Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Electric- acoustic interaction'

Especially important in developing improved cochlear implants is to develop a deeper understanding of the processing of sound in the central auditory nervous system, for both acoustic and electrical stimulation of the auditory system. This thesis contributes to this objective through cochlear implant psychoacoustic research and modelling of auditory system sound processing. The primary hypothesis of the thesis was that the same underlying mechanisms are responsible for sound perception in both electric and acoustic hearing. Thus, if appropriate models are created for normal acoustic hearing, they should be able to predict psychoacoustic data from electric hearing when the model input is changed from acoustic to electrical stimulation. A second hypothesis was that electrode interaction could be measured by gap detection and that predictions of current spread in the cochlea could be obtained from gap detection data. Measured gap detection thresholds in three cochlear implant users were a function of the physical separation of electrode pairs used for the two stimuli that bound the gap, resulting in a U-shaped "tuning curve" for this across-channel condition. Models of gap detection in acoustic and electric hearing were created to explain these U-shaped curves. A technique was developed to obtain estimates of cochlear current spread from gap detection data. Predictions of electrode discrimination were obtained from the current spread estimates, and these were compared to data measured in cochlear implant users. The model for acoustic hearing could predict the U -shaped curves found in acoustic hearing, and when the input spike train statistics were adapted appropriately, the same model could also predict gap detection data for electric hearing. Predictions of current spread exhibited current peaks close to the electrodes and had length constants between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, similar to measured data quoted in literature. Predictions of electrode discrimination correlated well with measured data in one subject, but not in two others. The primary conclusion from the modelling results is that if the mechanisms of central auditory nervous system signal processing of acoustic stimulation are understood, these same mechanisms may be applied to understand the signal processing in auditory electrical stimulation and to predict psychoacoustic data for electrical stimulation. A second conclusion is that spatial mechanisms, as opposed to temporal mechanisms, may determine gap detection thresholds in the across-channel condition. This is important in cochlear electrical stimulation, where spike trains are strongly phase-locked to the stimulus and temporal mechanisms cannot predict gap detection thresholds. A third conclusion is that gap detection can be used to measure channel interaction and to predict current distributions in the cochlea, although there is still uncertainty about the accuracy of these predictions. However, the gap detection data and predictions for current distributions indicate that electrodes are not discriminable when they are closer than 1.5 mm. The implication of these last two conclusions taken together is that research should focus on obtaining better spatial resolution in cochlear implants.<br>Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2001.<br>Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering<br>Unrestricted

Thesis (M.Eng. and S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2001.<br>Includes bibliographical references.<br>by Nisha Checka.<br>M.Eng.and S.B.

This creative project explores the technical and musical possibilities associated with the composition of an electro-acoustic work, scored for double bass, eight-channel digital audio, and interactive electronics, that integrates the uniqueness and spontaneity of live performance with the textural, timbral, and spatial complexity that can be achieved through the use of prerecorded digital audio. The most significant compositional idea that is explored in this work is the interactions between the double bass, digital audio, and interactive electronics. These three components interact with one another on several levels. This is not limited to harmonic, melodic, or rhythmic components, but also includes such attributes as timbre, texture, dynamics, timing, improvisation, and sound projection. To create this interaction, several computer applications are used for the realization of the digital audio and score notation, and in live performance.<br>School of Music

