Masters Degrees (Physics)
Recent Submissions
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Generalisation of theory and algorithms for the configurational temperature Nosé–Hoover thermostat.
(2015)In this dissertation we reformulate the configurational temperature Nos`e-Hoover thermostat proposed by Braga and Travis (C. Braga and K.P. Travis, 2005), using the antisymmetric matrix formalism found in (A. Sergi, ... -
Theory and computer simulation of hard-core Yukawa models of fluids.
(2015)Abstract available in PDF file. -
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Single and double layer bulk heterojunction organic solar cell.
(2015)Bulk heterojunction photovoltaic device based on the binary organic comprised of P3HT:PCBM and PTB7:PCBM with weight ratio of 1:1 and 1:1.5 respectively. We used these blends as a photo-active layer with different ... -
Experimental investigation of electric-field-induced birefringence in fluids.
Measurements of the quadratic electro-optical (Kerr) effect of uids can provide knowledge of fundamental molecular properties, such as (hyper)polarizabilities. They also provide valuable information about intermolecular ... -
Superthermal particle effects on solitons in a symmetric four-species electron-positron plasma.
Abstract available in PDF file. -
Stratospheric ozone climatology and variability from ground-based and satellite observations over Irene, South Africa (25.5°S; 28.1°E)
(2014)The climatological characteristic of ozone over Irene (25.˚S, 28.1˚E) was assessed in this thesis using ground-based satellite observations. The aim of this was to examine the variability of both total and vertical ozone ... -
Generation and detection of bessel beams.
(2015-09-18)In this dissertation we study the properties of Bessel-Gauss beams. Bessel-Gauss beams are created by the interference of plane waves lying on a cone, and have unique properties: they propagate without spreading and ... -
Devices for the construction of a cold atom experiment.
(2013)The experimental setup for laser cooling and trapping of 87Rb atoms with the aid of a Magneto-optical trap (MOT) is discussed. The experiment has a diverse setup, which includes: a vacuum system in which the cooling and ... -
Modelling of VLF radio propagation in the earth-ionosphere waveguide.
(2012)Abstract available in PDF file. -
Progress with the colliding shock lens.
(2013)The Colliding Shock Lens (CSL) exploits the interference of shock waves in a gas to form a region in which high pressure, temperature and density change the refractive index of the gas, making it possible to focus laser ... -
Corrosive sulphur in transformers.
(2013)Failures in power transformers, in the majority of cases, have been linked to the formation of copper sulphide (Cu₂S) and corrosive sulphur. Cu₂S is conductive and affects the dielectric properties of the insulation system ... -
Magnetic properties of Mg₁-xZnxFe₂O₄ nanoferrites and tetracycline-ferrite nanocomposites.
(2013)Abstract available in print copy. -
Phytochemical, elemental and biotechnological study of cryptocarya latifolia, an indigenous medicinal plant of South Africa.
(2013)Cryptocarya latifolia (Lauraceae) is an indigenous South African plant used in ethnomedicinal practices. Traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are extensively using the bark of C. latifolia as a substitute for ... -
1-D particle-in-cell simulations of plasmas with kappa velocity distributions.
(2013)The main aim of this project was the development of a particle-in-cell (PIC) plasma simulation code. While particle-in-cell simulations are not new, they have largely focused on using an initial Maxwellian particle ... -
Dynamics and thermalization of a fermion in a fermionic bath embedded in a bosonic bath.
(2015-07-07)We consider a model consisting of a finite number of quantum dots each of which confines a spinless electron. We zoom in on a single quantum dot containing an electron of interest treating it as being strongly coupled ... -
Measurement and modelling of the directional scattering of light.
(2015)The quantum nature of light suggests that a photon can interact with matter in two primary ways. Firstly and perhaps more simply, the photon could be absorbed or secondly and more complex, it could be scattered into a ... -
An investigation of electric-field-gradient-induced Birefringence in fluids.
(2015-06-17)The theory of electric-field-gradient-induced birefringence (EFGIB, the Buckingham effect) is briefly reviewed, and modifications to the Buckingham-effect apparatus are described. These modifications have increased the ... -
Bulk heterojunction organic solar cell.
(2015-06-10)The low material costs and the ease fabrication procedures of organic solar cells has earned them too much interest from scientists all over the world. Much of the e orts were given to the improvement of the power ... -
An investigation of the efficiency of the receiver of a solar thermal cooker with thermal energy storage.
(2015-01-05)A small scale solar concentrator cooker with a thermal energy storage system was designed, constructed and tested on the roof of the Physics building at UKZN, Westville campus (GPS co-ordinates: -29.817897, 30.942771) ...
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