is in the range 50--80 degrees. The so-accelerated protons are able to excite whistler waves in a certain frequency range in the upstream region. When these whistlers (comprising the localized wave structure in this case) are formed, only the incoming electrons are now able to interact resonantly with them. But only a part of these electrons fulfill the the electron--whistler wave resonance condition. Due to such resonant interaction (i.e., of these electrons with the whistlers), the electrons are accelerated in the electric and magnetic wave field within just several whistler periods. While gaining energy from the whistler wave field, the electrons reach the shock front and, subsequently, a major part of them are reflected back into the upstream region, since the shock accompanied with a jump of the magnetic field acts as a magnetic mirror. Co-moving with the whistlers now, the reflected electrons are out of resonance and hence can propagate undisturbed into the far upstream region, where they are detected in terms of type II metric radio bursts. In summary, the kinetic energy of protons is transfered into electrons by the action of localized wave structures in both cases, i.e., at jets outflowing from the magnetic reconnection site and at shock waves in the corona.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Glushak2007, author = {Glushak, Ksenia}, title = {Atmospheric circulation and the surface mass balance in a regional climate model of Antarctica}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17296}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Understanding the Earth's climate system and particularly climate variability presents one of the most difficult and urgent challenges in science. The Antarctic plays a crucial role in the global climate system, since it is the principal region of radiative energy deficit and atmospheric cooling. An assessment of regional climate model HIRHAM is presented. The simulations are generated with the HIRHAM model, which is modified for Antarctic applications. With a horizontal resolution of 55km, the model has been run for the period 1958-1998 creating long-term simulations from initial and boundary conditions provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA40 re-analysis. The model output is compared with observations from observation stations, upper air data, global atmospheric analyses and satellite data. In comparison with the observations, the evaluation shows that the simulations with the HIRHAM model capture both the large and regional scale circulation features with generally small bias in the modeled variables. On the annual time scale the largest errors in the model simulations are the overestimation total cloud cover and the colder near-surface temperature over the interior of the Antarctic plateau. The low-level temperature inversion as well as low-level wind jet is well captured by the model. The decadal scale processes were studied based on trend calculations. The long-term run was divided into two 20 years parts. The 2m temperature, 500 hPa temperature, MSLP, precipitation and net mass balance trends were calculated for both periods and over 1958 - 1998. During the last two decades the strong surface cooling was observed over the Eastern Antarctica, this result is in good agreement with the result of Chapman and Walsh (2005) who calculated the temperature trend based on the observational data. The MSLP trend reveals a big disparity between the first and second parts of the 40 year run. The overall trend shows the strengthening of the circumpolar vortex and continental anticyclone. The net mass balance as well as precipitation show a positive trend over the Antarctic Peninsula region, along Wilkes Land and in Dronning Maud Land. The Antarctic ice sheet grows over the Eastern part of Antarctica with small exceptions in Dronning Maud Land and Wilkes Land and sinks in the Antarctic Peninsula; this result is in good agreement with the satellite-measured altitude presented in Davis (2005) . To better understand the horizontal structure of MSLP, temperature and net mass balance trends the influence of the Southern Annual Mode (SAM) on the Antarctic climate was investigated. The main meteorological parameters during the positive and negative Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) phases were compared to each other. A positive/negative AAO index means strengthening/weakening of the circumpolar vortex, poleward/northward storm tracks and prevailing/weakening westerly winds. For detailed investigation of global teleconnection, two positive and one negative periods of AAO phase were chosen. The differences in MSLP and 2m temperature between positive and negative AAO years during the winter months partly explain the surface cooling during the last decades.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Pazienti2007, author = {Pazienti, Antonio}, title = {Manipulations of spike trains and their impact on synchrony analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17447}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The interaction between neuronal cells can be identified as the computing mechanism of the brain. Neurons are complex cells that do not operate in isolation, but they are organized in a highly connected network structure. There is experimental evidence that groups of neurons dynamically synchronize their activity and process brain functions at all levels of complexity. A fundamental step to prove this hypothesis is to analyze large sets of single neurons recorded in parallel. Techniques to obtain these data are meanwhile available, but advancements are needed in the pre-processing of the large volumes of acquired data and in data analysis techniques. Major issues include extracting the signal of single neurons from the noisy recordings (referred to as spike sorting) and assessing the significance of the synchrony. This dissertation addresses these issues with two complementary strategies, both founded on the manipulation of point processes under rigorous analytical control. On the one hand I modeled the effect of spike sorting errors on correlated spike trains by corrupting them with realistic failures, and studied the corresponding impact on correlation analysis. The results show that correlations between multiple parallel spike trains are severely affected by spike sorting, especially by erroneously missing spikes. When this happens sorting strategies characterized by classifying only good'' spikes (conservative strategies) lead to less accurate results than tolerant'' strategies. On the other hand, I investigated the effectiveness of methods for assessing significance that create surrogate data by displacing spikes around their original position (referred to as dithering). I provide analytical expressions of the probability of coincidence detection after dithering. The effectiveness of spike dithering in creating surrogate data strongly depends on the dithering method and on the method of counting coincidences. Closed-form expressions and bounds are derived for the case where the dither equals the allowed coincidence interval. This work provides new insights into the methodologies of identifying synchrony in large-scale neuronal recordings, and of assessing its significance.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Tukhlina2008, author = {Tukhlina, Natalia}, title = {Feedback control of complex oscillatory systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18546}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2008}, abstract = {In the present dissertation paper an approach which ensures an efficient control of such diverse systems as noisy or chaotic oscillators and neural ensembles is developed. This approach is implemented by a simple linear feedback loop. The dissertation paper consists of two main parts. One part of the work is dedicated to the application of the suggested technique to a population of neurons with a goal to suppress their synchronous collective dynamics. The other part is aimed at investigating linear feedback control of coherence of a noisy or chaotic self-sustained oscillator. First we start with a problem of suppressing synchronization in a large population of interacting neurons. The importance of this task is based on the hypothesis that emergence of pathological brain activity in the case of Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders is caused by synchrony of many thousands of neurons. The established therapy for the patients with such disorders is a permanent high-frequency electrical stimulation via the depth microelectrodes, called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). In spite of efficiency of such stimulation, it has several side effects and mechanisms underlying DBS remain unclear. In the present work an efficient and simple control technique is suggested. It is designed to ensure suppression of synchrony in a neural ensemble by a minimized stimulation that vanishes as soon as the tremor is suppressed. This vanishing-stimulation technique would be a useful tool of experimental neuroscience; on the other hand, control of collective dynamics in a large population of units represents an interesting physical problem. The main idea of suggested approach is related to the classical problem of oscillation theory, namely the interaction between a self-sustained (active) oscillator and a passive load (resonator). It is known that under certain conditions the passive oscillator can suppress the oscillations of an active one. In this thesis a much more complicated case of active medium, which itself consists of thousands of oscillators is considered. Coupling this medium to a specially designed passive oscillator, one can control the collective motion of the ensemble, specifically can enhance or suppress it. Having in mind a possible application in neuroscience, the problem of suppression is concentrated upon. Second, the efficiency of suggested suppression scheme is illustrated by considering more complex case, i.e. when the population of neurons generating the undesired rhythm consists of two non-overlapping subpopulations: the first one is affected by the stimulation, while the collective activity is registered from the second one. Generally speaking, the second population can be by itself both active and passive; both cases are considered here. The possible applications of suggested technique are discussed. Third, the influence of the external linear feedback on coherence of a noisy or chaotic self-sustained oscillator is considered. Coherence is one of the main properties of self-oscillating systems and plays a key role in the construction of clocks, electronic generators, lasers, etc. The coherence of a noisy limit cycle oscillator in the context of phase dynamics is evaluated by the phase diffusion constant, which is in its turn proportional to the width of the spectral peak of oscillations. Many chaotic oscillators can be described within the framework of phase dynamics, and, therefore, their coherence can be also quantified by the way of the phase diffusion constant. The analytical theory for a general linear feedback, considering noisy systems in the linear and Gaussian approximation is developed and validated by numerical results.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zemanova2007, author = {Zemanov{\´a}, Lucia}, title = {Structure-function relationship in hierarchical model of brain networks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18400}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The mammalian brain is, with its numerous neural elements and structured complex connectivity, one of the most complex systems in nature. Recently, large-scale corticocortical connectivities, both structural and functional, have received a great deal of research attention, especially using the approach of complex networks. Here, we try to shed some light on the relationship between structural and functional connectivities by studying synchronization dynamics in a realistic anatomical network of cat cortical connectivity. We model the cortical areas by a subnetwork of interacting excitable neurons (multilevel model) and by a neural mass model (population model). With weak couplings, the multilevel model displays biologically plausible dynamics and the synchronization patterns reveal a hierarchical cluster organization in the network structure. We can identify a group of brain areas involved in multifunctional tasks by comparing the dynamical clusters to the topological communities of the network. With strong couplings of multilevel model and by using neural mass model, the dynamics are characterized by well-defined oscillations. The synchronization patterns are mainly determined by the node intensity (total input strengths of a node); the detailed network topology is of secondary importance. The biologically improved multilevel model exhibits similar dynamical patterns in the two regimes. Thus, the study of synchronization in a multilevel complex network model of cortex can provide insights into the relationship between network topology and functional organization of complex brain networks.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{ZamoraLopez2009, author = {Zamora-L{\´o}pez, Gorka}, title = {Linking structure and function of complex cortical networks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-52257}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The recent discovery of an intricate and nontrivial interaction topology among the elements of a wide range of natural systems has altered the manner we understand complexity. For example, the axonal fibres transmitting electrical information between cortical regions form a network which is neither regular nor completely random. Their structure seems to follow functional principles to balance between segregation (functional specialisation) and integration. Cortical regions are clustered into modules specialised in processing different kinds of information, e.g. visual or auditory. However, in order to generate a global perception of the real world, the brain needs to integrate the distinct types of information. Where this integration happens, nobody knows. We have performed an extensive and detailed graph theoretical analysis of the cortico-cortical organisation in the brain of cats, trying to relate the individual and collective topological properties of the cortical areas to their function. We conclude that the cortex possesses a very rich communication structure, composed of a mixture of parallel and serial processing paths capable of accommodating dynamical processes with a wide variety of time scales. The communication paths between the sensory systems are not random, but largely mediated by a small set of areas. Far from acting as mere transmitters of information, these central areas are densely connected to each other, strongly indicating their functional role as integrators of the multisensory information. In the quest of uncovering the structure-function relationship of cortical networks, the peculiarities of this network have led us to continuously reconsider the stablished graph measures. For example, a normalised formalism to identify the "functional roles" of vertices in networks with community structure is proposed. The tools developed for this purpose open the door to novel community detection techniques which may also characterise the overlap between modules. The concept of integration has been revisited and adapted to the necessities of the network under study. Additionally, analytical and numerical methods have been introduced to facilitate understanding of the complicated statistical interrelations between the distinct network measures. These methods are helpful to construct new significance tests which may help to discriminate the relevant properties of real networks from side-effects of the evolutionary-growth processes.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Balzer2014, author = {Balzer, Arnim}, title = {Crab flare observations with H.E.S.S. phase II}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-72545}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The H.E.S.S. array is a third generation Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) array. It is located in the Khomas Highland in Namibia, and measures very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays. In Phase I, the array started data taking in 2004 with its four identical 13 m telescopes. Since then, H.E.S.S. has emerged as the most successful IACT experiment to date. Among the almost 150 sources of VHE gamma-ray radiation found so far, even the oldest detection, the Crab Nebula, keeps surprising the scientific community with unexplained phenomena such as the recently discovered very energetic flares of high energy gamma-ray radiation. During its most recent flare, which was detected by the Fermi satellite in March 2013, the Crab Nebula was simultaneously observed with the H.E.S.S. array for six nights. The results of the observations will be discussed in detail during the course of this work. During the nights of the flare, the new 24 m × 32 m H.E.S.S. II telescope was still being commissioned, but participated in the data taking for one night. To be able to reconstruct and analyze the data of the H.E.S.S. Phase II array, the algorithms and software used by the H.E.S.S. Phase I array had to be adapted. The most prominent advanced shower reconstruction technique developed by de Naurois and Rolland, the template-based model analysis, compares real shower images taken by the Cherenkov telescope cameras with shower templates obtained using a semi-analytical model. To find the best fitting image, and, therefore, the relevant parameters that describe the air shower best, a pixel-wise log-likelihood fit is done. The adaptation of this advanced shower reconstruction technique to the heterogeneous H.E.S.S. Phase II array for stereo events (i.e. air showers seen by at least two telescopes of any kind), its performance using MonteCarlo simulations as well as its application to real data will be described.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kellermann2011, author = {Kellermann, Thorsten}, title = {Accurate numerical relativity simulations of non-vacuumspace-times in two dimensions and applications to critical collapse}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-59578}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2011}, abstract = {This Thesis puts its focus on the physics of neutron stars and its description with methods of numerical relativity. In the first step, a new numerical framework the Whisky2D code will be developed, which solves the relativistic equations of hydrodynamics in axisymmetry. Therefore we consider an improved formulation of the conserved form of these equations. The second part will use the new code to investigate the critical behaviour of two colliding neutron stars. Considering the analogy to phase transitions in statistical physics, we will investigate the evolution of the entropy of the neutron stars during the whole process. A better understanding of the evolution of thermodynamical quantities, like the entropy in critical process, should provide deeper understanding of thermodynamics in relativity. More specifically, we have written the Whisky2D code, which solves the general-relativistic hydrodynamics equations in a flux-conservative form and in cylindrical coordinates. This of course brings in 1/r singular terms, where r is the radial cylindrical coordinate, which must be dealt with appropriately. In the above-referenced works, the flux operator is expanded and the 1/r terms, not containing derivatives, are moved to the right-hand-side of the equation (the source term), so that the left hand side assumes a form identical to the one of the three-dimensional (3D) Cartesian formulation. We call this the standard formulation. Another possibility is not to split the flux operator and to redefine the conserved variables, via a multiplication by r. We call this the new formulation. The new equations are solved with the same methods as in the Cartesian case. From a mathematical point of view, one would not expect differences between the two ways of writing the differential operator, but, of course, a difference is present at the numerical level. Our tests show that the new formulation yields results with a global truncation error which is one or more orders of magnitude smaller than those of alternative and commonly used formulations. The second part of the Thesis uses the new code for investigations of critical phenomena in general relativity. In particular, we consider the head-on-collision of two neutron stars in a region of the parameter space where two final states a new stable neutron star or a black hole, lay close to each other. In 1993, Choptuik considered one-parameter families of solutions, S[P], of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations for a massless scalar field in spherical symmetry, such that for every P > P⋆, S[P] contains a black hole and for every P < P⋆, S[P] is a solution not containing singularities. He studied numerically the behavior of S[P] as P → P⋆ and found that the critical solution, S[P⋆], is universal, in the sense that it is approached by all nearly-critical solutions regardless of the particular family of initial data considered. All these phenomena have the common property that, as P approaches P⋆, S[P] approaches a universal solution S[P⋆] and that all the physical quantities of S[P] depend only on |P - P⋆|. The first study of critical phenomena concerning the head-on collision of NSs was carried out by Jin and Suen in 2007. In particular, they considered a series of families of equal-mass NSs, modeled with an ideal-gas EOS, boosted towards each other and varied the mass of the stars, their separation, velocity and the polytropic index in the EOS. In this way they could observe a critical phenomenon of type I near the threshold of black-hole formation, with the putative solution being a nonlinearly oscillating star. In a successive work, they performed similar simulations but considering the head-on collision of Gaussian distributions of matter. Also in this case they found the appearance of type-I critical behaviour, but also performed a perturbative analysis of the initial distributions of matter and of the merged object. Because of the considerable difference found in the eigenfrequencies in the two cases, they concluded that the critical solution does not represent a system near equilibrium and in particular not a perturbed Tolmann-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) solution. In this Thesis we study the dynamics of the head-on collision of two equal-mass NSs using a setup which is as similar as possible to the one considered above. While we confirm that the merged object exhibits a type-I critical behaviour, we also argue against the conclusion that the critical solution cannot be described in terms of equilibrium solution. Indeed, we show that, in analogy with what is found in, the critical solution is effectively a perturbed unstable solution of the TOV equations. Our analysis also considers fine-structure of the scaling relation of type-I critical phenomena and we show that it exhibits oscillations in a similar way to the one studied in the context of scalar-field critical collapse.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Berger2012, author = {Berger, Florian}, title = {Different modes of cooperative transport by molecular motors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-60319}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Cargo transport by molecular motors is ubiquitous in all eukaryotic cells and is typically driven cooperatively by several molecular motors, which may belong to one or several motor species like kinesin, dynein or myosin. These motor proteins transport cargos such as RNAs, protein complexes or organelles along filaments, from which they unbind after a finite run length. Understanding how these motors interact and how their movements are coordinated and regulated is a central and challenging problem in studies of intracellular transport. In this thesis, we describe a general theoretical framework for the analysis of such transport processes, which enables us to explain the behavior of intracellular cargos based on the transport properties of individual motors and their interactions. Motivated by recent in vitro experiments, we address two different modes of transport: unidirectional transport by two identical motors and cooperative transport by actively walking and passively diffusing motors. The case of cargo transport by two identical motors involves an elastic coupling between the motors that can reduce the motors' velocity and/or the binding time to the filament. We show that this elastic coupling leads, in general, to four distinct transport regimes. In addition to a weak coupling regime, kinesin and dynein motors are found to exhibit a strong coupling and an enhanced unbinding regime, whereas myosin motors are predicted to attain a reduced velocity regime. All of these regimes, which we derive both by analytical calculations and by general time scale arguments, can be explored experimentally by varying the elastic coupling strength. In addition, using the time scale arguments, we explain why previous studies came to different conclusions about the effect and relevance of motor-motor interference. In this way, our theory provides a general and unifying framework for understanding the dynamical behavior of two elastically coupled molecular motors. The second mode of transport studied in this thesis is cargo transport by actively pulling and passively diffusing motors. Although these passive motors do not participate in active transport, they strongly enhance the overall cargo run length. When an active motor unbinds, the cargo is still tethered to the filament by the passive motors, giving the unbound motor the chance to rebind and continue its active walk. We develop a stochastic description for such cooperative behavior and explicitly derive the enhanced run length for a cargo transported by one actively pulling and one passively diffusing motor. We generalize our description to the case of several pulling and diffusing motors and find an exponential increase of the run length with the number of involved motors.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Ohme2012, author = {Ohme, Frank}, title = {Bridging the gap between post-Newtonian theory and numerical relativity in gravitational-wave data analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-60346}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {One of the most exciting predictions of Einstein's theory of gravitation that have not yet been proven experimentally by a direct detection are gravitational waves. These are tiny distortions of the spacetime itself, and a world-wide effort to directly measure them for the first time with a network of large-scale laser interferometers is currently ongoing and expected to provide positive results within this decade. One potential source of measurable gravitational waves is the inspiral and merger of two compact objects, such as binary black holes. Successfully finding their signature in the noise-dominated data of the detectors crucially relies on accurate predictions of what we are looking for. In this thesis, we present a detailed study of how the most complete waveform templates can be constructed by combining the results from (A) analytical expansions within the post-Newtonian framework and (B) numerical simulations of the full relativistic dynamics. We analyze various strategies to construct complete hybrid waveforms that consist of a post-Newtonian inspiral part matched to numerical-relativity data. We elaborate on exsisting approaches for nonspinning systems by extending the accessible parameter space and introducing an alternative scheme based in the Fourier domain. Our methods can now be readily applied to multiple spherical-harmonic modes and precessing systems. In addition to that, we analyze in detail the accuracy of hybrid waveforms with the goal to quantify how numerous sources of error in the approximation techniques affect the application of such templates in real gravitational-wave searches. This is of major importance for the future construction of improved models, but also for the correct interpretation of gravitational-wave observations that are made utilizing any complete waveform family. In particular, we comprehensively discuss how long the numerical-relativity contribution to the signal has to be in order to make the resulting hybrids accurate enough, and for currently feasible simulation lengths we assess the physics one can potentially do with template-based searches.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mari2012, author = {Mari, Andrea}, title = {Signatures of non-classicality in optomechanical systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-59814}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This thesis contains several theoretical studies on optomechanical systems, i.e. physical devices where mechanical degrees of freedom are coupled with optical cavity modes. This optomechanical interaction, mediated by radiation pressure, can be exploited for cooling and controlling mechanical resonators in a quantum regime. The goal of this thesis is to propose several new ideas for preparing meso- scopic mechanical systems (of the order of 10^15 atoms) into highly non-classical states. In particular we have shown new methods for preparing optomechani-cal pure states, squeezed states and entangled states. At the same time, proce-dures for experimentally detecting these quantum effects have been proposed. In particular, a quantitative measure of non classicality has been defined in terms of the negativity of phase space quasi-distributions. An operational al- gorithm for experimentally estimating the non-classicality of quantum states has been proposed and successfully applied in a quantum optics experiment. The research has been performed with relatively advanced mathematical tools related to differential equations with periodic coefficients, classical and quantum Bochner's theorems and semidefinite programming. Nevertheless the physics of the problems and the experimental feasibility of the results have been the main priorities.