The generation and propagation of pulses of nonequilibrium acoustic phonons and their interaction with semiconductor nanostructures are investigated. Such studies can give unique information about the properties of low-dimensional electron systems, but in order to interpret the experiments and to understand the underlying physics, a comparison with theoretical models is absolutely necessary. A central point of this work is therefore a universal theoretical approach allowing the simulation and the analysis of phonon spectroscopy measurements on low-dimensional semiconductor structures. The model takes into account the characteristic properties of the considered systems. These properties are the elastic anisotropy of the substrate material leading to focusing effects and highly anisotropic phonon propagation, the anisotropic nature of the different electron-phonon coupling mechanisms, which depend manifestly on phonon wavevector direction and polarization vector, and the sensitivity to the confinement parameters of the low-dimensional electron systems. We show that screening of the electron-phonon interaction can have a much stronger influence on the results of angle-resolved phonon spectroscopy than expected from transport measurements. Since we compare theoretical simulations with real experiments, the geometrical arrangement and the spatial extension of phonon source and detector are also included in the approach enabling a quantitative analysis of the data this way. To illustrate the influence of acoustic anisotropy and carrier confinement on the results of phonon spectroscopy in detail we analyse two different applications. In the first case the low-dimensional electron system acts as the phonon detector and the phonon induced drag current is measured. Our theoretical model enables us to calculate the electric current induced in low-dimensional electron systems by pulses of (ballistic) nonequilibrium phonons. The theoretical drag patterns reproduce the main features of the experimental images very well. The sensitivity of the results to variations of the confining potential of quasi-2D and quasi-1D electrons is demonstrated. This provides the opportunity to use phonon-drag imaging as unique experimental tool for determining the confinement lengths of low-dimensional electron systems. By comparing the experimental and theoretical images it is also possible to estimate the relative strength of the different electron-phonon coupling mechanisms.In the second application the low-dimensional electron system acts as the phonon pulse source and the angle and mode dependence of the acoustic phonon emission by hot 2D electrons is investigated. The results exhibit strong variations in the phonon signal as a function of the detector position and depend markedly on the coupling mechanism, the phonon polarization and the electron confinement width. We demonstrate that the ratio of the strengths of the emitted longitudinal (LA) and transverse (TA) acoustic phonon modes is predicted correctly only by a theoretical model that properly includes the effects of acoustic anisotropy on the electron-phonon matrix elements, the screening, and the form of the confining potential. A simple adoption of widely used theoretical assumptions, like the isotropic approximation for the phonons in the electron-phonon matrix elements or the use of simple variational envelope wavefunctions for the carrier confinement, can corrupt or even falsify theoretical predictions.We explain the `mystery of the missing longitudinal mode' in heat-pulse experiments with hot 2D electrons in GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions. We demonstrate that screening prevents a strong peak in the phonon emission of deformation potential coupled LA phonons in a direction nearly normal to the 2D electron system and that deformation potential coupled TA phonons give a significant contribution to the phonon signal in certain emission directions.