In this thesis Matthew Simpson reportstwo areas of work in gas ion spectroscopy, each investigation in itself worthy of a PhD. The first study uses tunable vacuum-ultraviolet radiation from a synchrotron to identify negative ions from twenty four photoexcited polyatomic molecules in the gas phase. From these experiments, Matthew collects a vast amount of data and summarises and reviews ion-pair formation from polyatomic molecules. The second study is on selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Matthew investigates the reactions of cations and anions with ethene, monofluoroethene,...

The most massive stars in the galaxy - those with more than 15 to 20 solar masses - are lilkely to ionize their surroundings before they reach their final mass. How can they accrete in spite of the presence of over-pressurized gas?
This thesis presents results of Submillimeter Array (SMA) and Very Large Array (VLA) studies of massive star formation regions in the early stages of ionization, as well as an analysis of numerical simulations of the evolution of these young HII regions. The results favor a picture in which very massive stars form in accretion flows that are partially ionized...

Air pollution related to the release of industrial toxic gases, represents one of the main
concerns of our modern world owing to its detrimental effect on the environment. To tackle this growing issue, efficient ways to reduce/control the release of pollutants are required. Adsorption of gases on porous materials appears as a potential solution. However, the physisorption of small molecules of gases such as ammonia is limited at ambient conditions. For their removal, adsorbents providing strong adsorption forces must be used/developed.
In this study, new carbon-based materials are...

This text covers advances in the algorithms used for processing satellite accelerometry and Two-Line Element (TLE) orbit data in the collection of data on atmosphere and wind. Coverage includes an extensive analysis of the resulting density and wind products.

Interferometry, the most precise measurement technique known today, exploits the wave-like nature of the atoms or photons in the interferometer. As expected from the laws of quantum mechanics, the granular, particle-like features of the individually independent atoms or photons are responsible for the precision limit, the shot noise limit. However this "classical" bound is not fundamental and it is the aim of quantum metrology to overcome it by employing entanglement among the particles.This workreports on the realization of spin-squeezed states suitable for atom interferometry. Spin...

This publication details a groundbreaking radar methodology called perturbation analysis, which enables detection of targets smaller than the resolution cell that are highly embedded in clutter. It pushes forward the performance limits of current algorithms.

Recent landslide events demonstrate the need to improve landslide forecasting and early warning capabilities in order to reduce related risks and protect human lives. In this thesis, local and regional investigations were carried out to analyse landslide characteristics in the Swabian Alb region, and to develop prototypic landslide early warning systems.
In the local study area, an extensive hydrological and slope movement monitoring system was installed on a seasonally reactivated landslide body located in Lichtenstein-
Unterhausen. Monitoring data was analysed to assess the...

This book develops a computer program for deriving complex Dyson-Schwinger equations. It offers an important theoretical contribution to our understanding of quark confinement. Winner of the prestigious Viktor Hess Prize of the Austrian Physical Society.