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Deneke2012, author = {Deneke, Carlus}, title = {Theory of mRNA degradation}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-61998}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {One of the central themes of biology is to understand how individual cells achieve a high fidelity in gene expression. Each cell needs to ensure accurate protein levels for its proper functioning and its capability to proliferate. Therefore, complex regulatory mechanisms have evolved in order to render the expression of each gene dependent on the expression level of (all) other genes. Regulation can occur at different stages within the framework of the central dogma of molecular biology. One very effective and relatively direct mechanism concerns the regulation of the stability of mRNAs. All organisms have evolved diverse and powerful mechanisms to achieve this. In order to better comprehend the regulation in living cells, biochemists have studied specific degradation mechanisms in detail. In addition to that, modern high-throughput techniques allow to obtain quantitative data on a global scale by parallel analysis of the decay patterns of many different mRNAs from different genes. In previous studies, the interpretation of these mRNA decay experiments relied on a simple theoretical description based on an exponential decay. However, this does not account for the complexity of the responsible mechanisms and, as a consequence, the exponential decay is often not in agreement with the experimental decay patterns. We have developed an improved and more general theory of mRNA degradation which provides a general framework of mRNA expression and allows describing specific degradation mechanisms. We have made an attempt to provide detailed models for the regulation in different organisms. In the yeast S. cerevisiae, different degradation pathways are known to compete and furthermore most of them rely on the biochemical modification of mRNA molecules. In bacteria such as E. coli, degradation proceeds primarily endonucleolytically, i.e. it is governed by the initial cleavage within the coding region. In addition, it is often coupled to the level of maturity and the size of the polysome of an mRNA. Both for S. cerevisiae and E. coli, our descriptions lead to a considerable improvement of the interpretation of experimental data. The general outcome is that the degradation of mRNA must be described by an age-dependent degradation rate, which can be interpreted as a consequence of molecular aging of mRNAs. Within our theory, we find adequate ways to address this much debated topic from a theoretical perspective. The improvements of the understanding of mRNA degradation can be readily applied to further comprehend the mRNA expression under different internal or environmental conditions such as after the induction of transcription or stress application. Also, the role of mRNA decay can be assessed in the context of translation and protein synthesis. The ultimate goal in understanding gene regulation mediated by mRNA stability will be to identify the relevance and biological function of different mechanisms. Once more quantitative data will become available, our description allows to elaborate the role of each mechanism by devising a suitable model.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Patra2013, author = {Patra, Pintu}, title = {Population dynamics of bacterial persistence}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-69253}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The life of microorganisms is characterized by two main tasks, rapid growth under conditions permitting growth and survival under stressful conditions. The environments, in which microorganisms dwell, vary in space and time. The microorganisms innovate diverse strategies to readily adapt to the regularly fluctuating environments. Phenotypic heterogeneity is one such strategy, where an isogenic population splits into subpopulations that respond differently under identical environments. Bacterial persistence is a prime example of such phenotypic heterogeneity, whereby a population survives under an antibiotic attack, by keeping a fraction of population in a drug tolerant state, the persister state. Specifically, persister cells grow more slowly than normal cells under growth conditions, but survive longer under stress conditions such as the antibiotic administrations. Bacterial persistence is identified experimentally by examining the population survival upon an antibiotic treatment and the population resuscitation in a growth medium. The underlying population dynamics is explained with a two state model for reversible phenotype switching in a cell within the population. We study this existing model with a new theoretical approach and present analytical expressions for the time scale observed in population growth and resuscitation, that can be easily used to extract underlying model parameters of bacterial persistence. In addition, we recapitulate previously known results on the evolution of such structured population under periodically fluctuating environment using our simple approximation method. Using our analysis, we determine model parameters for Staphylococcus aureus population under several antibiotics and interpret the outcome of cross-drug treatment. Next, we consider the expansion of a population exhibiting phenotype switching in a spatially structured environment consisting of two growth permitting patches separated by an antibiotic patch. The dynamic interplay of growth, death and migration of cells in different patches leads to distinct regimes in population propagation speed as a function of migration rate. We map out the region in parameter space of phenotype switching and migration rate to observe the condition under which persistence is beneficial. Furthermore, we present an extended model that allows mutation from the two phenotypic states to a resistant state. We find that the presence of persister cells may enhance the probability of resistant mutation in a population. Using this model, we explain the experimental results showing the emergence of antibiotic resistance in a Staphylococcus aureus population upon tobramycin treatment. In summary, we identify several roles of bacterial persistence, such as help in spatial expansion, development of multidrug tolerance and emergence of antibiotic resistance. Our study provides a theoretical perspective on the dynamics of bacterial persistence in different environmental conditions. These results can be utilized to design further experiments, and to develop novel strategies to eradicate persistent infections.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bergner2011, author = {Bergner, Andr{\´e}}, title = {Synchronization in complex systems with multiple time scales}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-53407}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2011}, abstract = {In the present work synchronization phenomena in complex dynamical systems exhibiting multiple time scales have been analyzed. Multiple time scales can be active in different manners. Three different systems have been analyzed with different methods from data analysis. The first system studied is a large heterogenous network of bursting neurons, that is a system with two predominant time scales, the fast firing of action potentials (spikes) and the burst of repetitive spikes followed by a quiescent phase. This system has been integrated numerically and analyzed with methods based on recurrence in phase space. An interesting result are the different transitions to synchrony found in the two distinct time scales. Moreover, an anomalous synchronization effect can be observed in the fast time scale, i.e. there is range of the coupling strength where desynchronization occurs. The second system analyzed, numerically as well as experimentally, is a pair of coupled CO₂ lasers in a chaotic bursting regime. This system is interesting due to its similarity with epidemic models. We explain the bursts by different time scales generated from unstable periodic orbits embedded in the chaotic attractor and perform a synchronization analysis of these different orbits utilizing the continuous wavelet transform. We find a diverse route to synchrony of these different observed time scales. The last system studied is a small network motif of limit cycle oscillators. Precisely, we have studied a hub motif, which serves as elementary building block for scale-free networks, a type of network found in many real world applications. These hubs are of special importance for communication and information transfer in complex networks. Here, a detailed study on the mechanism of synchronization in oscillatory networks with a broad frequency distribution has been carried out. In particular, we find a remote synchronization of nodes in the network which are not directly coupled. We also explain the responsible mechanism and its limitations and constraints. Further we derive an analytic expression for it and show that information transmission in pure phase oscillators, such as the Kuramoto type, is limited. In addition to the numerical and analytic analysis an experiment consisting of electrical circuits has been designed. The obtained results confirm the former findings.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bierbaum2011, author = {Bierbaum, Veronika}, title = {Chemomechanical coupling and motor cycles of the molecular motor myosin V}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-53614}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2011}, abstract = {In the living cell, the organization of the complex internal structure relies to a large extent on molecular motors. Molecular motors are proteins that are able to convert chemical energy from the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into mechanical work. Being about 10 to 100 nanometers in size, the molecules act on a length scale, for which thermal collisions have a considerable impact onto their motion. In this way, they constitute paradigmatic examples of thermodynamic machines out of equilibrium. This study develops a theoretical description for the energy conversion by the molecular motor myosin V, using many different aspects of theoretical physics. Myosin V has been studied extensively in both bulk and single molecule experiments. Its stepping velocity has been characterized as a function of external control parameters such as nucleotide concentration and applied forces. In addition, numerous kinetic rates involved in the enzymatic reaction of the molecule have been determined. For forces that exceed the stall force of the motor, myosin V exhibits a 'ratcheting' behaviour: For loads in the direction of forward stepping, the velocity depends on the concentration of ATP, while for backward loads there is no such influence. Based on the chemical states of the motor, we construct a general network theory that incorporates experimental observations about the stepping behaviour of myosin V. The motor's motion is captured through the network description supplemented by a Markov process to describe the motor dynamics. This approach has the advantage of directly addressing the chemical kinetics of the molecule, and treating the mechanical and chemical processes on equal grounds. We utilize constraints arising from nonequilibrium thermodynamics to determine motor parameters and demonstrate that the motor behaviour is governed by several chemomechanical motor cycles. In addition, we investigate the functional dependence of stepping rates on force by deducing the motor's response to external loads via an appropriate Fokker-Planck equation. For substall forces, the dominant pathway of the motor network is profoundly different from the one for superstall forces, which leads to a stepping behaviour that is in agreement with the experimental observations. The extension of our analysis to Markov processes with absorbing boundaries allows for the calculation of the motor's dwell time distributions. These reveal aspects of the coordination of the motor's heads and contain direct information about the backsteps of the motor. Our theory provides a unified description for the myosin V motor as studied in single motor experiments.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Mauri2014, author = {Mauri, Marco}, title = {A model for sigma factor competition in bacterial cells}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-72098}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {167}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Bacteria respond to changing environmental conditions by switching the global pattern of expressed genes. In response to specific environmental stresses the cell activates several stress-specific molecules such as sigma factors. They reversibly bind the RNA polymerase to form the so-called holoenzyme and direct it towards the appropriate stress response genes. In exponentially growing E. coli cells, the majority of the transcriptional activity is carried out by the housekeeping sigma factor, while stress responses are often under the control of alternative sigma factors. Different sigma factors compete for binding to a limited pool of RNA polymerase (RNAP) core enzymes, providing a mechanism for cross talk between genes or gene classes via the sharing of expression machinery. To quantitatively analyze the contribution of sigma factor competition to global changes in gene expression, we develop a thermodynamic model that describes binding between sigma factors and core RNAP at equilibrium, transcription, non-specific binding to DNA and the modulation of the availability of the molecular components. Association of housekeeping sigma factor to RNAP is generally favored by its abundance and higher binding affinity to the core. In order to promote transcription by alternative sigma subunits, the bacterial cell modulates the transcriptional efficiency in a reversible manner through several strategies such as anti-sigma factors, 6S RNA and generally any kind of transcriptional regulators (e.g. activators or inhibitors). By shifting the outcome of sigma factor competition for the core, these modulators bias the transcriptional program of the cell. The model is validated by comparison with in vitro competition experiments, with which excellent agreement is found. We observe that transcription is affected via the modulation of the concentrations of the different types of holoenzymes, so saturated promoters are only weakly affected by sigma factor competition. However, in case of overlapping promoters or promoters recognized by two types of sigma factors, we find that even saturated promoters are strongly affected. Active transcription effectively lowers the affinity between the sigma factor driving it and the core RNAP, resulting in complex cross talk effects and raising the question of how their in vitro measure is relevant in the cell. We also estimate that sigma factor competition is not strongly affected by non-specific binding of core RNAPs, sigma factors, and holoenzymes to DNA. Finally, we analyze the role of increased core RNAP availability upon the shut-down of ribosomal RNA transcription during stringent response. We find that passive up-regulation of alternative sigma-dependent transcription is not only possible, but also displays hypersensitivity based on the sigma factor competition. Our theoretical analysis thus provides support for a significant role of passive control during that global switch of the gene expression program and gives new insights into RNAP partitioning in the cell.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Holler2014, author = {Holler, Markus}, title = {Photon reconstruction for the H.E.S.S. 28 m telescope and analysis of Crab Nebula and galactic centre observations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-72099}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In the presented thesis, the most advanced photon reconstruction technique of ground-based γ-ray astronomy is adapted to the H.E.S.S. 28 m telescope. The method is based on a semi-analytical model of electromagnetic particle showers in the atmosphere. The properties of cosmic γ-rays are reconstructed by comparing the camera image of the telescope with the Cherenkov emission that is expected from the shower model. To suppress the dominant background from charged cosmic rays, events are selected based on several criteria. The performance of the analysis is evaluated with simulated events. The method is then applied to two sources that are known to emit γ-rays. The first of these is the Crab Nebula, the standard candle of ground-based γ-ray astronomy. The results of this source confirm the expected performance of the reconstruction method, where the much lower energy threshold compared to H.E.S.S. I is of particular importance. A second analysis is performed on the region around the Galactic Centre. The analysis results emphasise the capabilities of the new telescope to measure γ-rays in an energy range that is interesting for both theoretical and experimental astrophysics. The presented analysis features the lowest energy threshold that has ever been reached in ground-based γ-ray astronomy, opening a new window to the precise measurement of the physical properties of time-variable sources at energies of several tens of GeV.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Trabant2014, author = {Trabant, Christoph}, title = {Ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions in complex materials probed by time-resolved resonant soft x-ray diffraction}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-71377}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In processing and data storage mainly ferromagnetic (FM) materials are being used. Approaching physical limits, new concepts have to be found for faster, smaller switches, for higher data densities and more energy efficiency. Some of the discussed new concepts involve the material classes of correlated oxides and materials with antiferromagnetic coupling. Their applicability depends critically on their switching behavior, i.e., how fast and how energy efficient material properties can be manipulated. This thesis presents investigations of ultrafast non-equilibrium phase transitions on such new materials. In transition metal oxides (TMOs) the coupling of different degrees of freedom and resulting low energy excitation spectrum often result in spectacular changes of macroscopic properties (colossal magneto resistance, superconductivity, metal-to-insulator transitions) often accompanied by nanoscale order of spins, charges, orbital occupation and by lattice distortions, which make these material attractive. Magnetite served as a prototype for functional TMOs showing a metal-to-insulator-transition (MIT) at T = 123 K. By probing the charge and orbital order as well as the structure after an optical excitation we found that the electronic order and the structural distortion, characteristics of the insulating phase in thermal equilibrium, are destroyed within the experimental resolution of 300 fs. The MIT itself occurs on a 1.5 ps timescale. It shows that MITs in functional materials are several thousand times faster than switching processes in semiconductors. Recently ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials have become interesting. It was shown in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo, that the transfer of angular momentum between two opposed FM subsystems with different time constants leads to a switching of the magnetization after laser pulse excitation. In addition it was theoretically predicted that demagnetization dynamics in AFM should occur faster than in FM materials as no net angular momentum has to be transferred out of the spin system. We investigated two different AFM materials in order to learn more about their ultrafast dynamics. In Ho, a metallic AFM below T ≈ 130 K, we found that the AFM Ho can not only be faster but also ten times more energy efficiently destroyed as order in FM comparable metals. In EuTe, an AFM semiconductor below T ≈ 10 K, we compared the loss of magnetization and laser-induced structural distortion in one and the same experiment. Our experiment shows that they are effectively disentangled. An exception is an ultrafast release of lattice dynamics, which we assign to the release of magnetostriction. The results presented here were obtained with time-resolved resonant soft x-ray diffraction at the Femtoslicing source of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and at the free-electron laser in Stanford (LCLS). In addition the development and setup of a new UHV-diffractometer for these experiments will be reported.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Chirvasa2010, author = {Chirvasa, Mihaela}, title = {Finite difference methods for 1st Order in time, 2nd order in space, hyperbolic systems used in numerical relativity}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-42135}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2010}, abstract = {This thesis is concerned with the development of numerical methods using finite difference techniques for the discretization of initial value problems (IVPs) and initial boundary value problems (IBVPs) of certain hyperbolic systems which are first order in time and second order in space. This type of system appears in some formulations of Einstein equations, such as ADM, BSSN, NOR, and the generalized harmonic formulation. For IVP, the stability method proposed in [14] is extended from second and fourth order centered schemes, to 2n-order accuracy, including also the case when some first order derivatives are approximated with off-centered finite difference operators (FDO) and dissipation is added to the right-hand sides of the equations. For the model problem of the wave equation, special attention is paid to the analysis of Courant limits and numerical speeds. Although off-centered FDOs have larger truncation errors than centered FDOs, it is shown that in certain situations, off-centering by just one point can be beneficial for the overall accuracy of the numerical scheme. The wave equation is also analyzed in respect to its initial boundary value problem. All three types of boundaries - outflow, inflow and completely inflow that can appear in this case, are investigated. Using the ghost-point method, 2n-accurate (n = 1, 4) numerical prescriptions are prescribed for each type of boundary. The inflow boundary is also approached using the SAT-SBP method. In the end of the thesis, a 1-D variant of BSSN formulation is derived and some of its IBVPs are considered. The boundary procedures, based on the ghost-point method, are intended to preserve the interior 2n-accuracy. Numerical tests show that this is the case if sufficient dissipation is added to the rhs of the equations.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lampert2009, author = {Lampert, Astrid}, title = {Airborne lidar observations of tropospheric arctic clouds}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-41211}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Due to the unique environmental conditions and different feedback mechanisms, the Arctic region is especially sensitive to climate changes. The influence of clouds on the radiation budget is substantial, but difficult to quantify and parameterize in models. In the framework of the PhD, elastic backscatter and depolarization lidar observations of Arctic clouds were performed during the international Arctic Study of Tropospheric Aerosol, Clouds and Radiation (ASTAR) from Svalbard in March and April 2007. Clouds were probed above the inaccessible Arctic Ocean with a combination of airborne instruments: The Airborne Mobile Aerosol Lidar (AMALi) of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research provided information on the vertical and horizontal extent of clouds along the flight track, optical properties (backscatter coefficient), and cloud thermodynamic phase. From the data obtained by the spectral albedometer (University of Mainz), the cloud phase and cloud optical thickness was deduced. Furthermore, in situ observations with the Polar Nephelometer, Cloud Particle Imager and Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe (Laboratoire de M{\´e}t{\´e}orologie Physique, France) provided information on the microphysical properties, cloud particle size and shape, concentration, extinction, liquid and ice water content. In the thesis, a data set of four flights is analyzed and interpreted. The lidar observations served to detect atmospheric structures of interest, which were then probed by in situ technique. With this method, an optically subvisible ice cloud was characterized by the ensemble of instruments (10 April 2007). Radiative transfer simulations based on the lidar, radiation and in situ measurements allowed the calculation of the cloud forcing, amounting to -0.4 W m-2. This slight surface cooling is negligible on a local scale. However, thin Arctic clouds have been reported more frequently in winter time, when the clouds' effect on longwave radiation (a surface warming of 2.8 W m-2) is not balanced by the reduced shortwave radiation (surface cooling). Boundary layer mixed-phase clouds were analyzed for two days (8 and 9 April 2007). The typical structure consisting of a predominantly liquid water layer on cloud top and ice crystals below were confirmed by all instruments. The lidar observations were compared to European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) meteorological analyses. A change of air masses along the flight track was evidenced in the airborne data by a small completely glaciated cloud part within the mixed-phase cloud system. This indicates that the updraft necessary for the formation of new cloud droplets at cloud top is disturbed by the mixing processes. The measurements served to quantify the shortcomings of the ECMWF model to describe mixed-phase clouds. As the partitioning of cloud condensate into liquid and ice water is done by a diagnostic equation based on temperature, the cloud structures consisting of a liquid cloud top layer and ice below could not be reproduced correctly. A small amount of liquid water was calculated for the lowest (and warmest) part of the cloud only. Further, the liquid water content was underestimated by an order of magnitude compared to in situ observations. The airborne lidar observations of 9 April 2007 were compared to space borne lidar data on board of the satellite Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). The systems agreed about the increase of cloud top height along the same flight track. However, during the time delay of 1 h between the lidar measurements, advection and cloud processing took place, and a detailed comparison of small-scale cloud structures was not possible. A double layer cloud at an altitude of 4 km was observed with lidar at the West coast in the direct vicinity of Svalbard (14 April 2007). The cloud system consisted of two geometrically thin liquid cloud layers (each 150 m thick) with ice below each layer. While the upper one was possibly formed by orographic lifting under the influence of westerly winds, or by the vertical wind shear shown by ECMWF analyses, the lower one might be the result of evaporating precipitation out of the upper layer. The existence of ice precipitation between the two layers supports the hypothesis that humidity released from evaporating precipitation was cooled and consequently condensed as it experienced the radiative cooling from the upper layer. In summary, a unique data set characterizing tropospheric Arctic clouds was collected with lidar, in situ and radiation instruments. The joint evaluation with meteorological analyses allowed a detailed insight in cloud properties, cloud evolution processes and radiative effects.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Weber2004, author = {Weber, Michael H.}, title = {Robotic telescopes \& Doppler imaging : measuring differential rotation on long-period active stars}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001834}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Auf der Sonne sind viele Ph{\"a}nomene zu sehen die mit der solaren magnetischen Aktivit{\"a}t zusammenh{\"a}ngen. Das daf{\"u}r zust{\"a}ndige Magnetfeld wird durch einen Dynamo erzeugt, der sich vermutlich am Boden der Konvektionszone in der sogenannten Tachocline befindet. Angetrieben wird der Dynamo teils von der differenziellen Rotation, teils von den magnetischen Turbulenzen in der Konvektionszone. Die differentielle Rotation kann an der Sonnenoberfl{\"a}che durch beobachten der Sonnenfleckbewegungen gemessen werden.Um einen gr{\"o}ßeren Parameterraum zum Testen von Dynamotheorien zu erhalten, kann man diese Messungen auch auf andere Sterne ausdehnen. Das prim{\"a}re Problem dabei ist, dass die Oberfl{\"a}chen von Sternen nicht direkt beobachtet werden k{\"o}nnen. Indirekt kann man dies jedoch mit Hilfe der Doppler-imaging Methode erreichen, die die Doppler-Verbreitung der Spektrallinien von schnell rotierenden Sternen ben{\"u}tzt. Um jedoch ein Bild der Sternoberfl{\"a}che zu erhalten, bedarf es vieler hochaufgel{\"o}ster spektroskopischer Beobachtungen, die gleichm{\"a}ßig {\"u}ber eine Sternrotation verteilt sein m{\"u}ssen. F{\"u}r Sterne mit langen Rotationsperioden sind diese Beobachtungen nur schwierig durchzuf{\"u}hren. Das neue robotische Observatorium STELLA adressiert dieses Problem und bietet eine auf Dopplerimaging abgestimmte Ablaufplanung der Beobachtungen an. Dies wird solche Beobachtungen nicht nur leichter durchf{\"u}hrbar machen, sondern auch effektiver gestalten.Als Vorschau welche Ergebnisse mit STELLA erwartet werden k{\"o}nnen dient eine Studie an sieben Sternen die allesamt eine lange (zwischen sieben und 25 Tagen) Rotationsperiode haben. Alle Sterne zeigen differentielle Rotation, allerdings sind die Messfehler aufgrund der nicht zufriedenstellenden Datenqualit{\"a}t von gleicher Gr{\"o}ßenordnung wie die Ergebnisse, ein Problem das bei STELLA nicht auftreten wird. Um die Konsistenz der Ergebnisse zu pr{\"u}fen wurde wenn m{\"o}glich sowohl eine Kreuzkorrelationsanalyse als auch die sheared-image Methode angewandt. Vier von diesen sieben Sternen weisen eine differentielle Rotation in umgekehrter Richtung auf als auf der Sonne zu sehen ist. Die restlichen drei Sterne weisen schwache, aber in der Richtung sonnen{\"a}hnliche differentielle Rotation auf.Abschließend werden diese neuen Messungen mit bereits publizierten Werten kombiniert, und die so erhaltenen Daten auf Korrelationen zwischen differentieller Rotation, Rotationsperiode, Evolutionsstaus, Spektraltyp und Vorhandensein eines Doppelsterns {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft. Alle Sterne zusammen zeigen eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen dem Betrag der differenziellen Rotation und der Rotationsperiode. Unterscheidet man zwischen den Richtungen der differentiellen Rotation, so bleibt nur eine Korrelation der Sterne mit antisolarem Verhalten. Dar{\"u}berhinaus zeigt sich auch, dass Doppelsterne schw{\"a}cher differentiell rotieren.