<br>Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Ausbreitung von akustischen Nichtgleichgewichtsphononen und deren Wechselwirkung mit Halbleiter-Nanostrukturen. Güte und Effizienz moderner Halbleiter-Bauelemente hängen wesentlich vom Verständnis der Wechselwirkung akustischer Phononen mit niederdimensionalen Elektronensystemen ab. Traditionelle Untersuchungsmethoden, wie die Messung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit oder der Thermospannung, erlauben nur eingeschränkte Aussagen. Sie mitteln über die beteiligten Phononenmoden und eine Trennung der einzelnen Wechselwirkungsmechanismen ist nur näherungsweise möglich ist. Demgegenüber erlaubt die in der Arbeit diskutierte Methode der winkel- und zeitaufgelösten Phononen-Spektroskopie ein direktes Studium des Beitrags einzelner Phononenmoden, d.h. in Abhängigkeit von Wellenzahlvektor und Polarisation der Phononen. Im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit steht die Fragestellung, wie akustische Anisotropie und Ladungsträger-Confinement die Ergebnisse der winkel- und zeitaufgelösten Phononen-Spektroskopie beeinflussen und prägen. Dazu wird ein umfassendes theoretisches Modell zur Simulation von Phononen-Spektroskopie-Experimenten an niederdimensionalen Halbleitersystemen vorgestellt. Dieses erlaubt sowohl ein qualitatives Verständnis der ablaufenden physikalischen Prozesse als auch eine quantitative Analyse der Messergebnisse. Die Vorteile gegenüber anderen Modellen und Rechnungen liegen dabei in dem konsequenten Einbeziehen der akustischen Anisotropie, nicht nur für die Ausbreitung der Phononen, sondern auch für die Matrixelemente der Wechselwirkung, sowie eine saubere Behandlung des Confinements der Elektronen in den niederdimensionalen Systemen. Dabei werden die Grenzen weit verbreiteter Näherungsansätze für die Elektron-Phonon-Matrixelemente und das Elektronen-Confinement deutlich aufgezeigt. Für den quantitativen Vergleich mit realen Experimenten werden aber auch solche Größen, wie die endliche räumliche Ausdehnung von Phononenquelle und Detektor, die Streuung der Phononen an Verunreinigungen oder die Abschirmung der Elektron-Phonon-Kopplung durch die Elektron-Elektron-Wechselwirkung berücksichtigt.Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird der theoretische Apparat auf typische experimentelle Fragestellungen angewandt. Im Falle der Phonon-Drag-Experimente an GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostrukturen wird der durch akustische Nichtgleichgewichtsphononen in zwei- und eindimensionalen Elektronensystemen induzierte elektrische Strom (Phonon-Drag-Strom) als Funktion des Ortes der Phononenquelle bestimmt. Das in der Arbeit hergeleitete theoretische Modell kann die experimentellen Resultate für die Winkelabhängigkeit des Drag-Stromes sowohl für Messungen mit und ohne Magnetfeld qualitativ gut beschreiben. Außerdem wird der Einfluss unterschiedlicher Confinementmodelle und unterschiedlicher Wechselwirkungsmechanismen studiert. Dadurch ist es möglich, aus Phonon-Drag-Messungen Rückschlüsse auf die elektronischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften der niederdimensionalen Elektronensysteme zu ziehen (Fermivektor, effektive Masse, Elektron-Phonon-Kopplungskonstanten, Form des Confinementpotentials). Als weiteres Anwendungsbeispiel wird das Problem der Energierelaxation (aufgeheizter)zweidimensionaler Elektronensysteme in GaAs Heterostrukturen und Quantentrögen untersucht. Für Elektronentemperaturen unterhalb 50 K werden die Gesamtemissionsrate als Funktion der Temperatur und die winkelaufgelöste Emissionsrate (als Funktion der Detektorposition) berechnet. Für beide Größen wird erstmals eine gute Übereinstimmung zwischen Theorie und Experiment gefunden. Es zeigt sich, dass akustische Anisotropie und Abschirmungseffekte zu überraschenden neuen Ergebnissen führen können. Ein Beispiel dafür ist der unerwartet große Beitrag der mittels Deformationspotential-Wechselwirkung emittierten transversalen akustischen Phononen, der bei einer Emission der Phononen näherungsweise senkrecht zum zweidimensionalen System beobachtet werden kann.

The generation and propagation of pulses of nonequilibrium acoustic phonons and their interaction with semiconductor nanostructures are investigated. Such studies can give unique information about the properties of low-dimensional electron systems, but in order to interpret the experiments and to understand the underlying physics, a comparison with theoretical models is absolutely necessary. A central point of this work is therefore a universal theoretical approach allowing the simulation and the analysis of phonon spectroscopy measurements on low-dimensional semiconductor structures. The model takes into account the characteristic properties of the considered systems. These properties are the elastic anisotropy of the substrate material leading to focusing effects and highly anisotropic phonon propagation, the anisotropic nature of the different electron-phonon coupling