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Cemeljic2005, author = {Cemeljic, Miljenko}, title = {Resistive magnetohydrodynamic jets from protostellar accretion disks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001845}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Astrophysikalische Jets sind ausgedehnte, kollimierte Massenausfl{\"u}sse von verschiedenen astronomischen Objekten. Zeitabh{\"a}ngige magnetohydrodynamische (MHD) Simulationen der Jet-Entwicklung m{\"u}ssen den Akrretionsprozess in der Scheibe ber{\"u}cksichtigen, da der Jet aus der Scheibenmaterie gespeist wird. Allerdings ist die simultane Berechnung der Entwicklung von Scheibe und Jet schwierig, da die charakteristischen Zeitskalen unterschiedlich sind. Selbst{\"a}hnliche Modelle zeigten, daß eine Beschreibung der Jetentstehung aus einer Akkretionsscheibe durch rein magnetische Prozesse m{\"o}glich ist.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Allefeld2004, author = {Allefeld, Carsten}, title = {Phase synchronization analysis of event-related brain potentials in language processing}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001873}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Das Forschungsthema Synchronisation bildet einen Schnittpunkt von Nichtlinearer Dynamik und Neurowissenschaft. So hat zum einen neurobiologische Forschung gezeigt, daß die Synchronisation neuronaler Aktivit{\"a}t einen wesentlichen Aspekt der Funktionsweise des Gehirns darstellt. Zum anderen haben Fortschritte in der physikalischen Theorie zur Entdeckung des Ph{\"a}nomens der Phasensynchronisation gef{\"u}hrt. Eine dadurch motivierte Datenanalysemethode, die Phasensynchronisations-Analyse, ist bereits mit Erfolg auf empirische Daten angewandt worden. Die vorliegende Dissertation kn{\"u}pft an diese konvergierenden Forschungslinien an. Ihren Gegenstand bilden methodische Beitr{\"a}ge zur Fortentwicklung der Phasensynchronisations-Analyse, sowie deren Anwendung auf ereigniskorrelierte Potentiale, eine besonders in den Kognitionswissenschaften wichtige Form von EEG-Daten. Die methodischen Beitr{\"a}ge dieser Arbeit bestehen zum ersten in einer Reihe spezialisierter statistischer Tests auf einen Unterschied der Synchronisationsst{\"a}rke in zwei verschiedenen Zust{\"a}nden eines Systems zweier Oszillatoren. Zweitens wird im Hinblick auf den viel-kanaligen Charakter von EEG-Daten ein Ansatz zur multivariaten Phasensynchronisations-Analyse vorgestellt. Zur empirischen Untersuchung neuronaler Synchronisation wurde ein klassisches Experiment zur Sprachverarbeitung repliziert, in dem der Effekt einer semantischen Verletzung im Satzkontext mit demjenigen der Manipulation physischer Reizeigenschaften (Schriftfarbe) verglichen wird. Hier zeigt die Phasensynchronisations-Analyse eine Verringerung der globalen Synchronisationsst{\"a}rke f{\"u}r die semantische Verletzung sowie eine Verst{\"a}rkung f{\"u}r die physische Manipulation. Im zweiten Fall l{\"a}ßt sich der global beobachtete Synchronisationseffekt mittels der multivariaten Analyse auf die Interaktion zweier symmetrisch gelegener Gehirnareale zur{\"u}ckf{\"u}hren. Die vorgelegten Befunde zeigen, daß die physikalisch motivierte Methode der Phasensynchronisations-Analyse einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Untersuchung ereigniskorrelierter Potentiale in den Kognitionswissenschaften zu leisten vermag.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Clodong2004, author = {Clodong, S{\´e}bastien}, title = {Recurrent outbreaks in ecology : chaotic dynamics in complex networks}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001626}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Gegenstand der Dissertation ist die Untersuchung von wiederkehrenden Ausbr{\"u}chen (wie z.B. Epidemien) in der Natur. Dies gelang anhand von Modellen, die die Dynamik von Phytoplankton und die Ausbreitung von Krankheiten zwischen St{\"a}dten beschreiben. Diese beide Systeme bilden hervorragende Beispiele f{\"u}r solche Ph{\"a}nomene. Die Frage, ob die in der Zeit wiederkehrenden Ausbr{\"u}che ein Ausdruck chaotischer Dynamik sein k{\"o}nnen, ist aktuell in der {\"O}kologie und fasziniert Wissenschaftler dieser Disziplin. Wir konnten zeigen, dass sich das Plankton-Modell im Falle von periodischem Antreiben {\"u}ber die N{\"a}hrstoffe in einem chaotischen Regime befindet. Diese Dynamik wurde als die komplexe Wechselwirkung zweier Oszillatoren verstanden. Ebenfalls wurde die Ausbreitung von Epidemien in Netzwerken wechselwirkender St{\"a}dte mit unterschiedlichen Gr{\"o}ssen untersucht. Daf{\"u}r wurde zun{\"a}chst die Kopplung zwischen zwei St{\"a}dten als Verh{\"a}ltnis der Stadtgr{\"o}ssen eingef{\"u}hrt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass das System sich in einem globalen zweij{\"a}hrigen Zyklus, der auch in den realen Daten beobachtet wird, befinden kann. Der Effekt von Heterogenit{\"a}t in der Gr{\"o}sseverteilung ist durch gewichtete Kopplung von generischen Modellen (Zelt- und Logistische Abbildung) in Netzwerken im Detail untersucht worden. Eine neue Art von Kopplungsfunktion mit nichtlinearer S{\"a}ttigung wurde eingef{\"u}hrt, um die Stabilit{\"a}t des Systems zu gew{\"a}hrleisten. Diese Kopplung beinhaltet einen Parameter, der es erlaubt, die Netzwerktopologie von globaler Kopplung in gerichtete Netzwerke gleichm{\"a}ssig umzuwandeln. Die Dynamik des Systems wurde anhand von Bifurkationsdiagrammen untersucht. Zum Verst{\"a}ndnis dieser Dynamik wurde eine effektive Theorie, die die beobachteten Bifurkationen sehr gut nachahmt, entwickelt.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Thiel2004, author = {Thiel, Marco}, title = {Recurrences : exploiting naturally occurring analogues}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001633}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Wiederkehr im Phasenraum ausgenutzt. Dabei werden drei Hauptresultate besprochen. 1. Die Wiederkehr erlaubt die Vorhersagbarkeit des Systems zu quantifizieren. 2. Die Wiederkehr enthaelt (unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen) s{\"a}mtliche relevante Information {\"u}ber die Dynamik im Phasenraum 3. Die Wiederkehr erlaubt die Erzeugung dynamischer Ersatzdaten.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Donner2006, author = {Donner, Reik Volker}, title = {Advanced methods for analysing and modelling multivariate palaeoclimatic time series}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-12560}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The separation of natural and anthropogenically caused climatic changes is an important task of contemporary climate research. For this purpose, a detailed knowledge of the natural variability of the climate during warm stages is a necessary prerequisite. Beside model simulations and historical documents, this knowledge is mostly derived from analyses of so-called climatic proxy data like tree rings or sediment as well as ice cores. In order to be able to appropriately interpret such sources of palaeoclimatic information, suitable approaches of statistical modelling as well as methods of time series analysis are necessary, which are applicable to short, noisy, and non-stationary uni- and multivariate data sets. Correlations between different climatic proxy data within one or more climatological archives contain significant information about the climatic change on longer time scales. Based on an appropriate statistical decomposition of such multivariate time series, one may estimate dimensions in terms of the number of significant, linear independent components of the considered data set. In the presented work, a corresponding approach is introduced, critically discussed, and extended with respect to the analysis of palaeoclimatic time series. Temporal variations of the resulting measures allow to derive information about climatic changes. For an example of trace element abundances and grain-size distributions obtained near the Cape Roberts (Eastern Antarctica), it is shown that the variability of the dimensions of the investigated data sets clearly correlates with the Oligocene/Miocene transition about 24 million years before present as well as regional deglaciation events. Grain-size distributions in sediments give information about the predominance of different transportation as well as deposition mechanisms. Finite mixture models may be used to approximate the corresponding distribution functions appropriately. In order to give a complete description of the statistical uncertainty of the parameter estimates in such models, the concept of asymptotic uncertainty distributions is introduced. The relationship with the mutual component overlap as well as with the information missing due to grouping and truncation of the measured data is discussed for a particular geological example. An analysis of a sequence of grain-size distributions obtained in Lake Baikal reveals that there are certain problems accompanying the application of finite mixture models, which cause an extended climatological interpretation of the results to fail. As an appropriate alternative, a linear principal component analysis is used to decompose the data set into suitable fractions whose temporal variability correlates well with the variations of the average solar insolation on millenial to multi-millenial time scales. The abundance of coarse-grained material is obviously related to the annual snow cover, whereas a significant fraction of fine-grained sediments is likely transported from the Taklamakan desert via dust storms in the spring season.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zickfeld2003, author = {Zickfeld, Kirsten}, title = {Modeling large-scale singular climate events for integrated assessment}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001176}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2003}, abstract = {Erkenntnisse aus pal{\"a}oklimatologischen Studien, theoretischen Betrachtungen und Modellsimulationen deuten darauf hin, dass anthropogene Emissionen von Treibhausgasen und Aerosolen zu großskaligen, singul{\"a}ren Klimaereignissen f{\"u}hren k{\"o}nnten. Diese bezeichnen stark nichtlineare, abrupte Klima{\"a}nderungen, mit regionalen bis hin zu globalen Auswirkungen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Entwicklung von Modellen zweier maßgeblicher Komponenten des Klimasystems, die singul{\"a}res Verhalten aufweisen k{\"o}nnten: die atlantische thermohaline Zirkulation (THC) und der indische Monsun. Diese Modelle sind so konzipiert, dass sie den Anforderungen der "Integrated Assessment"-Modellierung gen{\"u}gen, d.h., sie sind realistisch, recheneffizient, transparent und flexibel. Das THC-Modell ist ein einfaches, interhemisph{\"a}risches Boxmodell, das anhand von Daten kalibriert wird, die mit einem gekoppelten Klimamodell mittlerer Komplexit{\"a}t erzeugt wurden. Das Modell wird durch die globale Mitteltemperatur angetrieben, die mit Hilfe eines linearen Downscaling-Verfahrens in regionale W{\"a}rme- und S{\"u}ßwasserfl{\"u}sse {\"u}bersetzt wird. Die Ergebnisse einer Vielzahl von zeitabh{\"a}ngigen Simulationen zeigen, dass das Modell in der Lage ist, maßgebliche Eigenschaften des Verhaltens komplexer Klimamodelle wiederzugeben, wie die Sensitivit{\"a}t bez{\"u}glich des Ausmaßes, der regionalen Verteilung und der Rate der Klima{\"a}nderung. Der indische Monsun wird anhand eines neuartigen eindimensionalen Boxmodells der tropischen Atmosph{\"a}re beschrieben. Dieses enth{\"a}lt Parmetrisierungen der Oberfl{\"a}chen- und Strahlungsfl{\"u}sse, des hydrologischen Kreislaufs und derHydrologie der Landoberfl{\"a}che. Trotz des hohen Idealisierungsgrades ist das Modell in der Lage, relevante Aspekte der beobachteten Monsundynamik, wie z.B. den Jahresgang des Niederschlags und das Eintritts- sowie R{\"u}ckzugsdatum des Sommermonsuns, zufrieden stellend zu simulieren. Außerdem erfasst das Modell die Sensitivit{\"a}tdes Monsuns bez{\"u}glich {\"A}nderungen der Treibhausgas- und Aerosolkonzentrationen, die aus komplexeren Modellen bekannt sind. Eine vereinfachte Version des Monsunmodells wird f{\"u}r die Untersuchung des qualitativen Systemverhaltens in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von {\"A}nderungen der Randbedingungen eingesetzt. Das bemerkenswerteste Ergebnis ist das Auftreten einer Sattelknotenbifurkation des Sommermonsuns f{\"u}r kritische Werte der Albedo oder der Sonneneinstrahlung. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus weist das Modell zwei stabile Zust{\"a}nde auf: neben dem niederschlagsreichen Sommermonsun besteht ein Zustand, der sich durch einen schwachen hydrologischen Kreislauf auszeichnet. Das Beachtliche an diesen Ergebnissen ist, dass anthropogene St{\"o}rungen der plantetaren Albedo, wie Schwefelemissionen und/oder Landnutzungs{\"a}nderungen, zu einer Destabilisierung des indischen Monsuns f{\"u}hren k{\"o}nnten. Das THC-Boxmodell findet exemplarische Anwendung in einem "Integrated Assessment" von Klimaschutzstrategien. Basierend auf dem konzeptionellen und methodischen Ger{\"u}st des Leitplankenansatzes werden Emissionskorridore (d.h. zul{\"a}ssige Spannen an CO2-Emissionen) berechnet, die das Risiko eines THC-Zusammenbruchs begrenzen sowie sozio{\"o}konomische Randbedingungen ber{\"u}cksichtigen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen u.a. eine starke Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Breite der Emissionskorridore von der Klima- und hydrologischen Sensitivit{\"a}t. F{\"u}r kleine Werte einer oder beider Sensitivit{\"a}ten liegt der obere Korridorrand bei weit h{\"o}heren Emissionswerten als jene, die von plausiblen Emissionsszenarien f{\"u}r das 21. Jahrhundert erreicht werden. F{\"u}r große Werte der Sensitivit{\"a}ten hingegen, verlassen schon niedrige Emissionsszenarien den Korridor in den fr{\"u}hen Jahrzehnten des 21. Jahrhunderts. Dies impliziert eine Abkehr von den gegenw{\"a}rtigen Emissionstrends innherhalb der kommenden Jahrzehnte, wenn das Risko eines THC Zusammenbruchs gering gehalten werden soll. Anhand einer Vielzahl von Anwendungen - von Sensitivit{\"a}ts- {\"u}ber Bifurkationsanalysen hin zu integrierter Modellierung - zeigt diese Arbeit den Wert reduzierter Modelle auf. Die Ergebnisse und die daraus zu ziehenden Schlussfolgerungen liefern einen wertvollen Beitrag zu der wissenschaftlichen und politischen Diskussion bez{\"u}glich der Folgen des anthropogenen Klimawandels und der langfristigen Klimaschutzziele.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schneider2004, author = {Schneider, Judith}, title = {Dynamical structures and manifold detection in 2D and 3D chaotic flows}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001696}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {In dieser Arbeit werden die dynamischen Strukturen und Mannigfaltigkeiten in geschlossenen chaotischen Systemen untersucht. Das Wissen um diese dynamischen Strukturen (und Mannigfaltigkeiten) ist von Bedeutung, da sie uns einen ersten {\"U}berblick {\"u}ber die Dynamik des Systems geben, dass heisst, mit ihrer Hilfe sind wir in der Lage, das System zu charakterisieren und eventuell sogar seine Dynamik vorherzusagen. Die Visualisierung der dynamischen Strukturen, speziell in geschlossenen chaotischen Systemen, ist ein schwieriger und oft langer Prozess. Hier werden wir die sogenannte 'Leaking-Methode' (an Beispielen einfacher mathematischer Modelle wie der B{\"a}cker- oder der Sinus Abbildung) vorstellen, mit deren Hilfe wir die M{\"o}glichkeit haben, Teile der Mannigfaltigkeiten des chaotischen Sattels des Systems zu visualisieren. Vergleiche zwischen den gewonnenen Strukturen und Strukturen die durch chemische oder biologische Reaktionen hervorgerufen werden, werden anhand eines kinematischen Modells des Golfstroms durchgef{\"u}hrt. Es wird gezeigt, dass mittels der Leaking-Methode dynamische Strukturen auch in Umweltsystemen sichtbar gemacht werden k{\"o}nnen. Am Beispiel eines realistischen Modells des Mittelmeeres erweitern wir die Leaking-Methode zur sogenannten 'Exchange-Methode'. Diese erlaubt es den Transport zwischen zwei Regionen zu charakterisieren, die Transport-Routen und Austausch-Bassins sichtbar zu machen und die Austausch-Zeiten zu berechnen. Austausch-Bassins und Zeiten werden f{\"u}r die n{\"o}rdliche und s{\"u}dliche Region des westlichen Mittelmeeres pr{\"a}sentiert. Weiterhin werden Mischungseigenschaften im Erdmantel charakterisiert und die geometrischen Eigenschaften von Mannigfaltigkeiten in einem 3dimensionalen mathematischen Modell (ABC-Abbildung) untersucht.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Washuettl2004, author = {Wash{\"u}ttl, Albert}, title = {EI Eridani and the art of doppler imaging : a long-term study}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001714}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Das Verst{\"a}ndnis magnetisch verursachter Aktivit{\"a}t auf Sternen sowie der zugrundeliegenden Dynamoprozesse ist von fundamentaler Bedeutung f{\"u}r das Verst{\"a}ndnis von Entstehung und Entwicklung von Sternen sowie des Lebens im Universum. Sichtbare Erscheinungen dieser stellaren Aktivit{\"a}t sind u.a. Sternflecken, welche als Indikatoren des zugrundeliegenden Magnetfeldes dienen. Solche Flecken k{\"o}nnen auf anderen Sternen als der Sonne nicht direkt beobachtet werden, zumal mit den heutigen technischen Mitteln eine Aufl{\"o}sung der Oberfl{\"a}che selbst der benachbarten Sterne unm{\"o}glich ist. Eine indirekte Rekonstruktionsmethode namens 'Doppler Imaging' erlaubt es jedoch, auf die Temperaturverteilung auf der Sternoberfl{\"a}che zu schließen. F{\"u}r diese Arbeit wurden elf Jahre kontinuierlicher spektroskopischer Beobachtungen des aktiven Doppelsterns EI Eridani herangezogen, um insgesamt 34 Dopplerkarten zu erstellen. In der Folge wird versucht, eine Grundlage zu schaffen f{\"u}r die Analyse des zweidimensionalen Informationsgehalts dieser Karten. Drei Oberfl{\"a}chenkartenparameter werden vorgeschlagen: gemittelte Temperatur, getrennt f{\"u}r verschiedenen stellare Breitenb{\"a}nder; relative Fleckenh{\"a}ufigkeit; und, zum Zwecke der Auswertung der strukturellen Temperaturverteilung, L{\"a}ngen- und Breiten-Ortsfunktion der Sternfleckenh{\"a}ufung. Die resultierenden Werte zeigen deutlich, daß kein zeitlicher Zusammenhang mit dem photometrischen Aktivit{\"a}tszyklus besteht. Die Morphologie der Fleckenverteilung bleibt w{\"a}hrend des kompletten Beobachtungszeitraums im wesentlichen konstant. Im Gegensatz zur Sonne gibt es also, im beobachteten Zeitraum und innerhalb der bestehenden Genauigkeit, keinen Fleckenzyklus auf dem aktiven Stern EI Eri. Dar{\"u}berhinaus wurde eine ausf{\"u}hrliche Studie der stellaren Parameter von EI Eri und eine vorl{\"a}ufige Absch{\"a}tzung der differentiellen Rotation auf EI Eri durchgef{\"u}hrt, die eine anti-solare Ausrichtung aufzuweisen scheint, d.h. der Pol rotiert schneller als der {\"A}quator.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{RomanoBlasco2004, author = {Romano Blasco, M. Carmen}, title = {Synchronization analysis by means of recurrences in phase space}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001756}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Die t{\"a}gliche Erfahrung zeigt uns, daß bei vielen physikalischen Systemen kleine {\"A}nderungen in den Anfangsbedingungen auch zu kleinen {\"A}nderungen im Verhalten des Systems f{\"u}hren. Wenn man z.B. das Steuerrad beim Auto fahren nur ein wenig zur Seite dreht, unterscheidet sich die Richtung des Wagens auch nur wenig von der urspr{\"u}nglichen Richtung. Aber es gibt auch Situationen, f{\"u}r die das Gegenteil dieser Regel zutrifft. Die Folge von Kopf und Zahl, die wir erhalten, wenn wir eine M{\"u}nze werfen, zeigt ein irregul{\"a}res oder chaotisches Zeitverhalten, da winzig kleine {\"A}nderungen in den Anfangsbedingungen, die z.B. durch leichte Drehung der Hand hervorgebracht werden, zu vollkommen verschiedenen Resultaten f{\"u}hren. In den letzten Jahren hat man sehr viele nichtlineare Systeme mit schnellen Rechnern untersucht und festgestellt, daß eine sensitive Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von den Anfangsbedingungen, die zu einem chaotischen Verhalten f{\"u}hrt, keinesfalls die Ausnahme darstellt, sondern eine typische Eigenschaft vieler Systeme ist. Obwohl chaotische Systeme kleinen {\"A}nderungen in den Anfangsbedingungen gegen{\"u}ber sehr empfindlich reagieren, k{\"o}nnen sie synchronisieren wenn sie durch eine gemeinsame {\"a}ußere Kraft getrieben werden, oder wenn sie miteinander gekoppelt sind. Das heißt, sie vergessen ihre Anfangsbedingungen und passen ihre Rhythmen aneinander. Diese Eigenschaft chaotischer Systeme hat viele Anwendungen, wie z.B. das Design von Kommunikationsger{\"a}te und die verschl{\"u}sselte {\"U}bertragung von Mitteilungen. Abgesehen davon, findet man Synchronisation in nat{\"u}rlichen Systemen, wie z.B. das Herz-Atmungssystem, raumverteilte {\"o}kologische Systeme, die Magnetoenzephalographische Aktivit{\"a}t von Parkinson Patienten, etc. In solchen komplexen Systemen ist es nicht trivial Synchronisation zu detektieren und zu quantifizieren. Daher ist es notwendig, besondere mathematische Methoden zu entwickeln, die diese Aufgabe erledigen. Das ist das Ziel dieser Arbeit. Basierend auf dergrundlegenden Idee von Rekurrenzen (Wiederkehr) von Trajektorien dynamischer Systeme, sind verschiedene Maße entwickelt worden, die Synchronisation in chaotischen und komplexen Systemen detektieren. Das Wiederkehr von Trajektorien erlaubt uns Vorhersagen {\"u}ber den zuk{\"u}nftigen Zustand eines Systems zu treffen. Wenn man diese Eigenschaft der Wiederkehr von zwei interagierenden Systemen vergleicht, kann man Schl{\"u}sse {\"u}ber ihre dynamische Anpassung oder Synchronisation ziehen. Ein wichtiger Vorteil der Rekurrenzmaße f{\"u}r Synchronisation ist die Robustheit gegen Rauschen und Instationari{\"a}t. Das erlaubt eine Synchronisationsanalyse in Systemen durchzuf{\"u}hren, die bisher nicht darauf untersucht werden konnten.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bischofs2004, author = {Bischofs, Ilka Bettina}, title = {Elastic interactions of cellular force patterns}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001767}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Gewebezellen sammeln st{\"a}ndig Informationen {\"u}ber die mechanischen Eigenschaften ihrer Umgebung, indem sie aktiv an dieser ziehen. Diese Kr{\"a}fte werden an Zell-Matrix-Kontakten {\"u}bertragen, die als Mechanosensoren fungieren. J{\"u}ngste Experimente mit Zellen auf elastischen Substraten zeigen, dass Zellen sehr empfindlich auf Ver{\"a}nderungen der effektiven Steifigkeit ihrer Umgebung reagieren, die zu einer Reorganisation des Zytoskeletts f{\"u}hren k{\"o}nnen. In dieser Arbeit wird ein theoretisches Model entwickelt, um die Selbstorganisation von Zellen in weichen Materialien vorherzusagen. Obwohl das Zellverhalten durch komplexe regulatorische Vorg{\"a}nge in der Zelle gesteuert wird, scheint die typische Antwort von Zellen auf mechanische Reize eine einfache Pr{\"a}ferenz f{\"u}r große effektive Steifigkeit der Umgebung zu sein, m{\"o}glicherweise weil in einer steiferen Umgebung Kr{\"a}fte an den Kontakten effektiver aufgebaut werden k{\"o}nnen. Der Begriff Steifigkeit umfasst dabei sowohl Effekte, die durch gr{\"o}ßere H{\"a}rte als auch durch elastische Verzerrungsfelder in der Umgebung verursacht werden. Diese Beobachtung kann man als ein Extremalprinzip in der Elastizit{\"a}tstheorie formulieren. Indem man das zellul{\"a}re Kraftmuster spezifiziert, mit dem Zellen mit ihrer Umgebung wechselwirken, und die Umgebung selbst als linear elastisches Material modelliert, kann damit die optimale Orientierung und Position von Zellen vorhergesagt werden. Es werden mehrere praktisch relevante Beispiele f{\"u}r Zellorganisation theoretisch betrachtet: Zellen in externen Spannungsfeldern und Zellen in der N{\"a}he von Grenzfl{\"a}chen f{\"u}r verschiedene Geometrien und Randbedingungen des elastischen Mediums. Daf{\"u}r werden die entsprechenden elastischen Randwertprobleme in Vollraum, Halbraum und Kugel exakt gel{\"o}st. Die Vorhersagen des Models stimmen hervorragend mit experimentellen Befunden f{\"u}r Fibroblastzellen {\"u}berein, sowohl auf elastischen Substraten als auch in physiologischen Hydrogelen. Mechanisch aktive Zellen wie Fibroblasten k{\"o}nnen auch elastisch miteinander wechselwirken. Es werden daher optimale Strukturen als Funktion von Materialeigenschaften und Zelldichte bzw. der Geometrie der Zellpositionen berechnet. Schließlich wird mit Hilfe von Monte Carlo Simulationen der Einfluss stochastischer St{\"o}rungen auf die Strukturbildung untersucht. Das vorliegende Model tr{\"a}gt nicht nur zu einem besseren Verst{\"a}ndnis von vielen physiologischen Situationen bei, sondern k{\"o}nnte in Zukunft auch f{\"u}r biomedizinische Anwendungen benutzt werden, um zum Beispiel Protokolle f{\"u}r k{\"u}nstliche Gewebe im Bezug auf Substratgeometrie, Randbedingungen, Materialeigenschaften oder Zelldichte zu optimieren.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Ullner2004, author = {Ullner, Ekkehard}, title = {Noise-induced phenomena of signal transmission in excitable neural models}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001522}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Meine Dissertation behandelt verschiedene neue rauschinduzierte Ph{\"a}nomene in anregbaren Neuronenmodellen, insbesondere solche mit FitzHugh-Nagumo Dynamik. Ich beschreibe das Auftreten von vibronischer Resonanz in anregbaren Systemen. Sowohl in einer anregbaren elektronischen Schaltung als auch im FitzHugh-Nagumo Modell zeige ich, daß eine optimale Amplitude einer hochfrequenten externen Kraft die Signalantwort bez{\"u}glich eines niederfrequenten Signals verbessert. Weiterhin wird der Einfluß von additivem Rauschen auf das Zusammenwirken von stochastischer und vibronischer Resonanz untersucht. Weiterhin untersuche ich Systeme, die sowohl oszillierende als auch anregbare Eigenschaften beinhalten und dadurch zwei interne Frequenzen aufweisen. Ich zeige, daß in solchen Systemen der Effekt der stochastischen Resonanz deutlich erh{\"o}ht werden kann, wenn eine zus{\"a}tzliche hochfrequente Kraft in Resonanz mit den kleinen Oszillationen unterhalb der Anregungsschwelle hinzugenommen wird. Es ist beachtenswert, daß diese Verst{\"a}rkung der stochastischen Resonanz eine geringere Rauschintensit{\"a}t zum Erreichen des Optimums ben{\"o}tigt als die standartm{\"a}ßige stochastische Resonanz in anregbaren Systemen. Ich untersuche Frequenzselektivit{\"a}t bei der rauschinduzierten Signalverarbeitung von Signalen unterhalb der Anregungsschwelle in Systemen mit vielen rauschunterst{\"u}tzten stochastischen Attraktoren. Diese neuen Attraktoren mit abweichenden gemittelten Perioden weisen auch unterschiedliche Phasenbeziehungen zwischen den einzelnen Elementen auf. Ich zeige, daß die Signalantwort des gekoppelten Systems unter verschiedenen Rauscheinwirkungen deutlich verbessert oder auch reduziert werden kann durch das Treiben einzelner Elemente in Resonanz mit diesen neuen Resonanzfrequenzen, die mit passenden Phasenbeziehungen korrespondieren. Weiterhin konnte ich einen rauschinduzierten Phasen{\"u}bergang von einem selbstoszillierenden System zu einem anregbaren System nachweisen. Dieser {\"U}bergang erfolgt durch eine rauschinduzierte Stabilisierung eines deterministisch instabilen Fixpunktes der lokalen Dynamik, w{\"a}hrend die gesamte Phasenraumstruktur des Systems erhalten bleibt. Die gemeinsame Wirkung von Kopplung und Rauschen f{\"u}hrt zu einem neuen Typ von Phasen{\"u}berg{\"a}ngen und bewirkt eine Stabilisierung des Systems. Das sich daraus ergebende rauschinduziert anregbare Regime zeigt charakteristische Eigenschaften von klassisch anregbaren Systemen, wie stochastische Resonanz und Wellenausbreitung. Dieser rauschinduzierte Phasen{\"u}bergang erm{\"o}glicht dadurch die {\"U}bertragung von Signalen durch ansonsten global oszillierende Systeme und die Kontrolle der Signal{\"u}bertragung durch Ver{\"a}nderung der Rauschintensit{\"a}t. Insbesondere er{\"o}ffnen diese theoretischen Ergebnisse einen m{\"o}glichen Mechanismus zur Unterdr{\"u}ckung unerw{\"u}nschter globaler Oszillationen in neuronalen Netzwerken, welche charakteristisch f{\"u}r abnorme medizinische Zust{\"a}nde, wie z.B. bei der Parkinson\′schen Krankheit oder Epilepsie, sind. Die Wirkung von Rauschen w{\"u}rde dann wieder die Anregbarkeit herstellen, die den normalen Zustand der erkrankten Neuronen darstellt.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{SvirejevaHopkins2004, author = {Svirejeva-Hopkins, Anastasia}, title = {Urbanised territories as a specific component of the global carbon cycle}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001512}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Wir betrachten folgende Teile: die zus{\"a}tzlichen Kohlenstoff(C)-emissionen, welche aus der Umwandlung von nat{\"u}rlichem Umland durch Stadtwachstum resultieren, und die {\"A}nderung des C-Flusses durch 'urbanisierte' {\"O}kosysteme, soweit atmosph{\"a}risches C durch diese in umliegende nat{\"u}rliche {\"O}kosysteme entlang der Kette \“Atmosph{\"a}re -> Vegetation -> abgestorbene organische Substanzen\” gepumpt wird: d.h. C-Export; f{\"u}r den Zeitraum von 1980 bis 2050. Als Szenario nutzen wir Prognosen der regionalen Stadtbev{\"o}lkerung, welche durch ein 'Hybridmodell' generiert werden f{\"u}r acht Regionen. Alle Sch{\"a}tzungen der C-Fl{\"u}sse basieren auf zwei Modellen: das Regression Modell und das sogenannte G-Modell. Die Siedlungsfl{\"a}che, welche mit dem Wachstum der Stadtbev{\"o}lkerung zunimmt, wird in 'Gr{\"u}nfl{\"a}chen' (Parks, usw.), Geb{\"a}udefl{\"a}chen und informell st{\"a}dtisch genutzte Fl{\"a}chen (Slums, illegale Lagerpl{\"a}tze, usw.) unterteilt. Es werden j{\"a}hrlich die regionale und globale Dynamik der C-Emissionen und des C-Exports sowie die C-Gesamtbilanz berechnet. Dabei liefern beide Modelle qualitativ {\"a}hnliche Ergebnisse, jedoch gibt es einige quantitative Unterschiede. Im ersten Modell erreicht die globale Jahresemission f{\"u}r die Dekade 2020-2030 resultierend aus der Landnutzungs{\"a}nderung ein Maximum von 205 Mt/a. Die maximalen Beitr{\"a}ge zur globalen Emission werden durch China, die asiatische und die pazifische Region erbracht. Im zweiten Modell erh{\"o}ht sich die j{\"a}hrliche globale Emission von 1.12 GtC/a f{\"u}r 1980 auf 1.25 GtC/a f{\"u}r 2005 (1Gt = 109 t). Danach beginnt eine Reduzierung. Vergleichen wir das Emissionmaximum mit der Emission durch Abholzung im Jahre 1980 (1.36 GtC/a), k{\"o}nnen wir konstatieren, daß die Urbanisierung damit in vergleichbarer Gr{\"o}sse zur Emission beitr{\"a}gt. Bezogen auf die globale Dynamik des j{\"a}hrlichen C-Exports durch Urbanisierung beobachten wir ein monotones Wachstum bis zum nahezu dreifachen Wert von 24 MtC/a f{\"u}r 1980 auf 66 MtC/a f{\"u}r 2050 im ersten Modell, bzw. im zweiten Modell von 249 MtC/a f{\"u}r 1980 auf 505 MtC/a f{\"u}r 2050. Damit ist im zweiten Fall die Transportleistung der Siedlungsgebiete mit dem C-Transport durch Fl{\"u}sse in die Ozeane (196 .. 537 MtC/a) vergleichbar. Bei der Absch{\"a}tzung der Gesamtbilanz finden wir, daß die Urbanisierung die Bilanz in Richtung zu einer 'Senke' verschiebt. Entsprechend dem zweiten Modell beginnt sich die C-Gesamtbilanz (nach ann{\"a}hernder Konstanz) ab dem Jahre 2000 mit einer fast konstanten Rate zu verringern. Wenn das Maximum im Jahre 2000 bei 905MtC/a liegt, f{\"a}llt dieser Wert anschliessend bis zum Jahre 2050 auf 118 MtC/a. Bei Extrapolation dieser Dynamik in die Zukunft k{\"o}nnen wir annehmen, daß am Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts die \“urbane\” C-Gesamtbilanz Null bzw. negative Werte erreicht.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{MontbrioiFairen2004, author = {Montbri{\´o} i Fairen, Ernest}, title = {Synchronization in ensembles of nonisochronous oscillators}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001492}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Diese Arbeit analysiert Synchronisationsphaenomene, die in grossen Ensembles von interagierenden Oszillatoren auftauchen. Im speziellen werden die Effekte von Nicht-Isochronizitaet (die Abhaengigkeit der Frequenz von der Amplitude des Oszillators) auf den makroskopischen Uebergang zur Synchronisation im Detail studiert. Die neu gefundenen Phaenomene (Anomale Synchronisation) werden sowohl in Populationen von Oszillatoren als auch zwischen Oszillator-Ensembles untersucht.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Timpanaro2004, author = {Timpanaro, Salvatore}, title = {Conductive properties and morphology of conjugated molecular materials studied by local probe techniques}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001929}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Die vorgelegte Arbeit befasst sich mit der Untersuchung von Zusammenh{\"a}ngen zwischen der Struktur d{\"u}nner organischer Schichten und stellt einen Bezug zur Leitf{\"a}higkeit der Schichten her. Sie liefert einen Beitrag zum vertieften Verst{\"a}ndnis der Transporteigenschaf-ten organischer Halbleiter und soll so zur Verbesserung organischer elektronischer Bauele-mente beitragen. Es ist bekannt, dass die Effizienz von Organischen Leuchtdioden (OLEDs) stark von der Qualit{\"a}t der eingesetzten d{\"u}nnen Filme abh{\"a}ngt. Es ist deshalb interessant, die Strukturen technologisch interessanter organischer Filme mittels Scanning Probe Mikrosko-pie (SPM) zu charakterisieren, um ein besseres Verst{\"a}ndnis sowohl der Oberfl{\"a}chen-Morphologie als auch der molekularen/atomaren Packungen zu erhalten. Die Untersuchung von Quaterthiophen (4T), welches vielfach in Feldeffekt-Transistoren eingesetzt wird, bildet einen ersten Schwerpunkt der Arbeit. Es konnte eine neue Kristall-struktur von 4T gefunden werden, die bisher nicht bekannt war. Daf{\"u}r wurden Quaterthi-ophen-Filme untersucht, welche auf Kaliumphthalat (KAP) aufwuchsen. Die Aufkl{\"a}rung der neuen Struktur gelang durch Kombinierten Einsatz von optischen und R{\"o}ntgen-Beugungsmessungen. Zur Best{\"a}tigung der triklinen Kristall-Einheitszelle mit den Parame-tern a = 0,721 nm, b = 0,632 nm, c = 0,956 nm und α = 91o, β = 91,4o, γ = 91o wurde außer-dem die Atomkraft-Mikroskopie (AFM) angewendet. In Fortf{\"u}hrung der rastermikroskopischen Messungen sind die Morphologien von Filmen vier weiterer organischer Materialien technologischer Relevanz untersucht worden: He-xanthiol-Monoschichten auf Gold, Azobenzenthiol-Monoschichten auf Gold, Para-Phenylenvinylen-Oligomer-Filme auf Gold und Phenyl-Oxadiazol-Filme auf Gold. Daf{\"u}r kam zus{\"a}tzlich die Ultrahochvakuum-Scanning-Tunneling-Mikroskopie (UHV-STM) zum Einsatz. Es zeigte sich eine Vielzahl morphologischer Eigenheiten, deren Besonderheiten sowohl von den gew{\"a}hlten Substraten als auch von der chemischen Struktur der untersuchten organischen Materialien abh{\"a}ngen. So zeigen Para-Phenylenvinylen-Oligomer-Filme eine St{\"a}bchen- und Oxadiazol-Filme eine K{\"o}rnchen-Struktur auf Gold. Auf Basis dieser Kenntnisse gelang es, das optisch induzierte Schalten von Azobenzen durch STM-Untersuchungen und durch Scanning Tunneling Spektroskopie (STS) auf molekularer Skale nachzuweisen. Die Topographie einer Reihe von Poly(3,4-ethylendioxythiophen)-(PEDOT)-Filmen und de-ren Bezug zu den Ladungstransporteigenschaften dieser Filme war ein weiterer Arbeits-schwerpunkt. PEDOT-Filme auf Indium-Zinn-Oxid (ITO) kommen in organischen elektro-nischen Bauelementen als Lochinjektionsschichten zum Einsatz. F{\"u}r die Schichtherstellung kamen Dispersionen des Polymers unterschiedlicher Konzentration zur Anwendung: Mittels AFM und STM konnte gezeigt werden, dass unterschiedliche Konzentrationen zu unter-schiedlichen Topographien f{\"u}hren. Besonders die Oberfl{\"a}che der Filme mit hoher Konzent-ration von PEDOT, d.h. die der leitf{\"a}higsten Filme, wird durch eine k{\"o}rnchenartige Struktur eingebetteter Teilchen charakterisiert. Durch STM Strom-Abstands-(I-d)-Untersuchungen wurde gefunden, dass diese Teilchen die „Spitze eines Eisbergs" leitf{\"a}higer Dom{\"a}nen dar-stellen. Ausgehend von dieser Erkenntnis wird ein Strukturmodell f{\"u}r die Filme vorgeschla-gen, in dem die leitf{\"a}higen Dom{\"a}nen / Partikel in eine weniger leitf{\"a}hige Matrix eingebettet sind. Durch Zugabe von Polyolen wie Sorbitol zur PEDOT-Dispersion ließen sich Filme mit h{\"o}herer Leitf{\"a}higkeit herstellen. Eine klare Abh{\"a}ngigkeit zwischen der Leitf{\"a}higkeit und der bisher nicht beschrieben nano-Morphologie wurde gefunden.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Koppitz2004, author = {Koppitz, Michael}, title = {Numerical studies of Black Hole initial data}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001245}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Diese Doktorarbeit behandelt neue Methoden der numerischen Evolution von Systemen mit bin{\"a}ren Schwarzen L{\"o}chern. Wir analysieren und vergleichen Evolutionen von verschiedenen physikalisch motivierten Anfangsdaten und zeigen Resultate der ersten Evolution von so genannten 'Thin Sandwich' Daten, die von der Gruppe in Meudon entwickelt wurden. Zum ersten Mal wurden zwei verschiedene Anfangsdaten anhand von dreidimensionalen Evolutionen verglichen: die Puncture-Daten und die Thin-Sandwich Daten. Diese zwei Datentypen wurden im Hinblick auf die physikalischen Eigenschaften w{\"a}hrend der Evolution verglichen. Die Evolutionen zeigen, dass die Meudon Daten im Vergleich zu Puncture Daten wesentlich mehr Zeit ben{\"o}tigen bevor sie kollidieren. Dies deutet auf eine bessere Absch{\"a}tzung der Parameter hin. Die Kollisionszeiten der numerischen Evolutionen sind konsistent mit unabh{\"a}ngigen Sch{\"a}tzungen basierend auf Post-Newtonschen N{\"a}herungen die vorhersagen, dass die Schwarzen L{\"o}cher ca. 60\% eines Orbits rotieren bevor sie kollidieren.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Albers2006, author = {Albers, Nicole}, title = {On the relevance of adhesion : applications to Saturn's rings}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10848}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Since their discovery in 1610 by Galileo Galilei, Saturn's rings continue to fascinate both experts and amateurs. Countless numbers of icy grains in almost Keplerian orbits reveal a wealth of structures such as ringlets, voids and gaps, wakes and waves, and many more. Grains are found to increase in size with increasing radial distance to Saturn. Recently discovered "propeller" structures in the Cassini spacecraft data, provide evidence for the existence of embedded moonlets. In the wake of these findings, the discussion resumes about origin and evolution of planetary rings, and growth processes in tidal environments. In this thesis, a contact model for binary adhesive, viscoelastic collisions is developed that accounts for agglomeration as well as restitution. Collisional outcomes are crucially determined by the impact speed and masses of the collision partners and yield a maximal impact velocity at which agglomeration still occurs. Based on the latter, a self-consistent kinetic concept is proposed. The model considers all possible collisional outcomes as there are coagulation, restitution, and fragmentation. Emphasizing the evolution of the mass spectrum and furthermore concentrating on coagulation alone, a coagulation equation, including a restricted sticking probability is derived. The otherwise phenomenological Smoluchowski equation is reproduced from basic principles and denotes a limit case to the derived coagulation equation. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the relevance of adhesion to force-free granular gases and to those under the influence of Keplerian shear is investigated. Capture probability, agglomerate stability, and the mass spectrum evolution are investigated in the context of adhesive interactions. A size dependent radial limit distance from the central planet is obtained refining the Roche criterion. Furthermore, capture probability in the presence of adhesion is generally different compared to the case of pure gravitational capture. In contrast to a Smoluchowski-type evolution of the mass spectrum, numerical simulations of the obtained coagulation equation revealed, that a transition from smaller grains to larger bodies cannot occur via a collisional cascade alone. For parameters used in this study, effective growth ceases at an average size of centimeters.}, subject = {Saturn}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dominis2006, author = {Dominis, Dijana}, title = {The role of binary stars in searches for extrasolar planets by microlensing and astrometry}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10814}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {When Galactic microlensing events of stars are observed, one usually measures a symmetric light curve corresponding to a single lens, or an asymmetric light curve, often with caustic crossings, in the case of a binary lens system. In principle, the fraction of binary stars at a certain separation range can be estimated based on the number of measured microlensing events. However, a binary system may produce a light curve which can be fitted well as a single lens light curve, in particullary if the data sampling is poor and the errorbars are large. We investigate what fraction of microlensing events produced by binary stars for different separations may be well fitted by and hence misinterpreted as single lens events for various observational conditions. We find that this fraction strongly depends on the separation of the binary components, reaching its minimum at between 0.6 and 1.0 Einstein radius, where it is still of the order of 5\% The Einstein radius is corresponding to few A.U. for typical Galactic microlensing scenarios. The rate for misinterpretation is higher for short microlensing events lasting up to few months and events with smaller maximum amplification. For fixed separation it increases for binaries with more extreme mass ratios. Problem of degeneracy in photometric light curve solution between binary lens and binary source microlensing events was studied on simulated data, and data observed by the PLANET collaboration. The fitting code BISCO using the PIKAIA genetic algorithm optimizing routine was written for optimizing binary-source microlensing light curves observed at different sites, in I, R and V photometric bands. Tests on simulated microlensing light curves show that BISCO is successful in finding the solution to a binary-source event in a very wide parameter space. Flux ratio method is suggested in this work for breaking degeneracy between binary-lens and binary-source photometric light curves. Models show that only a few additional data points in photometric V band, together with a full light curve in I band, will enable breaking the degeneracy. Very good data quality and dense data sampling, combined with accurate binary lens and binary source modeling, yielded the discovery of the lowest-mass planet discovered outside of the Solar System so far, OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, having only 5.5 Earth masses. This was the first observed microlensing event in which the degeneracy between a planetary binary-lens and an extreme flux ratio binary-source model has been successfully broken. For events OGLE-2003-BLG-222 and OGLE-2004-BLG-347, the degeneracy was encountered despite of very dense data sampling. From light curve modeling and stellar evolution theory, there was a slight preference to explain OGLE-2003-BLG-222 as a binary source event, and OGLE-2004-BLG-347 as a binary lens event. However, without spectra, this degeneracy cannot be fully broken. No planet was found so far around a white dwarf, though it is believed that Jovian planets should survive the late stages of stellar evolution, and that white dwarfs will retain planetary systems in wide orbits. We want to perform high precision astrometric observations of nearby white dwarfs in wide binary systems with red dwarfs in order to find planets around white dwarfs. We selected a sample of observing targets (WD-RD binary systems, not published yet), which can possibly have planets around the WD component, and modeled synthetic astrometric orbits which can be observed for these targets using existing and future astrometric facilities. Modeling was performed for the astrometric accuracy of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mas, separation between WD and planet of 3 and 5 A.U., binary system separation of 30 A.U., planet masses of 10 Earth masses, 1 and 10 Jupiter masses, WD mass of 0.5M and 1.0 Solar masses, and distances to the system of 10, 20 and 30 pc. It was found that the PRIMA facility at the VLTI will be able to detect planets around white dwarfs once it is operating, by measuring the astrometric wobble of the WD due to a planet companion, down to 1 Jupiter mass. We show for the simulated observations that it is possible to model the orbits and find the parameters describing the potential planetary systems.}, subject = {Mikrogravitationslinseneffekt}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Richter2007, author = {Richter, Andreas}, title = {Structure formation and fractionation in systems of colloidal rods}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-13090}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Nowadays, colloidal rods can be synthesized in large amounts. The rods are typically cylindrically and their length ranges from several nanometers to a few micrometers. In solution, systems of colloidal rodlike molecules or aggregates can form liquid-crystalline phases with long-range orientational and spatial order. In the present work, we investigate structure formation and fractionation in systems of rodlike colloids with the help of Monte Carlo simulations in the NPT ensemble. Repulsive interactions can successfully be mimicked by the hard rod model, which has been studied extensively in the past. In many cases, attractive interactions like van der Waals or depletion forces cannot be neglected, however. In the first part of this work, the phase behavior of monodisperse attractive rods is characterized for different interaction strengths. Phase diagrams as a function of rod length and pressure are presented. Most systems of synthesized mesoscopic rods have a polydisperse length distribution as a consequence of the longitudinal growth process of the rods. For many technical and research applications, a rather small polydispersity is desired in order to have well defined material properties. The polydispersity can be reduced by a spatial demixing (fractionation) of long and short rods. Fractionation and structure formation is studied in a tridisperse and a polydisperse bulk suspension of rods. We observe that the resulting structures depend distinctly on the interaction strength. The fractionation in the system is strongly enhanced with increasing interaction strength. Suspensions are typically confined in a container. We also examine the influence of adjacent substrates in systems of tridisperse and polydisperse rod suspensions. Three different substrate types are studied in detail: a planar wall, a corrugated substrate, and a substrate with rectangular cavities. We analyze the fluid structure close to the substrate and substrate controlled fractionation. The spatial arrangement of long and short rods in front of the substrate depends sensitively on the substrate structure and the pressure. Rods with a predefined length are segregated at substrates with rectangular cavities.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Korn2007, author = {Korn, Christian}, title = {Stochastic dynamics of cell adhesion in hydrodynamic flow}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-12997}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {In this thesis the interplay between hydrodynamic transport and specific adhesion is theoretically investigated. An important biological motivation for this work is the rolling adhesion of white blood cells experimentally investigated in flow chambers. There, specific adhesion is mediated by weak bonds between complementary molecular building blocks which are either located on the cell surface (receptors) or attached to the bottom plate of the flow chamber (ligands). The model system under consideration is a hard sphere covered with receptors moving above a planar ligand-bearing wall. The motion of the sphere is influenced by a simple shear flow, deterministic forces, and Brownian motion. An algorithm is given that allows to numerically simulate this motion as well as the formation and rupture of bonds between receptors and ligands. The presented algorithm spatially resolves receptors and ligands. This opens up the perspective to apply the results also to flow chamber experiments done with patterned substrates based on modern nanotechnological developments. In the first part the influence of flow rate, as well as of the number and geometry of receptors and ligands, on the probability for initial binding is studied. This is done by determining the mean time that elapses until the first encounter between a receptor and a ligand occurs. It turns out that besides the number of receptors, especially the height by which the receptors are elevated above the surface of the sphere plays an important role. These findings are in good agreement with observations of actual biological systems like white blood cells or malaria-infected red blood cells. Then, the influence of bonds which have formed between receptors and ligands, but easily rupture in response to force, on the motion of the sphere is studied. It is demonstrated that different states of motion-for example rolling-can be distinguished. The appearance of these states depending on important model parameters is then systematically investigated. Furthermore, it is shown by which bond property the ability of cells to stably roll in a large range of applied flow rates is increased. Finally, the model is applied to another biological process, the transport of spherical cargo particles by molecular motors. In analogy to the so far described systems molecular motors can be considered as bonds that are able to actively move. In this part of the thesis the mean distance the cargo particles are transported is determined.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Erdmann2005, author = {Erdmann, Thorsten}, title = {Stochastic dynamics of adhesion clusters under force}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5564}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Adhesion of biological cells to their environment is mediated by two-dimensional clusters of specific adhesion molecules which are assembled in the plasma membrane of the cells. Due to the activity of the cells or external influences, these adhesion sites are usually subject to physical forces. In recent years, the influence of such forces on the stability of cellular adhesion clusters was increasingly investigated. In particular, experimental methods that were originally designed for the investigation of single bond rupture under force have been applied to investigate the rupture of adhesion clusters. The transition from single to multiple bonds, however, is not trivial and requires theoretical modelling. Rupture of biological adhesion molecules is a thermally activated, stochastic process. In this work, a stochastic model for the rupture and rebinding dynamics of clusters of parallel adhesion molecules under force is presented. In particular, the influence of (i) a constant force as it may be assumed for cellular adhesion clusters is investigated and (ii) the influence of a linearly increasing force as commonly used in experiments is considered. Special attention is paid to the force-mediated cooperativity of parallel adhesion bonds. Finally, the influence of a finite distance between receptors and ligands on the binding dynamics is investigated. Thereby, the distance can be bridged by polymeric linker molecules which tether the ligands to a substrate.}, subject = {Biophysik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lazar2005, author = {Lazar, Paul}, title = {Transport mechanisms and wetting dynamics in molecularly thin films of long-chain alkanes at solid/vapour interface : relation to the solid-liquid phase transition}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5275}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Wetting and phase transitions play a very important role our daily life. Molecularly thin films of long-chain alkanes at solid/vapour interfaces (e.g. C30H62 on silicon wafers) are very good model systems for studying the relation between wetting behaviour and (bulk) phase transitions. Immediately above the bulk melting temperature the alkanes wet partially the surface (drops). In this temperature range the substrate surface is covered with a molecularly thin ordered, solid-like alkane film ("surface freezing"). Thus, the alkane melt wets its own solid only partially which is a quite rare phenomenon in nature. The thesis treats about how the alkane melt wets its own solid surface above and below the bulk melting temperature and about the corresponding melting and solidification processes. Liquid alkane drops can be undercooled to few degrees below the bulk melting temperature without immediate solidification. This undercooling behaviour is quite frequent and theoretical quite well understood. In some cases, slightly undercooled drops start to build two-dimensional solid terraces without bulk solidification. The terraces grow radially from the liquid drops on the substrate surface. They consist of few molecular layers with the thickness multiple of all-trans length of the molecule. By analyzing the terrace growth process one can find that, both below and above the melting point, the entire substrate surface is covered with a thin film of mobile alkane molecules. The presence of this film explains how the solid terrace growth is feeded: the alkane molecules flow through it from the undercooled drops to the periphery of the terrace. The study shows for the first time the coexistence of a molecularly thin film ("precursor") with partially wetting bulk phase. The formation and growth of the terraces is observed only in a small temperature interval in which the 2D nucleation of terraces is more likely than the bulk solidification. The nucleation mechanisms for 2D solidification are also analyzed in this work. More surprising is the terrace behaviour above bulk the melting temperature. The terraces can be slightly overheated before they melt. The melting does not occur all over the surface as a single event; instead small drops form at the terrace edge. Subsequently these drops move on the surface "eating" the solid terraces on their way. By this they grow in size leaving behind paths from were the material was collected. Both overheating and droplet movement can be explained by the fact that the alkane melt wets only partially its own solid. For the first time, these results explicitly confirm the supposed connection between the absence of overheating in solid and "surface melting": the solids usually start to melt without an energetic barrier from the surface at temperatures below the bulk melting point. Accordingly, the surface freezing of alkanes give rise of an energetic barrier which leads to overheating.}, subject = {Benetzung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kraikivski2005, author = {Kraikivski, Pavel}, title = {Non-equilibrium dynamics of adsorbed polymers and filaments}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5979}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In the present work, we discuss two subjects related to the nonequilibrium dynamics of polymers or biological filaments adsorbed to two-dimensional substrates. The first part is dedicated to thermally activated dynamics of polymers on structured substrates in the presence or absence of a driving force. The structured substrate is represented by double-well or periodic potentials. We consider both homogeneous and point driving forces. Point-like driving forces can be realized in single molecule manipulation by atomic force microscopy tips. Uniform driving forces can be generated by hydrodynamic flow or by electric fields for charged polymers. In the second part, we consider collective filament motion in motility assays for motor proteins, where filaments glide over a motor-coated substrate. The model for the simulation of the filament dynamics contains interactive deformable filaments that move under the influence of forces from molecular motors and thermal noise. Motor tails are attached to the substrate and modeled as flexible polymers (entropic springs), motor heads perform a directed walk with a given force-velocity relation. We study the collective filament dynamics and pattern formation as a function of the motor and filament density, the force-velocity characteristics, the detachment rate of motor proteins and the filament interaction. In particular, the formation and statistics of filament patterns such as nematic ordering due to motor activity or clusters due to blocking effects are investigated. Our results are experimentally accessible and possible experimental realizations are discussed.