mechanisms, which depend manifestly on phonon wavevector direction and polarization vector, and the sensitivity to the confinement parameters of the low-dimensional electron systems. We show that screening of the electron-phonon interaction can have a much stronger influence on the results of angle-resolved phonon spectroscopy than expected from transport measurements. Since we compare theoretical simulations with real experiments, the geometrical arrangement and the spatial extension of phonon source and detector are also included in the approach enabling a quantitative analysis of the data this way. To illustrate the influence of acoustic anisotropy and carrier confinement on the results of phonon spectroscopy in detail we analyse two different applications. In the first case the low-dimensional electron system acts as the phonon detector and the phonon induced drag current is measured. Our theoretical model enables us to calculate the electric current induced in low-dimensional electron systems by pulses of (ballistic) nonequilibrium phonons. The theoretical drag patterns reproduce the main features of the experimental images very well. The sensitivity of the results to variations of the confining potential of quasi-2D and quasi-1D electrons is demonstrated. This provides the opportunity to use phonon-drag imaging as unique experimental tool for determining the confinement lengths of low-dimensional electron systems. By comparing the experimental and theoretical images it is also possible to estimate the relative strength of the different electron-phonon coupling mechanisms.In the second application the low-dimensional electron system acts as the phonon pulse source and the angle and mode dependence of the acoustic phonon emission by hot 2D electrons is investigated. The results exhibit strong variations in the phonon signal as a function of the detector position and depend markedly on the coupling mechanism, the phonon polarization and the electron confinement width. We demonstrate that the ratio of the strengths of the emitted longitudinal (LA) and transverse (TA) acoustic phonon modes is predicted correctly only by a theoretical model that properly includes the effects of acoustic anisotropy on the electron-phonon matrix elements, the screening, and the form of the confining potential. A simple adoption of widely used theoretical assumptions, like the isotropic approximation for the phonons in the electron-phonon matrix elements or the use of simple variational envelope wavefunctions for the carrier confinement, can corrupt or even falsify theoretical predictions.We explain the `mystery of the missing longitudinal mode' in heat-pulse experiments with hot 2D electrons in GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions. We demonstrate that screening prevents a strong peak in the phonon emission of deformation potential coupled LA phonons in a direction nearly normal to the 2D electron system and that deformation potential coupled TA phonons give a significant contribution to the phonon signal in certain emission directions<br>Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Ausbreitung von akustischen Nichtgleichgewichtsphononen und deren Wechselwirkung mit Halbleiter-Nanostrukturen. Güte und Effizienz moderner Halbleiter-Bauelemente hängen wesentlich vom Verständnis der Wechselwirkung akustischer Phononen mit niederdimensionalen Elektronensystemen ab. Traditionelle Untersuchungsmethoden, wie die Messung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit oder der Thermospannung, erlauben nur eingeschränkte Aussagen. Sie mitteln über die beteiligten Phononenmoden und eine Trennung der einzelnen Wechselwirkungsmechanismen ist nur näherungsweise möglich ist. Demgegenüber erlaubt die in der Arbeit diskutierte Methode der winkel- und zeitaufgelösten Phononen-Spektroskopie ein direktes Studium des Beitrags einzelner Phononenmoden, d.h. in Abhängigkeit von Wellenzahlvektor und Polarisation der Phononen. Im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit steht die Fragestellung, wie akustische Anisotropie und Ladungsträger-Confinement die Ergebnisse der winkel- und zeitaufgelösten Phononen-Spektroskopie beeinflussen und prägen. Dazu wird ein umfassendes theoretisches Modell zur Simulation von Phononen-Spektroskopie-Experimenten an niederdimensionalen Halbleitersystemen vorgestellt. Dieses erlaubt sowohl ein qualitatives Verständnis der ablaufenden physikalischen Prozesse als auch eine quantitative Analyse der Messergebnisse. Die Vorteile gegenüber