}, subject = {Polymere}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kleinen2005, author = {Kleinen, Thomas Christopher}, title = {Stochastic information in the assessment of climate change}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5382}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Stochastic information, to be understood as \"information gained by the application of stochastic methods\", is proposed as a tool in the assessment of changes in climate. This thesis aims at demonstrating that stochastic information can improve the consideration and reduction of uncertainty in the assessment of changes in climate. The thesis consists of three parts. In part one, an indicator is developed that allows the determination of the proximity to a critical threshold. In part two, the tolerable windows approach (TWA) is extended to a probabilistic TWA. In part three, an integrated assessment of changes in flooding probability due to climate change is conducted within the TWA. The thermohaline circulation (THC) is a circulation system in the North Atlantic, where the circulation may break down in a saddle-node bifurcation under the influence of climate change. Due to uncertainty in ocean models, it is currently very difficult to determine the distance of the THC to the bifurcation point. We propose a new indicator to determine the system's proximity to the bifurcation point by considering the THC as a stochastic system and using the information contained in the fluctuations of the circulation around the mean state. As the system is moved closer to the bifurcation point, the power spectrum of the overturning becomes \"redder\", i.e. more energy is contained in the low frequencies. Since the spectral changes are a generic property of the saddle-node bifurcation, the method is not limited to the THC, but it could also be applicable to other systems, e.g. transitions in ecosystems. In part two, a probabilistic extension to the tolerable windows approach (TWA) is developed. In the TWA, the aim is to determine the complete set of emission strategies that are compatible with so-called guardrails. Guardrails are limits to impacts of climate change or to climate change itself. Therefore, the TWA determines the \"maneuvering space\" humanity has, if certain impacts of climate change are to be avoided. Due to uncertainty it is not possible to definitely exclude the impacts of climate change considered, but there will always be a certain probability of violating a guardrail. Therefore the TWA is extended to a probabilistic TWA that is able to consider \"probabilistic uncertainty\", i.e. uncertainty that can be expressed as a probability distribution or uncertainty that arises through natural variability. As a first application, temperature guardrails are imposed, and the dependence of emission reduction strategies on probability distributions for climate sensitivities is investigated. The analysis suggests that it will be difficult to observe a temperature guardrail of 2\°C with high probabilities of actually meeting the target. In part three, an integrated assessment of changes in flooding probability due to climate change is conducted. A simple hydrological model is presented, as well as a downscaling scheme that allows the reconstruction of the spatio-temporal natural variability of temperature and precipitation. These are used to determine a probabilistic climate impact response function (CIRF), a function that allows the assessment of changes in probability of certain flood events under conditions of a changed climate. The assessment of changes in flooding probability is conducted in 83 major river basins. Not all floods can be considered: Events that either happen very fast, or affect only a very small area can not be considered, but large-scale flooding due to strong longer-lasting precipitation events can be considered. Finally, the probabilistic CIRFs obtained are used to determine emission corridors, where the guardrail is a limit to the fraction of world population that is affected by a predefined shift in probability of the 50-year flood event. This latter analysis has two main results. The uncertainty about regional changes in climate is still very high, and even small amounts of further climate change may lead to large changes in flooding probability in some river systems.}, subject = {Anthropogene Klima{\"a}nderung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Koelsch2005, author = {K{\"o}lsch, Patrick}, title = {Static and dynamic properties of soluble surfactants at the air/water interface}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5716}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Amphiphilic molecules contain a hydrophilic headgroup and a hydrophobic tail. The headgroup is polar or ionic and likes water, the tail is typically an aliphatic chain that cannot be accommodated in a polar environment. The prevailing molecular asymmetry leads to a spontaneous adsorption of amphiphiles at the air/water or oil/water interfaces. As a result, the surface tension and the surface rheology is changed. Amphiphiles are important tools to deliberately modify the interfacial properties of liquid interfaces and enable new phenomena such as foams which cannot be formed in a pure liquid. In this thesis we investigate the static and dynamic properties of adsorption layers of soluble amphiphiles at the air/water interface, the so called Gibbs monolayers. The classical way for an investigation of these systems is based on a thermodynamic analysis of the equilibrium surface tension as a function of the bulk composition in the framework of Gibbs theory. However, thermodynamics does not provide any structural information and several recent publications challenge even fundamental text book concepts. The experimental investigation faces difficulties imposed by the low surface coverage and the presence of dissolved amphiphiles in the adjacent bulk phase. In this thesis we used a suite of techniques with the sensitivity to detect less than a monolayer of molecules at the air-water interface. Some of these techniques are extremely complex such as infrared visible sum frequency generation (IR-VIS SFG) spectroscopy or second harmonic generation (SHG). Others are traditional techniques, such as ellipsometry employed in new ways and pushed to new limits. Each technique probes selectively different parts of the interface and the combination provides a profound picture of the interfacial architecture. The first part of the thesis is dedicated to the distribution of ions at interfaces. Adsorption layers of ionic amphiphiles serve as model systems allowing to produce a defined surface charge. The charge of the monolayer is compensated by the counterions. As a result of a complex zoo of interactions there will be a defined distribution of ions at the interface, however, its experimental determination is a big scientific challenge. We could demonstrate that a combination of linear and nonlinear techniques gives direct insights in the prevailing ion distribution. Our investigations reveal specific ion effects which cannot be described by classical Poisson-Boltzmann mean field type theories. Adsorption layer and bulk phase are in thermodynamic equilibrium, however, it is important to stress that there is a constant molecular exchange between adsorbed and dissolved species. This exchange process is a key element for the understanding of some of the thermodynamic properties. An excellent way to study Gibbs monolayers is to follow the relaxation from a non-equilibrium to an equilibrium state. Upon compression amphiphiles must leave the adsorption layer and dissolve in the adjacent bulk phase. Upon expansion amphiphiles must adsorb at the interface to restore the equilibrium coverage. Obviously the frequency of the expansion and compression cycles must match the molecular exchange processes. At too low frequencies the equilibrium is maintained at all times. If the frequency is too fast the system behaves as a monolayer of insoluble surfactants. In this thesis we describe an unique variant of an oscillating bubble technique that measures precisely the real and imaginary part of the complex dilational modulus E in a frequency range up to 500 Hz. The extension of about two decades in the time domain in comparison to the conventional method of an oscillating drop is a tremendous achievement. The imaginary part of the complex dilational modulus E is a consequence of a dissipative process which is interpreted as an intrinsic surface dilational viscosity. The IR-VIS SFG spectra of the interfacial water provide a molecular interpretation of the underlying dissipative process.}, subject = {Nichtlineare Optik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kubas2005, author = {Kubas, Daniel}, title = {Applications of Galactic Microlensing}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5179}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Subject of this work is the study of applications of the Galactic Microlensing effect, where the light of a distant star (source) is bend according to Einstein's theory of gravity by the gravitational field of intervening compact mass objects (lenses), creating multiple (however not resolvable) images of the source. Relative motion of source, observer and lens leads to a variation of deflection/magnification and thus to a time dependant observable brightness change (lightcurve), a so-called microlensing event, lasting weeks to months. The focus lies on the modeling of binary-lens events, which provide a unique tool to fully characterize the lens-source system and to detect extra-solar planets around the lens star. Making use of the ability of genetic algorithms to efficiently explore large and intricate parameter spaces in the quest for the global best solution, a modeling software (Tango) for binary lenses is developed, presented and applied to data sets from the PLANET microlensing campaign. For the event OGLE-2002-BLG-069 the 2nd ever lens mass measurement has been achieved, leading to a scenario, where a G5III Bulge giant at 9.4 kpc is lensed by an M-dwarf binary with total mass of M=0.51 solar masses at distance 2.9 kpc. Furthermore a method is presented to use the absence of planetary lightcurve signatures to constrain the abundance of extra-solar planets.}, subject = {Planeten}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schmidt2000, author = {Schmidt, Robert W.}, title = {Cosmological applications of gravitational lensing}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000261}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2000}, abstract = {In dieser Arbeit benutze ich den Gravitationslinseneffekt als ein Werkzeug, um zwei recht unterschiedliche kosmologische Fragestellungen zu bearbeiten: die Natur der dunklen Materie in Galaxienhalos und die Rotation des Universums. Zuerst untersuche ich den Mikrolinseneffekt in den Gravitationlinsensystemen Q0957+561 und Q2237+0305. In diesen Systemen scheint das Licht eines Quasars durch die Linsengalaxie hindurch. Aufgrund der Relativbewegung zwischen Quasar, Linsengalaxie und Beobachter verursachen kompakte Objekte innerhalb der Galaxie oder dem Galaxienhalo Helligkeitsfluktuationen des Hintergrundquasars. Ich vergleiche die am 3.5m Teleskop des Apache Point Observatory zwischen 1995 und 1998 gewonnene Lichtkurve des Doppelquasars Q0957+561 (Colley, Kundic \& Turner 2000) mit numerischen Simulationen, um zu untersuchen, ob der Halo der Linsengalaxie aus massiven kompakten Objekten (MACHOs) besteht. Dieser Test wurde zuerst von Gott (1981) vorgeschlagen. Ich kann MACHO-Massen von 10^-6 M_sun bis zu 10^-2 M_sun ausschliessen, sofern der Quasar kleiner ist als 3x10^14 h_60^-0.5 cm und MACHOs mehr als 50\% des dunklen Halos ausmachen. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit stelle ich neue Beobachtungsdaten fuer den Vierfachquasar Q2237+0305 vor, die am 3.5m Teleskop des Apache Point Observatory zwischen Juni 1995 und Januar 1998 gewonnen wurden. Obwohl die Daten bei veraenderlichen, oft schlechten Seeing Bedingungen und grober Pixelaufloesung aufgenommen wurden, ist die Photometrie der beiden helleren Quasarbilder A und B mit Hilfe von HST-Beobachtungen moeglich. Ich finde ein Helligkeitsmaximum in Bild A mit einer Amplitude von 0.4 bis 0.5 mag und einer Dauer von wenigstens 100 Tagen. Dies zeigt, dass in der Linsengalaxie der Mikrolinseneffekt stattgefunden hat. Im abschliessenden Teil der Arbeit benutze ich dann den schwachen Gravitationslinseneffekt, um Grenzen fuer eine Klasse von rotierenden Kosmologien vom Goedel-Typ zu ermitteln, die von Korotky \& Obukhov (1996) beschrieben wurde. In Studien des schwachen Linseneffektes werden die Formen von tausenden von Hintergrundgalaxien vermessen und gemittelt. Dabei werden kohaerente Verzerrungen der Galaxienformen gemessen, die von Massenverteilungen im Vordergrund oder von der grossraeumigen Struktur der Raumzeit selbst verursacht werden. Ich berechne die vorhergesagte Scherung als Funktion der Rotverschiebung in rotierenden Kosmologien vom Goedel-Typ und vergleiche diese mit der oberen Grenze fuer die kosmische Scherung gamma_limit von 0.04, die in Studien des schwachen Linseneffektes gewonnen wurde. Dieser Vergleich zeigt, dass Modelle vom Goedel-Typ keine groesseren Rotationen omega als H_0=6.1x10^-11 h_60/Jahr haben koennen, wenn die Grenze fuer die kosmische Scherung fuer den ganzen Himmel gilt.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Nikolov2004, author = {Nikolov, Vesselin Kirolov}, title = {Model membranes grafted with long polymers}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001409}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Wir untersuchen, welchen Einfluss die Verankerung von langen, hydrophilen Polymeren in Lipidmembranen auf deren elastische Eigenschaften aus{\"u}bt. Theoretisch werden zwei Grenzbereiche f{\"u}r die spontane Kr{\"u}mmung der Membran erwartet: i) bei kleinen Oberfl{\"a}chenkonzentrationen des Polymers (Pilzgebiet) sollte die spontane Kr{\"u}mmung linear von der Oberfl{\"a}chendichte des verankerten Polymers abh{\"a}ngen; ii) bei hoher Bedeckung (B{\"u}rstengebiet) sollte die Abh{\"a}ngigkeit quadratisch sein. Wir versuchen, Vorhersagen f{\"u}r das B{\"u}rstengebiet zu pr{\"u}fen, indem wir die morphologischen Ver{\"a}nderungen beobachten, die bei Riesen (Giant)- Vesikeln hervorgerufen werden. Als lange Polymere verwenden wir fluoreszenzmarkierte \&\#955;-Phage DNA Molek{\"u}le, die durch eine Biotin-Avidin-Biotin Verbindung an biotinhaltigen Lipidvesikeln befestigt sind. Wir kontrollieren die Oberfl{\"a}chenkonzentration der Anker durch Variation der Menge an biotinhaltigem Lipid in der Membran. Die Menge der an der Membran verankerten DNA wird durch Fluoreszenzmessungen quantifiziert. {\"A}nderungen in den elastischen Eigenschaften der Membran bei Anbindung der DNA, werden {\"u}ber eine Analyse der Vesikel-Fluktuationen kontrolliert. Die spontane Kr{\"u}mmung der Membran steigt mit der Oberfl{\"a}chenbeladung. Bei h{\"o}heren Verankerungen bilden die Vesikel Knospen (budding). Die Gr{\"o}ße der Knospen kann ebenfalls zur Bestimmung der Kr{\"u}mmung der Membran verwendet werden. Der Einfluss auf die Biegesteifigkeit ist Thema weiterer Untersuchungen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zoeller1999, author = {Z{\"o}ller, Gert}, title = {Analyse raumzeitlicher Muster in Erdbebendaten}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000122}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {1999}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Arbeit besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit der Charakterisierung von Seismizit{\"a}t anhand von Erdbebenkatalogen. Es werden neue Verfahren der Datenanalyse entwickelt, die Aufschluss dar{\"u}ber geben sollen, ob der seismischen Dynamik ein stochastischer oder ein deterministischer Prozess zugrunde liegt und was daraus f{\"u}r die Vorhersagbarkeit starker Erdbeben folgt. Es wird gezeigt, dass seismisch aktive Regionen h{\"a}ufig durch nichtlinearen Determinismus gekennzeichent sind. Dies schließt zumindest die M{\"o}glichkeit einer Kurzzeitvorhersage ein. Das Auftreten seismischer Ruhe wird h{\"a}ufig als Vorl{\"a}uferphaenomen f{\"u}r starke Erdbeben gedeutet. Es wird eine neue Methode pr{\"a}sentiert, die eine systematische raumzeitliche Kartierung seismischer Ruhephasen erm{\"o}glicht. Die statistische Signifikanz wird mit Hilfe des Konzeptes der Ersatzdaten bestimmt. Als Resultat erh{\"a}lt man deutliche Korrelationen zwischen seismischen Ruheperioden und starken Erdbeben. Gleichwohl ist die Signifikanz daf{\"u}r nicht hoch genug, um eine Vorhersage im Sinne einer Aussage {\"u}ber den Ort, die Zeit und die St{\"a}rke eines zu erwartenden Hauptbebens zu erm{\"o}glichen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Uyaver2004, author = {Uyaver, Sahin}, title = {Simulation of annealed polyelectrolytes in poor solvents}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0001488}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2004}, abstract = {Polymere sind lange kettenartige Molek{\"u}le. Sie bestehen aus vielen elementaren chemischen Einheiten, den Monomeren, die durch kovalente Bindungen aneinander gekettet sind. Polyelektrolyte sind Polymere, die ionisierbare Monomeren enthalten. Aufgrund ihrer speziellen Eigenschaften sind Polyelektrolyte sowohl in der Molekular- und Zellbiologie von großen Bedeutung als auch in der Chemie großtechnisch relevant. Verglichen mit ungeladenen Polymeren sind Polyelektrolyte theoretisch noch wenig verstanden. Insbesondere gilt dies f{\"u}r Polyelektrolyte in sogenanntem schlechten L{\"o}sungsmittel. Ein schlechtes L{\"o}sungsmittel bewirkt eine effektive Anziehung zwischen den Monomeren. F{\"u}r Polyelektrolyte in schlechtem L{\"o}sungsmittel kommt es daher zu einer Konkurrenz zwischen dieser Anziehung und der elektrostatischen Abstoßung. Geladene Polymere werden im Rahmen der chemischen Klassifikation in starke und schwache Polyelektrolyte unterschieden. Erstere zeigen vollst{\"a}ndige Dissoziation unabh{\"a}ngig vom pH-Wert der L{\"o}sung. Die Position der Ladungen auf der Kette wird ausschließlich w{\"a}hrend der Polymersynthese festgelegt. In der Physik spricht man deshalb von Polyelektrolyten mit eingefrorener Ladungsverteilung (quenched polyelectrolytes). Im Falle von schwachen Polyelektrolyten ist die Ladungsdichte auf der Kette nicht konstant, sondern wird durch der pH-Wert der L{\"o}sung kontrolliert. Durch Rekombinations- und Dissoziationsprozesse sind die Ladungen auf der Kette beweglich. Im allgemeinen stellt sich eine inhomogene Gleichgewichtsverteilung ein, die mit der Struktur der Kette gekoppelt ist. Diese Polymere werden deshalb auch Polyelektrolyte mit Gleichgewichtsladungsverteilung (annealed polyelectrolytes) genannt. Wegen des zus{\"a}tzlichen Freiheitsgrades in der Ladungsverteilung werden eine Reihe ungew{\"o}hnlicher Eigenschaften theoretisch vorhergesagt. Mit Hilfe von Simulationen ist es zum ersten Mal gelungen, zu zeigen daß 'annealed' Polyelektrolyte in relativ schlechtem L{\"o}sungsmittel einen diskontinuierlichen Phasen{\"u}bergang durchlaufen, wenn ein kritischer pH-Werts der L{\"o}sung {\"u}berschritten wird. Bei diesem Phasen{\"u}bergang, gehen die Polyelektolyte von einer schwach geladenen kompakten globul{\"a}ren Struktur zu einer stark geladenen gestreckten Konfiguration {\"u}ber. Aufgrund theoretischer Vorhersagen wird erwartet, daß die globul{\"a}re Struktur in weniger schlechtem L{\"o}sungsmittel instabil wird und sich eine Perlenkettenkonfiguration ausbildet. Diese Vorhersage konnte f{\"u}r 'annealed' Polyelektrolyte mit den durchgef{\"u}hrten Simulationen zum ersten Mal best{\"a}tigt werden - inzwischen auch durch erste experimentelle Ergebnisse. Schließlich zeigen die Simulationen auch, daß annealed Polyelektrolyte bei einer kritischen Salzkonzentration in der L{\"o}sung einen scharfen {\"U}bergang zwischen einem stark geladenen gestreckten Zustand und einem schwach geladenen globul{\"a}ren Zustand aufweisen, wiederum in {\"U}bereinstimmung mit theoretischen Erwartungen.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Maraun2006, author = {Maraun, Douglas}, title = {What can we learn from climate data? : Methods for fluctuation, time/scale and phase analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-9047}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Since Galileo Galilei invented the first thermometer, researchers have tried to understand the complex dynamics of ocean and atmosphere by means of scientific methods. They observe nature and formulate theories about the climate system. Since some decades powerful computers are capable to simulate the past and future evolution of climate. Time series analysis tries to link the observed data to the computer models: Using statistical methods, one estimates characteristic properties of the underlying climatological processes that in turn can enter the models. The quality of an estimation is evaluated by means of error bars and significance testing. On the one hand, such a test should be capable to detect interesting features, i.e. be sensitive. On the other hand, it should be robust and sort out false positive results, i.e. be specific. This thesis mainly aims to contribute to methodological questions of time series analysis with a focus on sensitivity and specificity and to apply the investigated methods to recent climatological problems. First, the inference of long-range correlations by means of Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) is studied. It is argued that power-law scaling of the fluctuation function and thus long-memory may not be assumed a priori but have to be established. This requires to investigate the local slopes of the fluctuation function. The variability characteristic for stochastic processes is accounted for by calculating empirical confidence regions. The comparison of a long-memory with a short-memory model shows that the inference of long-range correlations from a finite amount of data by means of DFA is not specific. When aiming to infer short memory by means of DFA, a local slope larger than \$\alpha=0.5\$ for large scales does not necessarily imply long-memory. Also, a finite scaling of the autocorrelation function is shifted to larger scales in the fluctuation function. It turns out that long-range correlations cannot be concluded unambiguously from the DFA results for the Prague temperature data set. In the second part of the thesis, an equivalence class of nonstationary Gaussian stochastic processes is defined in the wavelet domain. These processes are characterized by means of wavelet multipliers and exhibit well defined time dependent spectral properties; they allow one to generate realizations of any nonstationary Gaussian process. The dependency of the realizations on the wavelets used for the generation is studied, bias and variance of the wavelet sample spectrum are calculated. To overcome the difficulties of multiple testing, an areawise significance test is developed and compared to the conventional pointwise test in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Applications to Climatological and Hydrological questions are presented. The thesis at hand mainly aims to contribute to methodological questions of time series analysis and to apply the investigated methods to recent climatological problems. In the last part, the coupling between El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Monsoon on inter-annual time scales is studied by means of Hilbert transformation and a curvature defined phase. This method allows one to investigate the relation of two oscillating systems with respect to their phases, independently of their amplitudes. The performance of the technique is evaluated using a toy model. From the data, distinct epochs are identified, especially two intervals of phase coherence, 1886-1908 and 1964-1980, confirming earlier findings from a new point of view. A significance test of high specificity corroborates these results. Also so far unknown periods of coupling invisible to linear methods are detected. These findings suggest that the decreasing correlation during the last decades might be partly inherent to the ENSO/Monsoon system. Finally, a possible interpretation of how volcanic radiative forcing could cause the coupling is outlined.}, subject = {Spektralanalyse }, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kappe2006, author = {Kappe, Philip}, title = {Design and investigation of the emission dynamics of a mode-locked SBS-laser oscillator}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-11514}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The primary objective of this work was to develop a laser source for fundamental investigations in the field of laser - materials interactions. In particular it is supposed to facilitate the study of the influence of the temporal energy distribution such as the interaction between adjacent pulses on ablation processes. Therefore, the aim was to design a laser with a highly flexible and easily controllable temporal energy distribution. The laser to meet these demands is an SBS-laser with optional active mode-locking. The nonlinear reflectivity of the SBS-mirror leads to a passive Q-switching and issues ns-pulse bursts with µs spacing. The pulse train parameters such as pulse duration, pulse spacing, pulse energy and number of pulses within a burst can be individually adjusted by tuning the pump parameters and the starting conditions for the laser. Another feature of the SBS-reflection is phase conjugation, which leads to an excellent beam quality thanks to the compensation of phase distortions. Transverse fundamental mode operation and a beam quality better than 1.4 times diffraction limited can be maintained for average output powers of up to 10 W. In addition to the dynamics on a ns-timescale described above, a defined splitting up of each ns-pulse into a train of ps-pulses can be achieved by additional active mode-locking. This twofold temporal focussing of the intensity leads to single pulse energies of up to 2 mJ at pulse durations of approximately 400 ps which corresponds to a pulse peak power of 5 MW. While the pulse duration is of the same order of magnitude as those of other passively Q-switched lasers with simultaneous mode-locking, the pulse energy and pulse peak power exceeds the values of these systems found in the literature by an order of magnitude. To the best of my knowledge the laser presented here is the first implementation of a self-starting mode-locked SBS-laser oscillator. In order to gain a better understanding and control of the transient output of the laser two complementary numerical models were developed. The first is based on laser rate equations which are solved for each laser mode individually while the mode-locking dynamics are calculated from the resultant transient spectrum. The rate equations consider the mean photon densities in the resonator, therefore the propagation of the light inside the resonator is not properly displayed. The second model, in contrast, introduces a spatial resolution of the resonator and hence the propagation inside the resonator can more accurately be considered. Consequently, a mismatch between the loss modulation frequency and the resonator round trip time can be conceived. The model calculates all dynamics in the time domain and therefore the spectral influences such as the Stokes-shift have to be neglected. Both models achieve an excellent reproduction of the ns-dynamics that are generated by the SBS-Q-switch. Separately, each model fails to reproduce all aspects of the ps-dynamics of the SBS-laser in detail. This can be attributed to the complexity of the numerous physical processes involved in this system. But thanks to their complementary nature they provide a very useful tool for investigating the various influences on the dynamics of the mode-locked SBS-laser individually. These aspects can eventually be recomposed to give a complete picture of the mechanisms which govern the output dynamics. Among the aspects under scrutiny were in particular the start resonator quality which determines the starting condition for the SBS-Q-switch, the modulation depth of the AOM and the phonon lifetime as well as the Brillouin-frequency of the SBS-medium. The numerical simulations and the experiments have opened several doors inviting further investigations and promising a potential for further improvement of the experimental results: The results of the simulations in combination with the experimental results which determined the starting conditions for the simulations leave no doubt that the bandwidth generation can primarily be attributed to the SBS-Stokes-shift during the buildup of the Q-switch pulse. For each resonator round trip, bandwidth is generated by shifting a part of the revolving light in frequency. The magnitude of the frequency shift corresponds to the Brillouin-frequency which is a constant of the SBS material and amounts in the case of SF6 to 240 MHz. The modulation of the AOM merely provides an exchange of population between spectrally adjacent modes and therefore diminishes a modulation in the spectrum. By use of a material with a Brillouin-frequency in the GHz range the bandwidth generation can be considerably accelerated thereby shortening the pulse duration. Also, it was demonstrated that yet another nonlinear effect of the SBS can be exploited: If the phonon lifetime is short compared to the resonator round trip time we obtain a modulation in the SBS-reflectivity that supports the modulation of the AOM. The application of an external optical feedback by a conventional mirror turns out to be an alternative to the AOM in synchronizing the longitudinal resonator modes. The interesting feature about this system is that it is ― although highly complex in the physical processes and the temporal output dynamics ― very simple and inexpensive from a technical point of view. No expensive modulators and no control electronics are necessary. Finally, the numerical models constitute a powerful tool for the investigation of emission dynamics of complex laser systems on arbitrary timescales and can also display the spectral evolution of the laser output. In particular it could be demonstrated that differences in the results of the complementary models vanish for systems of lesser complexity.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Boroudjerdi2005, author = {Boroudjerdi, Hoda}, title = {Charged polymer-macroion complexes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-6282}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {This work explores the equilibrium structure and thermodynamic phase behavior of complexes formed by charged polymer chains (polyelectrolytes) and oppositely charged spheres (macroions). Polyelectrolyte-macroion complexes form a common pattern in soft-matter physics, chemistry and biology, and enter in numerous technological applications as well. From a fundamental point of view, such complexes are interesting in that they combine the subtle interplay between electrostatic interactions and elastic as well as entropic effects due to conformational changes of the polymer chain, giving rise to a wide range of structural properties. This forms the central theme of theoretical studies presented in this thesis, which concentrate on a number of different problems involving strongly coupled complexes, i.e. complexes that are characterized by a large adsorption energy and small chain fluctuations. In the first part, a global analysis of the structural phase behavior of a single polyelectrolyte-macroion complex is presented based on a dimensionless representation, yielding results that cover a wide range of realistic system parameters. Emphasize is made on the interplay between the effects due to the polyelectrolytes chain length, salt concentration and the macroion charge as well as the mechanical chain persistence length. The results are summarized into generic phase diagrams characterizing the wrapping-dewrapping behavior of a polyelectrolyte chain on a macroion. A fully wrapped chain state is typically obtained at intermediate salt concentrations and chain lengths, where the amount of polyelectrolyte charge adsorbed on the macroion typically exceeds the bare macroion charge leading thus to a highly overcharged complex. Perhaps the most striking features occur when a single long polyelectrolyte chain is complexed with many oppositely charged spheres. In biology, such complexes form between DNA (which carries the cell's genetic information) and small oppositely charged histone proteins serving as an efficient mechanism for packing a huge amount of DNA into the micron-size cell nucleus in eucaryotic cells. The resultant complex fiber, known as the chromatin fiber, appears with a diameter of 30~nm under physiological conditions. Recent experiments indicate a zig-zag spatial arrangement for individual DNA-histone complexes (nucleosome core particles) along the chromatin fiber. A numerical method is introduced in this thesis based on a simple generic chain-sphere cell model that enables one to investigate the mechanism of fiber formation on a systematic level by incorporating electrostatic and elastic contributions. As will be shown, stable complex fibers exhibit an impressive variety of structures including zig-zag, solenoidal and beads-on-a-string patterns, depending on system parameters such as salt concentration, sphere charge as well as the chain contour length (per sphere). The present results predict fibers of compact zig-zag structure within the physiologically relevant regime with a diameter of about 30~nm, when DNA-histone parameters are adopted. In the next part, a numerical method is developed in order to investigate the role of thermal fluctuations on the structure and thermodynamic phase behavior of polyelectrolyte-macroion complexes. This is based on a saddle-point approximation, which allows to describe the experimentally observed reaction (or complexation) equilibrium in a dilute solution of polyelectrolytes and macroions on a systematic level. This equilibrium is determined by the entropy loss a single polyelectrolyte chain suffers as it binds to an oppositely charged macroion. This latter quantity can be calculated from the spectrum of polyelectrolyte fluctuations around a macroion, which is determined by means of a normal-mode analysis. Thereby, a stability phase diagram is obtained, which exhibits qualitative agreement with experimental findings. At elevated complex concentrations, one needs to account for the inter-complex interactions as well. It will be shown that at small separations, complexes undergo structural changes in such a way that positive patches from one complex match up with negative patches on the other. Furthermore, one of the polyelectrolyte chains may bridge between the two complexes. These mechanisms lead to a strong inter-complex attraction. As a result, the second virial coefficient associated with the inter-complex interaction becomes negative at intermediate salt concentrations in qualitative agreement with recent experiments on solutions of nucleosome core particles.}, subject = {Biopolymere}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{NarayananNair2006, author = {Narayanan Nair, Arun Kumar}, title = {Molecular dynamics simulations of polyelectrolyte brushes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-7005}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {This thesis studies strong, completely charged polyelectrolyte brushes. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations are performed on different polyelectrolyte brush systems using local compute servers and massively parallel supercomputers. The full Coulomb interaction of charged monomers, counterions, and salt ions is treated explicitly. The polymer chains are anchored by one of their ends to a uncharged planar surface. The chains are treated under good solvent conditions. Monovalent salt ions (1:1 type) are modelled same as counterions. The studies concentrate on three different brush systems at constant temperature and moderate Coulomb interaction strength (Bjerrum length equal to bond length): The first system consists of a single polyelectrolyte brush anchored with varying grafting density to a plane. Results show that chains are extended up to about 2/3 of their contour length. The brush thickness slightly grows with increasing anchoring density. This slight dependence of the brush height on grafting density is in contrast to the well known scaling result for the osmotic brush regime. That is why the result obtained by simulations has stimulated further development of theory as well as new experimental investigations on polyelectrolyte brushes. This observation can be understood on a semi-quantitative level using a simple scaling model that incorporates excluded volume effects in a free-volume formulation where an effective cross section is assigned to the polymer chain from where couterions are excluded. The resulting regime is called nonlinear osmotic brush regime. Recently this regime was also obtained in experiments. The second system studied consists of polyelectrolyte brushes with added salt in the nonlinear osmotic regime. Varying salt is an important parameter to tune the structure and properties of polyelectrolytes. Further motivation is due to a theoretical scaling prediction by Pincus for the salt dependence of brush thickness. In the high salt limit (salt concentration much larger than counterion concentration) the brush height is predicted to decrease with increasing external salt, but with a relatively weak power law showing an exponent -1/3. There is some experimental and theoretical work that confirms this prediction, but there are other results that are in contradiction. In such a situation simulations are performed to validate the theoretical prediction. The simulation result shows that brush thickness decreases with added salt, and indeed is in quite good agreement with the scaling prediction by Pincus. The relation between buffer concentration and the effective ion strength inside the brush at varying salt concentration is of interest both from theoretical as well as experimental point of view. The simulation result shows that mobile ions (counterions as well as salt) distribute nonhomogeneously inside and outside of the brush. To explain the relation between the internal ion concentration with the buffer concentration a Donnan equilibrium approach is employed. Modifying the Donnan approach by taking into account the self-volume of polyelectrolyte chains as indicated above, the simulation result can be explained using the same effective cross section for the polymer chains. The extended Donnan equilibrium relation represents a interesting theoretical prediction that should be checked by experimental data. The third system consist of two interacting polyelectrolyte brushes that are grafted to two parallel surfaces. The interactions between brushes are important, for instance, in stabilization of dispersions against flocculation. In the simulations pressure is evaluated as a function of separation D between the two grafting planes. The pressure behavior shows different regimes for decreasing separation. This behavior is in qualitative agreement with experimental data. At relatively weak compression the pressure behavior obtained in the simulation agrees with a 1/D power law predicted by scaling theory. Beyond that the present study could supply new insight for understanding the interaction between polyelectrolyte brushes.}, subject = {Molekulardynamik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kucklaender2006, author = {Kuckl{\"a}nder, Nina}, title = {Synchronization via correlated noise and automatic control in ecological systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10826}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = { Subject of this work is the possibility to synchronize nonlinear systems via correlated noise and automatic control. The thesis is divided into two parts. The first part is motivated by field studies on feral sheep populations on two islands of the St. Kilda archipelago, which revealed strong correlations due to environmental noise. For a linear system the population correlation equals the noise correlation (Moran effect). But there exists no systematic examination of the properties of nonlinear maps under the influence of correlated noise. Therefore, in the first part of this thesis the noise-induced correlation of logistic maps is systematically examined. For small noise intensities it can be shown analytically that the correlation of quadratic maps in the fixed-point regime is always smaller than or equal to the noise correlation. In the period-2 regime a Markov model explains qualitatively the main dynamical characteristics. Furthermore, two different mechanisms are introduced which lead to a higher correlation of the systems than the environmental correlation. The new effect of "correlation resonance" is described, i. e. the correlation yields a maximum depending on the noise intensity. In the second part of the thesis an automatic control method is presented which synchronizes different systems in a robust way. This method is inspired by phase-locked loops and is based on a feedback loop with a differential control scheme, which allows to change the phases of the controlled systems. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated for controlled phase synchronization of regular oscillators and foodweb models.}, subject = {Markov-Prozess}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Yin2010, author = {Yin, Fan}, title = {Mathematic approaches for the calibration of the CHAMP satellite magnetic field measurements}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-41201}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2010}, abstract = {CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) is a German small satellite mission to study the earth's gravity field, magnetic field and upper atmosphere. Thanks to the good condition of the satellite so far, the planned 5 years mission is extended to year 2009. The satellite provides continuously a large quantity of measurement data for the purpose of Earth study. The measurements of the magnetic field are undertaken by two Fluxgate Magnetometers (vector magnetometer) and one Overhauser Magnetometer (scalar magnetometer) flown on CHAMP. In order to ensure the quality of the data during the whole mission, the calibration of the magnetometers has to be performed routinely in orbit. The scalar magnetometer serves as the magnetic reference and its readings are compared with the readings of the vector magnetometer. The readings of the vector magnetometer are corrected by the parameters that are derived from this comparison, which is called the scalar calibration. In the routine processing, these calibration parameters are updated every 15 days by means of scalar calibration. There are also magnetic effects coming from the satellite which disturb the measurements. Most of them have been characterized during tests before launch. Among them are the remanent magnetization of the spacecraft and fields generated by currents. They are all considered to be constant over the mission life. The 8 years of operation experience allow us to investigate the long-term behaviors of the magnetometers and the satellite systems. According to the investigation, it was found that for example the scale factors of the FGM show obvious long-term changes which can be described by logarithmic functions. The other parameters (offsets and angles between the three components) can be considered constant. If these continuous parameters are applied for the FGM data processing, the disagreement between the OVM and the FGM readings is limited to \pm1nT over the whole mission. This demonstrates, the magnetometers on CHAMP exhibit a very good stability. However, the daily correction of the parameter Z component offset of the FGM improves the agreement between the magnetometers markedly. The Z component offset plays a very important role for the data quality. It exhibits a linear relationship with the standard deviation of the disagreement between the OVM and the FGM readings. After Z offset correction, the errors are limited to \pm0.5nT (equivalent to a standard deviation of 0.2nT). We improved the corrections of the spacecraft field which are not taken into account in the routine processing. Such disturbance field, e.g. from the power supply system of the satellite, show some systematic errors in the FGM data and are misinterpreted in 9-parameter calibration, which brings false local time related variation of the calibration parameters. These corrections are made by applying a mathematical model to the measured currents. This non-linear model is derived from an inversion technique. If the disturbance field of the satellite body are fully corrected, the standard deviation of scalar error \triangle B remains about 0.1nT. Additionally, in order to keep the OVM readings a reliable standard, the imperfect coefficients of the torquer current correction for the OVM are redetermined by solving a minimization problem. The temporal variation of the spacecraft remanent field is investigated. It was found that the average magnetic moment of the magneto-torquers reflects well the moment of the satellite. This allows for a continuous correction of the spacecraft field. The reasons for the possible unknown systemic error are discussed in this thesis. Particularly, both temperature uncertainties and time errors have influence on the FGM data. Based on the results of this thesis the data processing of future magnetic missions can be designed in an improved way. In particular, the upcoming ESA mission Swarm can take advantage of our findings and provide all the auxiliary measurements needed for a proper recovery of the ambient magnetic field.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{GamezLopez2006, author = {G{\´a}mez L{\´o}pez, Antonio Juan}, title = {Application of nonlinear dimensionality reduction to climate data for prediction}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10956}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {This Thesis was devoted to the study of the coupled system composed by El Ni{\~n}o/Southern Oscillation and the Annual Cycle. More precisely, the work was focused on two main problems: 1. How to separate both oscillations into an affordable model for understanding the behaviour of the whole system. 2. How to model the system in order to achieve a better understanding of the interaction, as well as to predict future states of the system. We focused our efforts in the Sea Surface Temperature equations, considering that atmospheric effects were secondary to the ocean dynamics. The results found may be summarised as follows: 1. Linear methods are not suitable for characterising the dimensionality of the sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Therefore they do not help to separate the oscillations by themselves. Instead, nonlinear methods of dimensionality reduction are proven to be better in defining a lower limit for the dimensionality of the system as well as in explaining the statistical results in a more physical way [1]. In particular, Isomap, a nonlinear modification of Multidimensional Scaling methods, provides a physically appealing method of decomposing the data, as it substitutes the euclidean distances in the manifold by an approximation of the geodesic distances. We expect that this method could be successfully applied to other oscillatory extended systems and, in particular, to meteorological systems. 2. A three dimensional dynamical system could be modeled, using a backfitting algorithm, for describing the dynamics of the sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean. We observed that, although there were few data points available, we could predict future behaviours of the coupled ENSO-Annual Cycle system with an accuracy of less than six months, although the constructed system presented several drawbacks: few data points to input in the backfitting algorithm, untrained model, lack of forcing with external data and simplification using a close system. Anyway, ensemble prediction techniques showed that the prediction skills of the three dimensional time series were as good as those found in much more complex models. This suggests that the climatological system in the tropics is mainly explained by ocean dynamics, while the atmosphere plays a secondary role in the physics of the process. Relevant predictions for short lead times can be made using a low dimensional system, despite its simplicity. The analysis of the SST data suggests that nonlinear interaction between the oscillations is small, and that noise plays a secondary role in the fundamental dynamics of the oscillations [2]. A global view of the work shows a general procedure to face modeling of climatological systems. First, we should find a suitable method of either linear or nonlinear dimensionality reduction. Then, low dimensional time series could be extracted out of the method applied. Finally, a low dimensional model could be found using a backfitting algorithm in order to predict future states of the system.}, subject = {Nichtlineare Dynamik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Rust2007, author = {Rust, Henning}, title = {Detection of long-range dependence : applications in climatology and hydrology}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-13347}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {It is desirable to reduce the potential threats that result from the variability of nature, such as droughts or heat waves that lead to food shortage, or the other extreme, floods that lead to severe damage. To prevent such catastrophic events, it is necessary to understand, and to be capable of characterising, nature's variability. Typically one aims to describe the underlying dynamics of geophysical records with differential equations. There are, however, situations where this does not support the objectives, or is not feasible, e.g., when little is known about the system, or it is too complex for the model parameters to be identified. In such situations it is beneficial to regard certain influences as random, and describe them with stochastic processes. In this thesis I focus on such a description with linear stochastic processes of the FARIMA type and concentrate on the detection of long-range dependence. Long-range dependent processes show an algebraic (i.e. slow) decay of the autocorrelation function. Detection of the latter is important with respect to, e.g. trend tests and uncertainty analysis. Aiming to provide a reliable and powerful strategy for the detection of long-range dependence, I suggest a way of addressing the problem which is somewhat different from standard approaches. Commonly used methods are based either on investigating the asymptotic behaviour (e.g., log-periodogram regression), or on finding a suitable potentially long-range dependent model (e.g., FARIMA[p,d,q]) and test the fractional difference parameter d for compatibility with zero. Here, I suggest to rephrase the problem as a model selection task, i.e.comparing the most suitable long-range dependent and the most suitable short-range dependent model. Approaching the task this way requires a) a suitable class of long-range and short-range dependent models along with suitable means for parameter estimation and b) a reliable model selection strategy, capable of discriminating also non-nested models. With the flexible FARIMA model class together with the Whittle estimator the first requirement is fulfilled. Standard model selection strategies, e.g., the likelihood-ratio test, is for a comparison of non-nested models frequently not powerful enough. Thus, I suggest to extend this strategy with a simulation based model selection approach suitable for such a direct comparison. The approach follows the procedure of a statistical test, with the likelihood-ratio as the test statistic. Its distribution is obtained via simulations using the two models under consideration. For two simple models and different parameter values, I investigate the reliability of p-value and power estimates obtained from the simulated distributions. The result turned out to be dependent on the model parameters. However, in many cases the estimates allow an adequate model selection to be established. An important feature of this approach is that it immediately reveals the ability or inability to discriminate between the two models under consideration. Two applications, a trend detection problem in temperature records and an uncertainty analysis for flood return level estimation, accentuate the importance of having reliable methods at hand for the detection of long-range dependence. In the case of trend detection, falsely concluding long-range dependence implies an underestimation of a trend and possibly leads to a delay of measures needed to take in order to counteract the trend. Ignoring long-range dependence, although present, leads to an underestimation of confidence intervals and thus to an unjustified belief in safety, as it is the case for the return level uncertainty analysis. A reliable detection of long-range dependence is thus highly relevant in practical applications. Examples related to extreme value analysis are not limited to hydrological applications. The increased uncertainty of return level estimates is a potentially problem for all records from autocorrelated processes, an interesting examples in this respect is the assessment of the maximum strength of wind gusts, which is important for designing wind turbines. The detection of long-range dependence is also a relevant problem in the exploration of financial market volatility. With rephrasing the detection problem as a model selection task and suggesting refined methods for model comparison, this thesis contributes to the discussion on and development of methods for the detection of long-range dependence.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zakrevskyy2006, author = {Zakrevskyy, Yuriy}, title = {Liquid crystallinity and alignment of ionic self-assembly complexes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-10048}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2006}, abstract = {In this work the first observation of new type of liquid crystals is presented. This is ionic self-assembly (ISA) liquid crystals formed by introduction of oppositely charged ions between different low molecular tectonic units. As practically all conventional liquid crystals consist of rigid core and alkyl chains the attention is focused to the simplest case where oppositely charged ions are placed between a rigid core and alkyl tails. The aim of this work is to investigate and understand liquid crystalline and alignment properties of these materials. It was found that ionic interactions within complexes play the main role. Presence of these interactions restricts transition to isotropic phase. In addition, these interactions hold the system (like network) allowing crystallization into a single domain from aligned LC state. Alignment of these simple ISA complexes was spontaneous on a glass substrate. In order to show potentials for application perylenediimide and azobenzene containing ISA complexes have been investigated for correlations between phase behavior and their alignment properties. The best results of macroscopic alignment of perylenediimide-based ISA complexes have been obtained by zone-casting method. In the aligned films the columns of the complex align perpendicular to the phase-transition front. The obtained anisotropy (DR = 18) is thermally stable. The investigated photosensitive (azobenzene-based) ISA complexes show formation of columnar LC phases. It was demonstrated that photo alignment of such complexes was very effective (DR = 50 has been obtained). It was shown that photo-reorientation in the photosensitive ISA complexes is cooperative process. The size of domains has direct influence on efficiency of the photo-reorientation process. In the case of small domains the photo-alignment is the most effective. Under irradiation with linearly polarized light domains reorient in the plane of the film leading to macroscopic alignment of columns parallel to the light polarization and joining of small domains into big ones. Finally, the additional distinguishable properties of the ISA liquid crystalline complexes should be noted: (I) the complexes do not solve in water but readily solve in organic solvents; (II) the complexes have good film-forming properties when cast or spin-coated from organic solvent; (III) alignment of the complexes depends on their structure and secondary interactions between tectonic units.}, subject = {Fl{\"u}ssigkristall}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Griesel2005, author = {Griesel, Alexa}, title = {Modelling large scale ocean circulation : the role of mixing location and meridional pressure gradients for the Atlantic overturning dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-2609}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Due to its relevance for global climate, the realistic representation of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in ocean models is a key task. In recent years, two paradigms have evolved around what are its driving mechanisms: diapycnal mixing and Southern Ocean winds. This work aims at clarifying what sets the strength of the Atlantic overturning components in an ocean general circulation model and discusses the role of spatially inhomogeneous mixing, numerical diffusion and winds. Furthermore, the relation of the AMOC with a key quantity, the meridional pressure difference is analyzed. Due to the application of a very low diffusive tracer advection scheme, a realistic Atlantic overturning circulation can be obtained that is purely wind driven. On top of the winddriven circulation, changes of density gradients are caused by increasing the parameterized eddy diffusion in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean. The linear relation between the maximum of the Atlantic overturning and the meridional pressure difference found in previous studies is confirmed and it is shown to be due to one significant pressure gradient between the average pressure over high latitude deep water formation regions and a relatively uniform pressure between 30°N and 30°S, which can directly be related to a zonal flow through geostrophy. Under constant Southern Ocean windstress forcing, a South Atlantic outflow in the range of 6-16 Sv is obtained for a large variety of experiments. Overall, the circulation is winddriven but its strength not uniquely determined by the Southern Ocean windstress. The scaling of the Atlantic overturning components is linear with the background vertical diffusivity, not confirming the 2/3 power law for one-hemisphere models without wind forcing. The pycnocline depth is constant in the coarse resolution model with large vertical grid extends. It suggests the ocean model operates like the Stommel box model with a linear relation of the pressure difference and fixed vertical scale for the volume transport. However, this seems only valid for vertical diffusivities smaller 0.4 cm²/s, when the dominant upwelling within the Atlantic occurs along the boundaries. For larger vertical diffusivities, a significant amount of interior upwelling occurs. It is further shown that any localized vertical mixing in the deep to bottom ocean cannot drive an Atlantic overturning. However, enhanced boundary mixing at thermocline depths is potentially important. The numerical diffusion is shown to have a large impact on the representation of the Atlantic overturning in the model. While the horizontal numerical diffusion tends to destabilize the Atlantic overturning the verital numerical diffusion denotes an amplifying mechanism.}, subject = {Thermohaline Zirkulation}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Toenjes2007, author = {T{\"o}njes, Ralf}, title = {Pattern formation through synchronization in systems of nonidentical autonomous oscillators}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-15973}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {This work is concerned with the spatio-temporal structures that emerge when non-identical, diffusively coupled oscillators synchronize. It contains analytical results and their confirmation through extensive computer simulations. We use the Kuramoto model which reduces general oscillatory systems to phase dynamics. The symmetry of the coupling plays an important role for the formation of patterns. We have studied the ordering influence of an asymmetry (non-isochronicity) in the phase coupling function on the phase profile in synchronization and the intricate interplay between this asymmetry and the frequency heterogeneity in the system. The thesis is divided into three main parts. Chapter 2 and 3 introduce the basic model of Kuramoto and conditions for stable synchronization. In Chapter 4 we characterize the phase profiles in synchronization for various special cases and in an exponential approximation of the phase coupling function, which allows for an analytical treatment. Finally, in the third part (Chapter 5) we study the influence of non-isochronicity on the synchronization frequency in continuous, reaction diffusion systems and discrete networks of oscillators.