anderen Modellen und Rechnungen liegen dabei in dem konsequenten Einbeziehen der akustischen Anisotropie, nicht nur für die Ausbreitung der Phononen, sondern auch für die Matrixelemente der Wechselwirkung, sowie eine saubere Behandlung des Confinements der Elektronen in den niederdimensionalen Systemen. Dabei werden die Grenzen weit verbreiteter Näherungsansätze für die Elektron-Phonon-Matrixelemente und das Elektronen-Confinement deutlich aufgezeigt. Für den quantitativen Vergleich mit realen Experimenten werden aber auch solche Größen, wie die endliche räumliche Ausdehnung von Phononenquelle und Detektor, die Streuung der Phononen an Verunreinigungen oder die Abschirmung der Elektron-Phonon-Kopplung durch die Elektron-Elektron-Wechselwirkung berücksichtigt.Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird der theoretische Apparat auf typische experimentelle Fragestellungen angewandt. Im Falle der Phonon-Drag-Experimente an GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostrukturen wird der durch akustische Nichtgleichgewichtsphononen in zwei- und eindimensionalen Elektronensystemen induzierte elektrische Strom (Phonon-Drag-Strom) als Funktion des Ortes der Phononenquelle bestimmt. Das in der Arbeit hergeleitete theoretische Modell kann die experimentellen Resultate für die Winkelabhängigkeit des Drag-Stromes sowohl für Messungen mit und ohne Magnetfeld qualitativ gut beschreiben. Außerdem wird der Einfluss unterschiedlicher Confinementmodelle und unterschiedlicher Wechselwirkungsmechanismen studiert. Dadurch ist es möglich, aus Phonon-Drag-Messungen Rückschlüsse auf die elektronischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften der niederdimensionalen Elektronensysteme zu ziehen (Fermivektor, effektive Masse, Elektron-Phonon-Kopplungskonstanten, Form des Confinementpotentials). Als weiteres Anwendungsbeispiel wird das Problem der Energierelaxation (aufgeheizter)zweidimensionaler Elektronensysteme in GaAs Heterostrukturen und Quantentrögen untersucht. Für Elektronentemperaturen unterhalb 50 K werden die Gesamtemissionsrate als Funktion der Temperatur und die winkelaufgelöste Emissionsrate (als Funktion der Detektorposition) berechnet. Für beide Größen wird erstmals eine gute Übereinstimmung zwischen Theorie und Experiment gefunden. Es zeigt sich, dass akustische Anisotropie und Abschirmungseffekte zu überraschenden neuen Ergebnissen führen können. Ein Beispiel dafür ist der unerwartet große Beitrag der mittels Deformationspotential-Wechselwirkung emittierten transversalen akustischen Phononen, der bei einer Emission der Phononen näherungsweise senkrecht zum zweidimensionalen System beobachtet werden kann

Certains besoins économiques, sociétaux ou environnementaux nécessitent une caractérisation approfondie des structures géologiques du sous-sol. Parmi les différentes méthodes géophysiques, la sismique est sans doute celle qui est le plus souvent privilégiée. Imager et caractériser le sous-sol à partir de données réelles acquises sur le terrain est cependant un problème inverse généralement di fficile à résoudre. Il l'est d'autant plus si le problème direct associé n'a pas été au préalable "maîtrisé" a minima, c'est-à-dire si l'on ne dispose pas d'une modélisation réaliste de la propagation des ondes. Pour cela, il semble essentiel, pour modéliser les données sismiques synthétiques a fin de les rendre comparables aux données réelles, d'identi fier et de comprendre en premier lieu les facteurs géologiques et/ou physiques de premier ordre qui in fluencent la propagation des ondes dans une con figuration donnée. Cela suppose qu'on prenne en compte à la fois les lois de comportement des couches géologiques traversées et les lois de contact entre ces couches, mais aussi les limitations introduites par le système d'observation constitué par les ondes sismiques. Ce mémoire décrit les travaux que j'ai menés essentiellement sur la compréhension et la modélisation de l'interaction ondes/interfaces en me basant sur des approches pluridisciplinaires. Outre l'aspect fondamental d'une meilleure connaissance des mécanismes physiques sous-jacents à la propagation des ondes dans des milieux complexes (e.g., les résolutions sismiques verticale et latérale, la dé finition du ré flecteur sismique 3D, la diffusion d'interface et l'in fluence de l'anisotropie sur les ondes de surface), des aspects plus appliqués, dédiés notamment à l'exploration de gisements énergétiques ou à la surveillance de réservoirs géologiques de stockage du CO2, ont été également développés.

Ce travail a porté sur l’étude expérimentale de la dynamique électronique et vibrationnelle de nano-objets métalliques et hybrides par spectroscopie pompe-sonde femtoseconde. L’étude de la dynamique des échanges d’énergie électrons-réseau dans des systèmes métalliques bidimensionnels nous a permis de mettre en évidence une accélération du transfert d’énergie entre électrons et phonons due au confinement. Cette accélération est gouvernée par la plus petite dimension des nano-objets étudiés (nano-triangles d’argent 2D) lorsque celle-ci devient inférieure à environ 10 nm. Nous avons aussi étudié la dynamique vibrationnelle de nanoparticules métalliques, bimétalliques et métal diélectrique. Nous nous sommes intéressés aux modes de vibration longitudinaux et radiaux de bipyramides d’or en fonction de leurs dimensions, et à leurs évolutions consécutives à un dépôt d’argent. Une forte sensibilité des périodes et des amplitudes de vibration à de faibles dépôts a été mise en évidence. L’étude de l’évolution des modes de vibration de nano-objets de type coeur-coquille (argent-silice et or-silice) nous a permis d’obtenir des informations sur la qualité du contact mécanique à l’interface métal-diélectrique. Enfin, nous avons étudié les interactions électroniques dans des nano-systèmes hybrides métal/semi-conducteur (ZnO-Ag), et plus particulièrement les transferts de charge et les échanges d’énergie entre les deux composants.Nous avons montré la forte influence de l’environnement sur la dynamique électronique du ZnO et mis en évidence un transfert d’électron, photo-induit par une impulsion infrarouge, de la particule métallique vers la bande de conduction du semi-conducteur<br>Electronic and vibrational dynamics have been studied in metallic and hybrid nano-object using femtosecond timeresolved spectroscopy. The study of electron-lattice energy exchanges in two-dimensional metallic systems showed an acceleration of the energy transfer between electrons and phonons due to confinement. This acceleration is governed by the smallest dimension of the nano-objects (2D-silver nano triangles ) when it becomes smaller than 10 nm. We also studied the vibrational dynamics of metallic nanoparticles, bimetallic and metal-dielectric. We investigated the longitudinal and radial modes of vibration of gold bipyramids which depend on their size, and studied their evolution under silver deposition. A high sensitivity of periods and amplitudes for small deposition were demonstrated. Our work on the evolution of acoustic vibrations of core-shell nano-objects (silver-silica and goldsilica) allowed us to obtain information on the quality of mechanical contact at the metal-dielectric interface. Finally, we studied the electronic interactions in hybrid metal / semiconductor (ZnO-Ag) nano-systems, and especially the charge transfer and energy exchanges between the two components. We showed a strong influence of the environment on the electron dynamics of ZnO and proved the existence of an electron transfer, photoinduced by an infrared pulse, from the metal particle to the semiconductor conduction band

Grease is among the most widely used lubricants in rolling element bearings. Proper understanding of the effect of lubrication due to grease aging can provide a significant increase in the life of the engineering systems. However, at present, there is no sufficient understanding of the grease aging effect in rolling elements bearing. This restricts the optimal usage of the bearing and timely monitoring of the grease. The current research work tries to address this issue with an experimental investigation. This project studies the behavior of 4 types of greases in rolling elements bearings for various operating conditions by recording the temperature and acoustic emission data. The aged samples were prepared to keep in the oven at 150 °C for a series of time duration letting it go through the chemical changes and thermal degradation. Tests were carried out in a test rig with the different levels of oxidized greases for 5 hrs time. And the effects in bearing temperature, acoustic emission were recorded. This is an investigation to analyze the effects of grease composition and aging in rolling elements lubrication by means of acoustic emission and bearing temperature. The IR spectroscopy was carried from the samples collected from the oven in order to understand the change in lubricant composition. The results show that the grease with di-urea thickener and base oil of synthetic ether and polyolester gives the best bearing temperature and acoustic emission behavior compared to the other grease type. The possibility of using the acoustic emission and temperature data to monitor the grease aging is also presented. Along with this, the possibility of using the AE statistical methods, AE count method, and energy plot were also explored to relate with the degree of aging.

Three Pieces for Musicians and Computer implements a modular formal structure that allows the performers to experiment with the order and number of movements to arrive at their ideal combination. The piece is a collection of three solo works: Rameaux, Nature Morte, and Moiré for bass flute with b-foot, metal percussion (vibraphone, glockenspiel, and crotales), and clarinet (A and B-flat instruments) respectively. In addition to the original versions, an alternate version of each piece is included. The alternate versions add new performance elements to the original works: live electronics in Rameaux and Nature Morte and an acoustic quintet (flute, viola, percussion, piano and harp) in Moiré. These additions reframe the original works by introducing new harmonic, timbral, and formal connections and possibilities. The compositional process of Three Pieces relies on the notion of Germinal Elements, which are defined as the set of limited, distinct, and indivisible materials used in the creation of the work. Though Germinal Elements are indivisible, they undergo a type of developmental process through expansion and contraction, which is an increase or a decrease in the range or scope of any musical parameter (time, pitch, density, dynamic, duration, etc.) or set of parameters. Analysis of this cycle of works reveals a variety of recombinations of four GE's as well as processes of expansion and contraction applied to multiple parameters of each GE to generate formal relationships within and between works. Two electronics systems, the delay/harmonizer instrument and the live performance system are described both in technical and musical terms with specific examples given to show how the electronics influence and expand both the surface material and the formal structure of the work.