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dahlke2020, author = {Dahlke, Sandro}, title = {Rapid climate changes in the arctic region of Svalbard}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-44554}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-445542}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xv, 123}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Over the last decades, the Arctic regions of the earth have warmed at a rate 2-3 times faster than the global average- a phenomenon called Arctic Amplification. A complex, non-linear interplay of physical processes and unique pecularities in the Arctic climate system is responsible for this, but the relative role of individual processes remains to be debated. This thesis focuses on the climate change and related processes on Svalbard, an archipelago in the North Atlantic sector of the Arctic, which is shown to be a "hotspot" for the amplified recent warming during winter. In this highly dynamical region, both oceanic and atmospheric large-scale transports of heat and moisture interfere with spatially inhomogenous surface conditions, and the corresponding energy exchange strongly shapes the atmospheric boundary layer. In the first part, Pan-Svalbard gradients in the surface air temperature (SAT) and sea ice extent (SIE) in the fjords are quantified and characterized. This analysis is based on observational data from meteorological stations, operational sea ice charts, and hydrographic observations from the adjacent ocean, which cover the 1980-2016 period. It is revealed that typical estimates of SIE during late winter range from 40-50\% (80-90\%) in the western (eastern) parts of Svalbard. However, strong SAT warming during winter of the order of 2-3K per decade dictates excessive ice loss, leaving fjords in the western parts essentially ice-free in recent winters. It is further demostrated that warm water currents on the west coast of Svalbard, as well as meridional winds contribute to regional differences in the SIE evolution. In particular, the proximity to warm water masses of the West Spitsbergen Current can explain 20-37\% of SIE variability in fjords on west Svalbard, while meridional winds and associated ice drift may regionally explain 20-50\% of SIE variability in the north and northeast. Strong SAT warming has overruled these impacts in recent years, though. In the next part of the analysis, the contribution of large-scale atmospheric circulation changes to the Svalbard temperature development over the last 20 years is investigated. A study employing kinematic air-back trajectories for Ny-{\AA}lesund reveals a shift in the source regions of lower-troposheric air over time for both the winter and the summer season. In winter, air in the recent decade is more often of lower-latitude Atlantic origin, and less frequent of Arctic origin. This affects heat- and moisture advection towards Svalbard, potentially manipulating clouds and longwave downward radiation in that region. A closer investigation indicates that this shift during winter is associated with a strengthened Ural blocking high and Icelandic low, and contributes about 25\% to the observed winter warming on Svalbard over the last 20 years. Conversely, circulation changes during summer include a strengthened Greenland blocking high which leads to more frequent cold air advection from the central Arctic towards Svalbard, and less frequent air mass origins in the lower latitudes of the North Atlantic. Hence, circulation changes during winter are shown to have an amplifying effect on the recent warming on Svalbard, while summer circulation changes tend to mask warming. An observational case study using upper air soundings from the AWIPEV research station in Ny-{\AA}lesund during May-June 2017 underlines that such circulation changes during summer are associated with tropospheric anomalies in temperature, humidity and boundary layer height. In the last part of the analysis, the regional representativeness of the above described changes around Svalbard for the broader Arctic is investigated. Therefore, the terms in the diagnostic temperature equation in the Arctic-wide lower troposphere are examined for the Era-Interim atmospheric reanalysis product. Significant positive trends in diabatic heating rates, consistent with latent heat transfer to the atmosphere over regions of increasing ice melt, are found for all seasons over the Barents/Kara Seas, and in individual months in the vicinity of Svalbard. The above introduced warm (cold) advection trends during winter (summer) on Svalbard are successfully reproduced. Regarding winter, they are regionally confined to the Barents Sea and Fram Strait, between 70°-80°N, resembling a unique feature in the whole Arctic. Summer cold advection trends are confined to the area between eastern Greenland and Franz Josef Land, enclosing Svalbard.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{HernandezAnguizola2020, author = {Hernandez Anguizola, Eloy Luis}, title = {Numerical simulations in multimode fibres for astronomical spectroscopy}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-47236}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-472363}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xvi, 114}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The goal of this thesis was to thoroughly investigate the behavior of multimode fibres to aid the development of modern and forthcoming fibre-fed spectrograph systems. Based on the Eigenmode Expansion Method, a field propagation model was created that can emulate effects in fibres relevant for astronomical spectroscopy, such as modal noise, scrambling, and focal ratio degradation. These effects are of major concern for any fibre-coupled spectrograph used in astronomical research. Changes in the focal ratio, modal distribution of light or non-perfect scrambling limit the accuracy of measurements, e.g. the flux determination of the astronomical object, the sky-background subtraction and detection limit for faint galaxies, or the spectral line position accuracy used for the detection of extra-solar planets. Usually, fibres used for astronomical instrumentation are characterized empirically through tests. The results of this work allow to predict the fibre behaviour under various conditions using sophisticated software tools to simulate the waveguide behaviour and mode transport of fibres. The simulation environment works with two software interfaces. The first is the mode solver module FemSIM from Rsoft. It is used to calculate all the propagation modes and effective refractive indexes of a given system. The second interface consists of Python scripts which enable the simulation of the near- and far-field outputs of a given fibre. The characteristics of the input field can be manipulated to emulate real conditions. Focus variations, spatial translation, angular fluctuations, and disturbances through the mode coupling factor can also be simulated. To date, complete coherent propagation or complete incoherent propagation can be simulated. Partial coherence was not addressed in this work. Another limitation of the simulations is that they work exclusively for the monochromatic case and that the loss coefficient of the fibres is not considered. Nevertheless, the simulations were able to match the results of realistic measurements. To test the validity of the simulations, real fibre measurements were used for comparison. Two fibres with different cross-sections were characterized. The first fibre had a circular cross-section, and the second one had an octagonal cross-section. The utilized test-bench was originally developed for the prototype fibres of the 4MOST fibre feed characterization. It allowed for parallel laser beam measurements, light cone measurements, and scrambling measurements. Through the appropriate configuration, the acquisition of the near- and/or far-field was feasible. By means of modal noise analysis, it was possible to compare the near-field speckle patterns of simulations and measurements as a function of the input angle. The spatial frequencies that originate from the modal interference could be analyzed by using the power spectral density analysis. Measurements and simulations yielded similar results. Measurements with induced modal scrambling were compared to simulations using incoherent propagation and once again similar results were achieved. Through both measurements and simulations, the enlargement of the near-field distribution could be observed and analyzed. The simulations made it possible to explain incoherent intensity fluctuations that appear in real measurements due to the field distribution of the active propagation modes. By using the Voigt analysis in the far-field distribution, it was possible to separate the modal diffusion component in order to compare it with the simulations. Through an appropriate assessment, the modal diffusion component as a function of the input angle could be translated into angular divergence. The simulations gave the minimal angular divergence of the system. Through the mean of the difference between simulations and measurements, a figure of merit is given which can be used to characterize the angular divergence of real fibres using the simulations. Furthermore, it was possible to simulate light cone measurements. Due to the overall consistent results, it can be stated that the simulations represent a good tool to assist the fibre characterization process for fibre-fed spectrograph systems. This work was possible through the BMBF Grant 05A14BA1 which was part of the phase A study of the fibre system for MOSAIC, a multi-object spectrograph for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT-MOS).}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dziourkevitch2005, author = {Dziourkevitch, Natalia}, title = {Interstellar turbulence driven by magneto-rotational instability}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5306}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Origin and symmetry of the observed global magnetic fields in galaxies are not fully understood. We intend to clarify the question of the magnetic field origin and investigate the global action of the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) in galactic disks with the help of 3D global magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) simulations. The calculations were done with the time-stepping ZEUS 3D code using massive parallelization. The alpha-Omega dynamo is known to be one of the most efficient mechanisms to reproduce the observed global galactic fields. The presence of strong turbulence is a pre-requisite for the alpha-Omega dynamo generation of the regular magnetic fields. The observed magnitude and spatial distribution of turbulence in galaxies present unsolved problems to theoreticians. The MRI is known to be a fast and powerful mechanism to generate MHD turbulence and to amplify magnetic fields. We find that the critical wavelength increases with the increasing of magnetic fields during the simulation, transporting the energy from critical to larger scales. The final structure, if not disrupted by supernovae explosions, is the structure of `thin layers' of thickness of about 100 pcs. An important outcome of all simulations is the magnitude of the horizontal components of the Reynolds and Maxwell stresses. The result is that the MRI-driven turbulence is magnetic-dominated: its magnetic energy exceeds the kinetic energy by a factor of 4. The Reynolds stress is small and less than 1\% of the Maxwell stress. The angular momentum transport is thus completely dominated by the magnetic field fluctuations. The volume-averaged pitch angle is always negative with a magnitude of about -30. The non-saturated MRI regime is lasting sufficiently long to fill the time between the galactic encounters, independently of strength and geometry of the initial field. Therefore, we may claim the observed pitch angles can be due to MRI action in the gaseous galactic disks. The MRI is also shown to be a very fast instability with e-folding time proportional to the time of one rotation. Steep rotation curves imply a stronger growth for the magnetic energy due to MRI. The global e-folding time is from 44 Myr to 100 Myr depending on the rotation profile. Therefore, MRI can explain the existence of rather large magnetic field in very young galaxies. We also have reproduced the observed rms values of velocities in the interstellar turbulence as it was observed in NGC 1058. We have shown with the simulations that the averaged velocity dispersion of about 5 km/s is a typical number for the MRI-driven turbulence in galaxies, which agrees with observations. The dispersion increases outside of the disk plane, whereas supernovae-driven turbulence is found to be concentrated within the disk. In our simulations the velocity dispersion increases a few times with the heights. An additional support to the dynamo alpha-effect in the galaxies is the ability of the MRI to produce a mix of quadrupole and dipole symmetries from the purely vertical seed fields, so it also solves the seed-fields problem of the galactic dynamo theory. The interaction of magneto-rotational instability and random supernovae explosions remains an open question. It would be desirable to run the simulation with the supernovae explosions included. They would disrupt the calm ring structure produced by global MRI, may be even to the level when we can no longer blame MRI to be responsible for the turbulence.}, subject = {Magnetohydrodynamik}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Szklarski2007, author = {Szklarski, Jacek T.}, title = {Helical magnetorotational instability in MHD Taylor-Couette flow}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-16002}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Magnetorotational instability (MRI) is one of the most important and most common instabilities in astrophysics. Today it is widely accepted that it serves as a major source of turbulent viscosity in accretion disks, the most energy efficient objects in the universe. The importance of the MRI for astrophysics has been realized only in recent fifteen years. However, originally it was discovered much earlier, in 1959, in a very different context. Theoretical flow of a conducting liquid confined between differentially rotating cylinders in the presence of an external magnetic field was analyzed. The central conclusion is that the additional magnetic field parallel to the axis of rotation can destabilize otherwise stable flow. Theory of non-magnetized fluid motion between rotating cylinders has much longer history, though. It has been studied already in 1888 and today such setup is usually referred as a Taylor-Couette flow. To prove experimentally the existence of MRI in a magnetized Taylor-Couette flow is a demanding task and different MHD groups around the world try to achieve it. The main problem lies in the fact that laboratory liquid metals which are used in such experiments are characterized by small magnetic Prandtl number. Consequently rotation rates of the cylinders must be extremely large and vast amount of technical problems emerge. One of the most important difficulties is an influence of plates enclosing the cylinders in any experiment. For fast rotation the plates tend to dominate the whole flow and the MRI can not be observed. In this thesis we discuss a special helical configuration of the applied magnetic field which allows the critical rotation rates to be much smaller. If only the axial magnetic field is present, the cylinders must rotate with angular velocities corresponding to Reynolds numbers of order Re ≈ 10^6. With the helical field this number is dramatically reduced to Re ≈ 10^3. The azimuthal component of the magnetic field can be easily generated by letting an electric current through the axis of rotation, In a Taylor-Couette flow the (primary) instability manifests itself as Taylor vortices. The specific geometry of the helical magnetic field leads to a traveling wave solution and the vortices are drifting in a direction determined by rotation and the magnetic field. In an idealized study for infinitely long cylinders this is not a problem. However, if the cylinders have finite length and are bounded vertically by the plates the situation is different. In this dissertation it is shown, with use of numerical methods, that the traveling wave solution also exists for MHD Taylor-Couette flow at finite aspect ratio H/D, H being height of the cylinders, D width of the gap between them. The nonlinear simulations provide amplitudes of fluid velocity which are helpful in designing an experiment. Although the plates disturb the flow, parameters like the drift velocity indicate that the helical MRI operates in this case. The idea of the helical MRI was implemented in a very recent experiment PROMISE. The results provided, for the first time, an evidence that the (helical) MRI indeed exists. Nevertheless, the influence of the vertical endplates was evident and the experiment can be, in principle, improved. Exemplary methods of reduction of the end-effect are here proposed. Near the vertical boundaries develops an Ekman-Hartmann layer. Study of this layer for the MHD Taylor-Couette system as well as its impact on the global flow properties is presented. It is shown that the plates, especially if they are conducting, can disturb the flow far more then previously thought also for relatively slow rotation rates.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Memola2002, author = {Memola, Elisabetta}, title = {Magnetic jets from accretion disks : field structure and X-ray emission}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000458}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2002}, abstract = {Astrophysikalische Jets sind stark kollimierte Materiestr{\"o}mungen hoher Geschwindigkeit. Sie stehen im Zusammenhang mit einer F{\"u}lle verschiedener astrophysikalischer Objekte wie jungen Sternen, stellaren schwarzen L{\"o}chern ('Mikro-Quasare'), Galaxien mit aktivem Kern (AGN) und wahrscheinlich auch mit dem beobachteten intensiven Aufblitzen von Gamma-Strahlung (Gamma Ray Bursts). Insbesondere hat sich gezeigt, dass die Jets der Mikro-Quasare wahrscheinlich als kleinskalige Version der Jets der AGN anzusehen sind. Neben den Beobachtungen haben vor allem auch theoretische {\"U}berlegungen gezeigt, dass Magnetfelder bei der Jetentstehung, -beschleunigung und -kollimation eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Weiterhin scheinen Jets systematisch verkn{\"u}pft zu sein mit dem Vorhandensein einer Akkretionsscheibe um das zentrale Objekt. Insbesondere wenn ein schwarzes Loch den Zentralk{\"o}rper darstellt, ist die umgebende Akkretionsscheibe der einzig m{\"o}gliche Ort um Magnetfeld erzeugen zu k{\"o}nnen. Wir sind speziell interessiert am Entstehungsprozess hoch relativistischer Jets wie sie bei Mikro-Quasaren und AGN beobachtet werden. Insbesondere untersuchen wir die Region, in der der Jet kollimiert, eine Region, deren r{\"a}umliche Ausdehnung extrem klein ist selbst im Vergleich zur Aufl{\"o}sung der Radioteleskope. Dies ist ein Grund, wieso zum heutigen Zeitpunkt f{\"u}r die meisten Quellen die theoretische Modellierung die einzige M{\"o}glichkeit darstellt, um Information {\"u}ber die physikalischen Prozesse in der innersten Region der Jetentstehung zu erhalten. Uns ist es zum ersten Mal gelungen, die globale zwei-dimensionale Magnetfeldstruktur station{\"a}rer, axialsymmetrischer, relativistischer und stark magnetisierter (kr{\"a}fte-freier) Jets zu berechnen, die zum einen asymptotisch in einen zylindrischen Jet kollimieren, zum anderen aber in einer differential rotierenden Akkretionsscheibe verankert sind. Damit erlaubt dieser Ansatz eine physikalische Verkn\&\#168;upfung zwischen Akkretionsscheibe und dem asymptotischen Jet. Nimmt man also an, dass die Fußpunkte der Magnetfeldlinien mit Keplergeschwindigkeit rotieren, so kann man eine direkte Skalierung der Jetmagnetosphere mit der Gr{\"o}ße des Zentralobjektes erhalten. Unsere Resultate zeigen eine gute {\"U}bereinstimmung zwischen unserem Modell und Beobachtungen des Jets von M87. F{\"u}r das Beispiel eines relativistischen Mikroquasarjets haben wir die R{\"o}ntgenemission im Bereich von 0.2-10.1 keV berechnet. Daf{\"u}r haben wir in der Literatur aus den relativistischen magnetohydrodynamischen Gleichungen berechnete Jetgr{\"o}ßen (Dichte-, Geschwindigkeits-, und Temperaturprofil) verwendet und das Spektrum f{\"u}r jeden Punkt entlang der Jetstr{\"o}mung abgeleitet. Das theoretische thermische R{\"o}ntgenspektrum des innersten, heißen Teils des Jets erhalten wir zusammengesetzt aus den spektralen Anteilen der einzelnen Volumenelemente entlang des Jets. Um relativistische Effekte wie Dopplerverschiebung und -verst{\"a}rkung (boosting) aufgrund der Jetbewegung zu untersuchen, haben wir f{\"u}r verschiedene Inklinationswinkel des Jets zur Sichtlinie berechnet, wie die erhaltenen Spektren davon beeinflusst werden. Unsere Spektren zeigen deutlich die hochionisierten Eisen-Emissionslinien, die in den galaktischen Mikroquasaren GRS 1915+105 und XTE J1748-288 andeutungsweise beobachtet wurden. Eine Dopplerverschiebung dieser Linien ist in unseren Spektren deutlichzu sehen. Da die innerste, R{\"o}ntgenstrahlung emittierende Region des magnetohydrodynamischen Jets allerdings noch unkollimiert ist, spielt Dopplerboosting in unseren Spektren, abh{\"a}ngig vom Sichtwinkel, keine große Rolle. Mit unseren Resultaten konnte zum ersten Mal ein R{\"o}ntgenspektrum gewonnen werden, das auf der numerischen L{\"o}sung eines magnetohydrodynamischen Jets beruht.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Diercke2021, author = {Diercke, Andrea}, title = {Physical environment of large-scale high-latitude and polar crown filaments}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-51130}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-511301}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {133}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Filaments are omnipresent features in the solar chromosphere, one of the atmospheric layers of the Sun, which is located above the photosphere, the visible surface of the Sun. They are clouds of plasma reaching from the photosphere to the chromosphere, and even to the outer-most atmospheric layer, the corona. They are stabalized by the magnetic field. If the magnetic field is disturbed, filaments can erupt as coronal mass ejections (CME), releasing plasma into space, which can also hit the Earth. A special type of filaments are polar crown filaments, which form at the interface of the unipolar field of the poles and flux of opposite magnetic polarity, which was transported towards the poles. This flux transport is related to the global dynamo of the Sun and can therefore be analyzed indirectly with polar crown filaments. The main objective of this thesis is to better understand the physical properties and environment of high-latitude and polar crown filaments, which can be approached from two perspectives: (1) analyzing the large-scale properties of high-latitude and polar crown filaments with full-disk Hα observations from the Chromospheric Telescope (ChroTel) and (2) determining the relation of polar crown and high-latitude filaments from the chromosphere to the lower-lying photosphere with high-spatial resolution observations of the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), which reveal the smallest details. The Chromospheric Telescope (ChroTel) is a small 10-cm robotic telescope at Observatorio del Teide on Tenerife (Spain), which observes the entire Sun in Hα, Ca IIK, and He I 10830 {\AA}. We present a new calibration method that includes limb-darkening correction, removal of non-uniform filter transmission, and determination of He I Doppler velocities. Chromospheric full-disk filtergrams are often obtained with Lyot filters, which may display non-uniform transmission causing large-scale intensity variations across the solar disk. Removal of a 2D symmetric limb-darkening function from full-disk images results in a flat background. However, transmission artifacts remain and are even more distinct in these contrast-enhanced images. Zernike polynomials are uniquely appropriate to fit these large-scale intensity variations of the background. The Zernike coefficients show a distinct temporal evolution for ChroTel data, which is likely related to the telescope's alt-azimuth mount that introduces image rotation. In addition, applying this calibration to sets of seven filtergrams that cover the He I triplet facilitates determining chromospheric Doppler velocities. To validate the method, we use three datasets with varying levels of solar activity. The Doppler velocities are benchmarked with respect to co-temporal high-resolution spectroscopic data of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS). Furthermore, this technique can be applied to ChroTel Hα and Ca IIK data. The calibration method for ChroTel filtergrams can be easily adapted to other full-disk data exhibiting unwanted large-scale variations. The spectral region of the He I triplet is a primary choice for high-resolution near-infrared spectropolarimetry. Here, the improved calibration of ChroTel data will provide valuable context data. Polar crown filaments form above the polarity inversion line between the old magnetic flux of the previous cycle and the new magnetic flux of the current cycle. Studying their appearance and their properties can lead to a better understanding of the solar cycle. We use full-disk data of the ChroTel at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain, which were taken in three different chromospheric absorption lines (Hα 6563 {\AA}, Ca IIK 3933 {\AA}, and He I 10830 {\AA}), and we create synoptic maps. In addition, the spectroscopic He I data allow us to compute Doppler velocities and to create synoptic Doppler maps. ChroTel data cover the rising and decaying phase of Solar Cycle 24 on about 1000 days between 2012 and 2018. Based on these data, we automatically extract polar crown filaments with image-processing tools and study their properties. We compare contrast maps of polar crown filaments with those of quiet-Sun filaments. Furthermore, we present a super-synoptic map summarizing the entire ChroTel database. In summary, we provide statistical properties, i.e. number and location of filaments, area, and tilt angle for both the maximum and declining phase of Solar Cycle 24. This demonstrates that ChroTel provides a promising dataset to study the solar cycle. The cyclic behavior of polar crown filaments can be monitored by regular full-disk Hα observations. ChroTel provides such regular observations of the Sun in three chromospheric wavelengths. To analyze the cyclic behavior and the statistical properties of polar crown filaments, we have to extract the filaments from the images. Manual extraction is tedious, and extraction with morphological image processing tools produces a large number of false positive detections and the manual extraction of these takes too much time. Automatic object detection and extraction in a reliable manner allows us to process more data in a shorter time. We will present an overview of the ChroTel database and a proof of concept of a machine learning application, which allows us a unified extraction of, for example, filaments from ChroTel data. The chromospheric Hα spectral line dominates the spectrum of the Sun and other stars. In the stellar regime, this spectral line is already used as a powerful tracer of magnetic activity. For the Sun, other tracers are typically used to monitor solar activity. Nonetheless, the Sun is observed constantly in Hα with globally distributed ground-based full-disk imagers. The aim of this study is to introduce Hα as a tracer of solar activity and compare it to other established indicators. We discuss the newly created imaging Hα excess in the perspective of possible application for modelling of stellar atmospheres. In particular, we try to determine how constant is the mean intensity of the Hα excess and number density of low-activity regions between solar maximum and minimum. Furthermore, we investigate whether the active region coverage fraction or the changing emission strength in the active regions dominates time variability in solar Hα observations. We use ChroTel observations of full-disk Hα filtergrams and morphological image processing techniques to extract the positive and negative imaging Hα excess, for bright features (plage regions) and dark absorption features (filaments and sunspots), respectively. We describe the evolution of the Hα excess during Solar Cycle 24 and compare it to other well established tracers: the relative sunspot number, the F10.7 cm radio flux, and the Mg II index. Moreover, we discuss possible applications of the Hα excess for stellar activity diagnostics and the contamination of exoplanet transmission spectra. The positive and negative Hα excess follow the behavior of the solar activity over the course of the cycle. Thereby, positive Hα excess is closely correlated to the chromospheric Mg II index. On the other hand, the negative Hα excess, created from dark features like filaments and sunspots, is introduced as a tracer of solar activity for the first time. We investigated the mean intensity distribution for active regions for solar minimum and maximum and found that the shape of both distributions is very similar but with different amplitudes. This might be related with the relatively stable coronal temperature component during the solar cycle. Furthermore, we found that the coverage fraction of Hα excess and the Hα excess of bright features are strongly correlated, which will influence modelling of stellar and exoplanet atmospheres. High-resolution observations of polar crown and high-latitude filaments are scarce. We present a unique sample of such filaments observed in high-resolution Hα narrow-band filtergrams and broad-band images, which were obtained with a new fast camera system at the VTT. ChroTel provided full-disk context observations in Hα, Ca IIK, and He I 10830 {\AA}. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) provided line-of-sight magnetograms and ultraviolet (UV) 1700 {\AA} filtergrams, respectively. We study filigree in the vicinity of polar crown and high-latitude filaments and relate their locations to magnetic concentrations at the filaments' footpoints. Bright points are a well studied phenomenon in the photosphere at low latitudes, but they were not yet studied in the quiet network close to the poles. We examine size, area, and eccentricity of bright points and find that their morphology is very similar to their counterparts at lower latitudes, but their sizes and areas are larger. Bright points at the footpoints of polar crown filaments are preferentially located at stronger magnetic flux concentrations, which are related to bright regions at the border of supergranules as observed in UV filtergrams. Examining the evolution of bright points on three consecutive days reveals that their amount increases while the filament decays, which indicates they impact the equilibrium of the cool plasma contained in filaments.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Wu2010, author = {Wu, Ye}, title = {Nonlinear dynamics in complex networks and modeling human dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-47358}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Durch große Datenmengen k{\"o}nnen die Forscher die Eigenschaften komplexer Systeme untersuchen, z.B. komplexe Netzwerk und die Dynamik des menschlichen Verhaltens. Eine große Anzahl an Systemen werden als große und komplexe Netzwerke dargestellt, z.B. das Internet, Stromnetze, Wirtschaftssysteme. Immer mehr Forscher haben großes Interesse an der Dynamik des komplexen Netzwerks. Diese Arbeit besteht aus den folgenden drei Teilen. Der erste Teil ist ein einfacher dynamischer Optimierungs-Kopplungs-Mechanismus, aber sehr wirksam. Durch den Mechanismus kann synchronisation in komplexen Netzwerken mit und ohne Zeitverz{\"o}gerung realisiert, und die F{\"a}higkeit der Synchronisation von small-world und scale-free Netze verbessert werden. Im zweiten Teil geht um die Verst{\"a}rkung der Robustheit der scale-free Netze im Zusammenhang mit der Gemeinden-Struktur. Einige Reaktionsmuster und topologische Gemeinden sind einheitlich. Die Ergebnisse zeigen einen neuen Aspekt der Beziehung zwischen den Funktionen und der Netzwerk-Topologie von komplexen Netzwerken. Im dritten Teil welche eine wichtige Rolle in komplexen Netzwerken spielt, wird die Verhaltens-Dynamik der menschliche Mitteilung durch Daten- und Modellanalysierung erforscht, dann entsteht ein neues Mitteilungsmodell. Mit Hilfe von einem Interaktion priority-Queue Model kann das neue Modell erkl{\"a}rt werden. Mit Hilfe des Models k{\"o}nnen viele praktische Interaktions-Systeme erkl{\"a}rt werden, z.B. E-Mail und Briefe (oder Post). Mit Hilfe meiner Untersuchung kann man menschliches Verhalten auf der Individuums- und Netzwerkebene neu kennenlernen. Im vierter Teil kann ich nachweisen, dass menschliches Kommentar-Verhalten in on-line Sozialsystemen, eine andere Art der Interaktionsdynamik von Mensch non-Poisson ist und dieses am Modell erkl{\"a}ren. Mit Hilfe der non-Poisson Prozesse kann man das pers{\"o}nliche Anziehungskraft-Modell besser verstehen. Die Ergebnisse sind hilfreich zum Kennenlernen des Musters des menschlichen Verhaltens in on-line Gesellschaften und der Entwicklung von {\"o}ffentlicher Meinung nicht nur in der virtuellen Gesellschaftn sondern auch in der Realgesellschaft. Am Ende geht es um eine Prognose von menschlicher Dynamik und komplexen Netzwerken.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Berner2016, author = {Berner, Nadine}, title = {Deciphering multiple changes in complex climate time series using Bayesian inference}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-100065}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xvi, 135}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Change points in time series are perceived as heterogeneities in the statistical or dynamical characteristics of the observations. Unraveling such transitions yields essential information for the understanding of the observed system's intrinsic evolution and potential external influences. A precise detection of multiple changes is therefore of great importance for various research disciplines, such as environmental sciences, bioinformatics and economics. The primary purpose of the detection approach introduced in this thesis is the investigation of transitions underlying direct or indirect climate observations. In order to develop a diagnostic approach capable to capture such a variety of natural processes, the generic statistical features in terms of central tendency and dispersion are employed in the light of Bayesian inversion. In contrast to established Bayesian approaches to multiple changes, the generic approach proposed in this thesis is not formulated in the framework of specialized partition models of high dimensionality requiring prior specification, but as a robust kernel-based approach of low dimensionality employing least informative prior distributions. First of all, a local Bayesian inversion approach is developed to robustly infer on the location and the generic patterns of a single transition. The analysis of synthetic time series comprising changes of different observational evidence, data loss and outliers validates the performance, consistency and sensitivity of the inference algorithm. To systematically investigate time series for multiple changes, the Bayesian inversion is extended to a kernel-based inference approach. By introducing basic kernel measures, the weighted kernel inference results are composed into a proxy probability to a posterior distribution of multiple transitions. The detection approach is applied to environmental time series from the Nile river in Aswan and the weather station Tuscaloosa, Alabama comprising documented changes. The method's performance confirms the approach as a powerful diagnostic tool to decipher multiple changes underlying direct climate observations. Finally, the kernel-based Bayesian inference approach is used to investigate a set of complex terrigenous dust records interpreted as climate indicators of the African region of the Plio-Pleistocene period. A detailed inference unravels multiple transitions underlying the indirect climate observations, that are interpreted as conjoint changes. The identified conjoint changes coincide with established global climate events. In particular, the two-step transition associated to the establishment of the modern Walker-Circulation contributes to the current discussion about the influence of paleoclimate changes on the environmental conditions in tropical and subtropical Africa at around two million years ago.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lepro2021, author = {Lepro, Valentino}, title = {Experimental and theoretical study on amoeboid cell-cargo active motion}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-49089}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-490890}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {xx, 114}, year = {2021}, abstract = {As society paves its way towards device miniaturization and precision medicine, micro-scale actuation and guided transport become increasingly prominent research fields, with high potential impact in both technological and clinical contexts. In order to accomplish directed motion of micron-sized objects, as biosensors and drug-releasing microparticles, towards specific target sites, a promising strategy is the use of living cells as smart biochemically-powered carriers, building the so-called bio-hybrid systems. Inspired by leukocytes, native cells of living organisms efficiently migrating to critical targets as tumor tissue, an emerging concept is to exploit the amoeboid crawling motility of such cells as mean of transport for drug delivery applications. In the research work described in this thesis, I synergistically applied experimental, computational and theoretical modeling approaches to investigate the behaviour and transport mechanism of a novel kind of bio-hybrid system for active transport at the micro-scale, referred to as cellular truck. This system consists of an amoeboid crawling cell, the carrier, attached to a microparticle, the cargo, which may ideally be drug-loaded for specific therapeutic treatments. For the purposes of experimental investigation, I employed the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as crawling cellular carrier, being a renowned model organism for leukocyte migration and, in general, for eukaryotic cell motility. The performed experiments revealed a complex recurrent cell-cargo relative motion, together with an intermittent motility of the cellular truck as a whole. The evidence suggests the presence of cargoes on amoeboid cells to act as mechanical stimulus leading cell polarization, thus promoting cell motility and giving rise to the observed intermittent dynamics of the truck. Particularly, bursts in cytoskeletal polarity along the cell-cargo axis have been found to occur in time with a rate dependent on cargo geometrical features, as particle diameter. Overall, the collected experimental evidence pointed out a pivotal role of cell-cargo interactions in the emergent cellular truck motion dynamics. Especially, they can determine the transport capabilities of amoeboid cells, as the cargo size significantly impacts the cytoskeletal activity and repolarization dynamics along the cell-cargo axis, the latter responsible for truck displacement and reorientation. Furthermore, I developed a modeling framework, built upon the experimental evidence on cellular truck behaviour, that connects the relative dynamics and interactions arising at the truck scale with the actual particle transport dynamics. In fact, numerical simulations of the proposed model successfully reproduced the phenomenology of the cell-cargo system, while enabling the prediction of the transport properties of cellular trucks over larger spatial and temporal scales. The theoretical analysis provided a deeper understanding of the role of cell-cargo interaction on mass transport, unveiling in particular how the long-time transport efficiency is governed by the interplay between the persistence time of cell polarity and time scales of the relative dynamics stemming from cell-cargo interaction. Interestingly, the model predicts the existence of an optimal cargo size, enhancing the diffusivity of cellular trucks; this is in line with previous independent experimental data, which appeared rather counterintuitive and had no explanation prior to this study. In conclusion, my research work shed light on the importance of cargo-carrier interactions in the context of crawling cell-mediated particle transport, and provides a prototypical, multifaceted framework for the analysis and modelling of such complex bio-hybrid systems and their perspective optimization.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{RiveraHernandez2012, author = {Rivera Hern{\´a}ndez, Sergio}, title = {Tensorial spacetime geometries carrying predictive, interpretable and quantizable matter dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-61869}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Which tensor fields G on a smooth manifold M can serve as a spacetime structure? In the first part of this thesis, it is found that only a severely restricted class of tensor fields can provide classical spacetime geometries, namely those that can carry predictive, interpretable and quantizable matter dynamics. The obvious dependence of this characterization of admissible tensorial spacetime geometries on specific matter is not a weakness, but rather presents an insight: it was Maxwell theory that justified Einstein to promote Lorentzian manifolds to the status of a spacetime geometry. Any matter that does not mimick the structure of Maxwell theory, will force us to choose another geometry on which the matter dynamics of interest are predictive, interpretable and quantizable. These three physical conditions on matter impose three corresponding algebraic conditions on the totally symmetric contravariant coefficient tensor field P that determines the principal symbol of the matter field equations in terms of the geometric tensor G: the tensor field P must be hyperbolic, time-orientable and energy-distinguishing. Remarkably, these physically necessary conditions on the geometry are mathematically already sufficient to realize all kinematical constructions familiar from Lorentzian geometry, for precisely the same structural reasons. This we were able to show employing a subtle interplay of convex analysis, the theory of partial differential equations and real algebraic geometry. In the second part of this thesis, we then explore general properties of any hyperbolic, time-orientable and energy-distinguishing tensorial geometry. Physically most important are the construction of freely falling non-rotating laboratories, the appearance of admissible modified dispersion relations to particular observers, and the identification of a mechanism that explains why massive particles that are faster than some massless particles can radiate off energy until they are slower than all massless particles in any hyperbolic, time-orientable and energy-distinguishing geometry. In the third part of the thesis, we explore how tensorial spacetime geometries fare when one wants to quantize particles and fields on them. This study is motivated, in part, in order to provide the tools to calculate the rate at which superluminal particles radiate off energy to become infraluminal, as explained above. Remarkably, it is again the three geometric conditions of hyperbolicity, time-orientability and energy-distinguishability that allow the quantization of general linear electrodynamics on an area metric spacetime and the quantization of massive point particles obeying any admissible dispersion relation. We explore the issue of field equations of all possible derivative order in rather systematic fashion, and prove a practically most useful theorem that determines Dirac algebras allowing the reduction of derivative orders. The final part of the thesis presents the sketch of a truly remarkable result that was obtained building on the work of the present thesis. Particularly based on the subtle duality maps between momenta and velocities in general tensorial spacetimes, it could be shown that gravitational dynamics for hyperbolic, time-orientable and energy distinguishable geometries need not be postulated, but the formidable physical problem of their construction can be reduced to a mere mathematical task: the solution of a system of homogeneous linear partial differential equations. This far-reaching physical result on modified gravity theories is a direct, but difficult to derive, outcome of the findings in the present thesis. Throughout the thesis, the abstract theory is illustrated through instructive examples.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Gutjahr2007, author = {Gutjahr, Petra}, title = {Conformations of semiflexible polymers and filaments}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-15918}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The biological function and the technological applications of semiflexible polymers, such as DNA, actin filaments and carbon nanotubes, strongly depend on their rigidity. Semiflexible polymers are characterized by their persistence length, the definition of which is the subject of the first part of this thesis. Attractive interactions, that arise e.g.~in the adsorption, the condensation and the bundling of filaments, can change the conformation of a semiflexible polymer. The conformation depends on the relative magnitude of the material parameters and can be influenced by them in a systematic manner. In particular, the morphologies of semiflexible polymer rings, such as circular nanotubes or DNA, which are adsorbed onto substrates with three types of structures, are studied: (i) A topographical channel, (ii) a chemically modified stripe and (iii) a periodic pattern of topographical steps. The results are compared with the condensation of rings by attractive interactions. Furthermore, the bundling of two individual actin filaments, whose ends are anchored, is analyzed. This system geometry is shown to provide a systematic and quantitative method to extract the magnitude of the attraction between the filaments from experimentally observable conformations of the filaments.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Baczyński2009, author = {Baczyński, Krzysztof Konrad}, title = {Buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-37927}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2009}, abstract = {In dieser Arbeit werden Knickinstabilit{\"a}ten von Filamenten in biologischen Systemen untersucht. Das Zytoskelett von Zellen ist aus solchen Filamenten aufgebaut. Sie sind f{\"u}r die mechanische Stabilit{\"a}t der Zelle verantwortlich und spielen eine große Rolle bei intrazellul{\"a}ren Transportprozessen durch molekulare Motoren, die verschiedene Lasten wie beispielsweise Organellen entlang der Filamente des Zytoskeletts transportieren. Filamente sind semiflexible Polymere, deren Biegeenergie {\"a}hnlich groß ist wie die thermische Energie, so dass sie auch als elastische Balken auf der Nanoskala gesehen werden k{\"o}nnen, die signifikante thermische Fluktuationen zeigen. Wie ein makroskopischer elastischer Balken k{\"o}nnen auch Filamente eine mechanische Knickinstabilit{\"a}t unter Kompression zeigen. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit wird untersucht, wie diese Instabilit{\"a}t durch thermische Fluktuationen der Filamente beeinflusst wird. In Zellen k{\"o}nnen Kompressionskr{\"a}fte durch molekulare Motoren erzeugt werden. Das geschieht zum Beispiel w{\"a}hrend der Zellteilung in der mitotischen Spindel. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit untersuchen wir, wie die stochastische Natur einer von Motoren generierten Kraft die Knickinstabilit{\"a}t von Filamenten beeinflusst. Zun{\"a}chst stellen wir kurz das Problem von Knickinstabilit{\"a}ten auf der makroskopischen Skala dar und f{\"u}hren ein Modell f{\"u}r das Knicken von Filamenten oder elastischen St{\"a}ben in zwei Raumdimensionen und in Anwesenheit thermischer Fluktuationen ein. Wir pr{\"a}sentieren eine analytische L{\"o}sung f{\"u}r Knickinstabilit{\"a}ten in Anwesenheit thermischer Fluktuationen, die auf einer Renormierungsgruppenrechnung im Rahmen des nichtlinearen Sigma-Models basiert. Wir integrieren die kurzwelligen Fluktuationen aus, um eine effektive Theorie f{\"u}r die langwelligen Moden zu erhalten, die die Knickinstabilit{\"a}t bestimmen. Wir berechnen die {\"A}nderung der kritischen Kraft f{\"u}r die Knickinstabilit{\"a}t und zeigen, dass die thermischen Fluktuationen in zwei Raumdimensionen zu einer Zunahme der kritischen Kraft f{\"u}hren. Außerdem zeigen wir, dass thermische Fluktuationen im geknickten Zustand zu einer Zunahme der mittleren projizierten L{\"a}nge des Filaments in Richtung der wirkenden Kraft f{\"u}hren. Als Funktion der Konturl{\"a}nge des Filaments besitzt die mittlere projizierte L{\"a}nge eine Spitze an der Knickinstabilit{\"a}t, die durch thermische Fluktuationen abgerundet wird. Unser Hauptresultat ist die Beobachtung, dass ein geknicktes Filament unter dem Einfluss thermischer Fluktuationen gestreckt wird, d.h. dass seine mittlere projizierte L{\"a}nge in Richtung der Kompressionskraft auf Grund der thermischen Fluktuationen zunimmt. Unsere analytischen Resultate werden durch Monte-Carlo Simulationen der Knickinstabilit{\"a}t semiflexibler Filamente in zwei Raumdimensionen best{\"a}tigt. Wir f{\"u}hren auch Monte-Carlo Simulationen in h{\"o}heren Raumdimensionen durch und zeigen, dass die Zunahme der projizierten L{\"a}nge unter dem Einfluss thermischer Fluktuationen weniger ausgepr{\"a}gt ist und stark von der Wahl der Randbedingungen abh{\"a}ngt. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit formulieren wir ein Modell f{\"u}r die Knickinstabilit{\"a}t semiflexibler Filamente unter dem Einfluss molekularer Motoren. Wir untersuchen ein System, in dem sich eine Gruppe von Motoren entlang eines fixierten Filaments bewegt, und dabei ein zweites Filament als Last tr{\"a}gt. Das Last-Filament wird gegen eine Wand gedr{\"u}ckt und knickt. W{\"a}hrend des Knickvorgangs k{\"o}nnen die Motoren, die die Kraft auf das Filament generieren, stochastisch von dem Filament ab- und an das Filament anbinden. Wir formulieren ein stochastisches Model f{\"u}r dieses System und berechnen die "mean first passage time", d.h. die mittlere Zeit f{\"u}r den {\"U}bergang von einem Zustand, in dem alle Motoren gebundenen sind zu einem Zustand, in dem alle Motoren abgebunden sind. Dieser {\"U}bergang entspricht auch einem {\"U}bergang aus dem gebogenen zur{\"u}ck in einen ungebogenen Zustand des Last-Filaments. Unser Resultat zeigt, dass f{\"u}r gen{\"u}gend kurze Mikrotubuli die Bewegung der Motoren von der durch das Last-Filament generierten Kraft beeinflusst wird. Diese Ergebnisse k{\"o}nnen in zuk{\"u}nftigen Experimenten {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft werden.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Scholz2012, author = {Scholz, Markus Reiner}, title = {Spin polarization, circular dichroism, and robustness of topological surface states}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-96686}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {153}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Dreidimensionale topologische Isolatoren sind ein neues Materialsystem, welches dadurch charakterisiert ist, dass es in seinem Inneren isolierend an der Ober {\"a}che jedoch leitend ist. Urs{\"a}chlich f{\"u}r die Leitf{\"a}higkeit an der Ober {\"a}che sind sogenannte topologische Ober- {\"a}chenzust{\"a}nde, welche das Valenzband des Inneren mit dem Leitungsband des Inneren verbinden. An der Ober {\"a}che ist also die Bandl{\"u}cke, welche die isolierende Eigenschaft verursacht, geschlossen. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht diese Ober {\"a}chenzust{\"a}nde mittels spin- und winkelauf- gel{\"o}ster Photoemissionsspektroskopie. Es wird gezeigt, dass in den Materialien Bi2Se3 und Bi2Te3, in {\"u}bereinstimmung mit der Literatur, die entscheidenden Charakteristika eines topologischen Ober {\"a}chenzustands vorzu nden sind: Die Ober {\"a}chenzust{\"a}nde dieser Sys- teme durchqueren die Bandl{\"u}cke in ungerader Anzahl, sie sind nicht entartet und weisen folgerichtig eine hohe Spinpolarisation auf. Weiterhin wird durch Aufdampfen diverser Adsorbate gezeigt, dass der Ober {\"a}chenzust{\"a}n- de von Bi2Se3 und Bi2Te3, wie erwartet, extrem robust ist. Ober {\"a}chenzust{\"a}nde topologisch trivialer Systeme erf{\"u}llen diese Eigenschaft nicht; bereits kleine Verunreinigungen k{\"o}n- nen diese Zust{\"a}nde zerst{\"o}ren, bzw. die Ober {\"a}che isolierend machen. Die topologischen Ober {\"a}chenzust{\"a}nde k{\"o}nnen in der vorliegenden Arbeit noch bis zur Detektionsgrenze der experimentellen Messmethode nachgewiesen werden und die Ober {\"a}che bleibt Leitf{\"a}hig. Unter den Adsorbaten be ndet sich auch Eisen, ein bekanntermaßen magnetisches Materi- al. Eine der Grundvoraussetzungen f{\"u}r topologische Isolatoren ist die Zeitumkehrsymme- trie, die Elektronen, welche den topologischen Ober {\"a}chenzustand besetzen, vorschreibt, dass sie eine bestimmte Spinrichtung haben m{\"u}ssen, wenn sie sich beispielsweise nach links bewegen und den entgegengesetzten Spin wenn sie sich nach rechts bewegen. In magnetischen Materialien ist die Zeitumkehrsymmetrie jedoch explizit gebrochen und die gezeigte Robustheit des Ober {\"a}chenzustands gegen magnetische Materialien daher uner- wartet. Die Zeitumkehrsymmetrie sorgt auch daf{\"u}r, dass eine Streuung der Elektronen um 180°, beispielsweise an einem Gitterdefekt oder an einem Phonon strikt verboten ist. Bei einem solchen Streuprozess bleibt die Spinrichtung erhalten, da aber in der Gegenrichtung nur Zust{\"a}nde mit entgegengesetztem Spin vorhanden sind kann das Elektron nicht in diese Richtung gestreut werden. Dieses Prinzip wird anhand der Lebensdauer der durch Pho- toemission angeregten Zust{\"a}nde untersucht. Hierbei wird gezeigt, dass die Kopplung der Elektronen des Ober {\"a}chenzustands von Bi2Te3 an Phononen unerwartet hoch ist und dass sich eine Anisotropie in der Bandstruktur des Selbigen auch in den Lebensdauern der ange- regten Zust{\"a}nde widerspiegelt. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, dass sich die Ein {\"u}sse von magne- tischen und nicht-magnetischen Verunreinigungen auf die Lebensdauern stark voneinander unterscheiden. Im letzten Teil der vorliegenden Arbeit wird untersucht, ob eine Asymmetrie in der Inten- sit{\"a}tsverteilung der winkelaufgel{\"o}sten Photoemissionsspektren, bei Anregung mit zirku- lar polarisiertem Licht, in Bi2Te3 R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf die Spinpolarisation der Elektronen erlaubt. Bei Variation der Energie des eingestrahlten Lichts wird ein Vorzeichenwechsel der Asymmetrie beobachtet. Daraus l{\"a}sst sich schlussfolgern, dass die Asymmetrie keine R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf die Spinpolarisation erlaubt.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Varykhalov2005, author = {Varykhalov, Andrei}, title = {Quantum-size effects in the electronic structure of novel self-organized systems with reduced dimensionality}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5784}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The Thesis is focused on the properties of self-organized nanostructures. Atomic and electronic properties of different systems have been investigated using methods of electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy. Implementation of the STM technique (including design, construction, and tuning of the UHV experimental set-up) has been done in the framework of present work. This time-consuming work is reported to greater detail in the experimental part of this Thesis. The scientific part starts from the study of quantum-size effects in the electronic structure of a two-dimensional Ag film on the supporting substrate Ni(111). Distinct quantum well states in the sp-band of Ag were observed in photoelectron spectra. Analysis of thickness- and angle-dependent photoemission supplies novel information on the properties of the interface. For the first time the Ni(111) relative band gap was indirectly probed in the ground-state through the electronic structure of quantum well states in the adlayer. This is particularly important for Ni where valence electrons are strongly correlated. Comparison of the experiment with calculations performed in the formalism of the extended phase accumulation model gives the substrate gap which is fully consistent with the one obtained by ab-initio LDA calculations. It is, however, in controversy to the band structure of Ni measured directly by photoemission. These results lend credit to the simplest view of photoemission from Ni, assigning early observed contradictions between theory and experiments to electron correlation effects in the final state of photoemission. Further, nanosystems of lower dimensionality have been studied. Stepped surfaces W(331) and W(551) were used as one-dimensional model systems and as templates for self-organization of Au nanoclusters. Photon energy dependent photoemission revealed a surface resonance which was never observed before on W(110) which is the base plane of the terrace microsurfaces. The dispersion E(k) of this state measured on stepped W(331) and W(551) with angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy is modified by a strong umklapp effect. It appears as two parabolas shifted symmetrically relative to the microsurface normal by half of the Brillouin zone of the step superlattice. The reported results are very important for understanding of the electronic properties of low-dimensional nanostructures. It was also established that W(331) and W(551) can serve as templates for self-organization of metallic nanostructures. A combined study of electronic and atomic properties of sub-monolayer amounts of gold deposited on these templates have shown that if the substrate is slightly pre-oxidized and the temperature is elevated, then Au can alloy with the first monolayer of W. As a result, a nanostructure of uniform clusters of a surface alloy is produced all over the steps. Such clusters feature a novel sp-band in the vicinity of the Fermi level, which appears split into constant energy levels due to effects of lateral quantization. The last and main part of this work is devoted to large-scale reconstructions on surfaces and nanostructures self-assembled on top. The two-dimensional surface carbide W(110)/C-R(15x3) has been extensively investigated. Photoemission studies of quantum size effects in the electronic structure of this reconstruction, combined with an investigation of its surface geometry, lead to an advanced structural model of the carbide overlayer. It was discovered that W(110)/C-R(15x3) can control self-organization of adlayers into nanostructures with extremely different electronic and structural properties. Thus, it was established that at elevated temperature the R(15x3) superstructure controls the self-assembly of sub-monolayer amounts of Au into nm-wide nanostripes. Based on the results of core level photoemission, the R(15x3)-induced surface alloying which takes place between Au and W can be claimed as driving force of self-organization. The observed stripes exhibit a characteristic one-dimensional electronic structure with laterally quantized d-bands. Obviously, these are very important for applications, since dimensions of electronic devices have already stepped into the nm-range, where quantum-size phenomena must undoubtedly be considered. Moreover, formation of perfectly uniform molecular clusters of C60 was demonstrated and described in terms of the van der Waals formalism. It is the first experimental observation of two-dimensional fullerene nanoclusters with "magic numbers". Calculations of the cluster potentials using the static approach have revealed characteristic minima in the interaction energy. They are achieved for 4 and 7 molecules per cluster. The obtained "magic numbers" and the corresponding cluster structures are fully consistent with the results of the STM measurements.}, subject = {Nanostruktur}, language = {en} }