碩士<br>國立交通大學<br>生醫工程研究所<br>101<br>Cochlear implants can provide an opportunity for severe to profound hearing impaired patients to perceive hearing sensation again. However, the hearing resolutions of traditional speech processing strategies are constrained by the limited number of electrodes. For cochlear implant users, the electrical field interaction between the electrodes would distort speeches. In acoustic model or vocoder implementations, two stimulating strategies (FAME and DRNL), incorporating current steering schemes to provide a higher frequency spectrum resolution than the two original strategies, are studied. To simulate the electrical field interaction in the acoustic model or vocoder, the revised SPREAD model combined with common strategies is introduced to reflect the electric field interaction between cochlear implant electrodes. Result of the first experiment shows that the two strategies with current steering scheme performed better in hearing tests. Result of the second experiment shows that the stimulating strategies with SPREAD model would reduce the gap between the results from normal hearing test subjects and those from cochlear implant users.

Animals generate sounds for many biological functions from mating to finding food. The ability to use inexpensive, non-intrusive sensors to gain valuable insights about the biology of animals is a promising application area for information and communication (ICT) research. In this thesis, we focus on the acoustic classification of flying insects in support of entomological research related to public health monitoring and control. This thesis describes how we can develop smart sensors capable of monitoring insects to control their development as well as to analyze their habitat and identify which areas are most affected. The focus of this work was on mosquito detection, although we are interested in the general problem of flying insect detection, and identification. Mosquitos are the most common vector for disease-causing viruses and parasites. They are estimated to transmit various types of diseases to more than 700 million people annually in all continents. A prototype acoustic insect flight detector was built from an analog microphone coupled to a digital sound recorder capable of recording and providing real-time data as well as some environmental parameters over common wireless networks. The system was placed in several points of interest identified by the public health administration institute of Madeira Islands and already monitored using traditional mechanical traps. The sensors collected several hours of ambient sound recordings that were further analyzed to detect the feasibility of the acoustic sensing approach to detect and identify mosquitos. Our results show the practical feasibility of this low-cost, non-intrusive approach for monitoring mosquitos in places requiring vector monitoring aimed at mosquito control or eradication.<br>Os animais geram sons para muitas funções biológicas desde o acasalamento até encontrar comida. A capacidade de usar sensores baratos e não intrusivos para obter informações valiosas sobre a biologia dos animais é uma área de aplicação promissora para a investigação. Nesta tese, concentramo-nos na classificação acústica de insetos voadores em apoio à pesquisa entomológica relacionada com a monitorização e controlo de saúde pública. Esta tese descreve como podemos desenvolver sensores inteligentes capazes de monitorizar insetos para controlar o seu desenvolvimento e analisar o seu habitat bem como identificar quais as áreas que são mais afetadas. O foco deste trabalho é sobre a deteção de mosquitos, embora estejamos interessados no problema geral de deteção de insetos voadores e a sua identificação. Os mosquitos são o meio mais comum para transmissão de vírus e parasitas causadores de doenças. Atualmente estima-se que estes insetos transmitam vários tipos de doenças a mais de 700 milhões de pessoas por ano em todos os continentes. O protótipo de deteção de voo para insetos através de sensores acústicos foi construído a partir de um microfone analógico acoplado a um gravador de som digital capaz de gravar e fornecer dados em tempo real, bem como alguns parâmetros ambientais em redes sem fio comuns. O sistema foi colocado em vários pontos de interesse identificados pelo instituto de administração de saúde pública da Ilha da Madeira, onde a monitorização é realizada usando armadilhas mecânicas tradicionais. Os sensores recolhem várias horas de gravações de som ambiente que foram analisadas para verificar a viabilidade desta abordagem de deteção acústica para detetar e identificar mosquitos. Os resultados mostram a viabilidade prática dessa abordagem de baixo custo e não intrusiva para a monitorização de mosquitos em locais que requerem a constante monitorização de vetores destinados ao controlo ou erradicação de mosquitos.