I wish to acknowledge my wife Lynette for her unwavering support and her endearing friendship. I wish to thank my Mother, and the other members of my family for being a source of inspiration. I wish to thank my high school English teacher, for his insight.

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) is a rapidly growing technology that lends itself particularly well to optical applications. An example of an optical MEMS device is the piston-action mirror that modulates the phase of reflected light. The phase of reflected light can be varied using thermal or electrostatic actuation to control the position of the mirror. In previous research, a modulation method to control thermally actuated mirrors was developed. This thesis presents the development, implementation, fabrication, and testing of a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) controller capable of directly interfacing between a digital system, such as a computer, and an electrostatically actuated MEMS mirror device. The controller pulse width modulates a supply voltage to vary the power applied to the MEMS mirror device. The MEMS mirror device responds with negligible position ripple to the applied average power of the pulse width modulation signal. By varying the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal, the position of the mirror is varied. This controller can be adapted to control other electrostatically actuated devices using the design and methodology described in this thesis. The implementation of this controller is a step toward the monolithic integration of a MEMS deformable mirror array with CMOS control electronics.

Various techniques for modulation and scanning of coherent light are analyzed for application to the generation of high resolution high contrast displays for simulation. A number of possible techniques are discussed in the main body of the report. The individual discussions include a brief description of the princeiples of operation together with capabilities relative to bandwidth, contrast ratio, deflection angle, alignment, sensitivity, ease of fabrication, and handling. This is based somewhat upon voltage and power requirements over range of operation. (Author)

The aim of this book is to bring together social scientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, neuroscientists, neuropsychologists and others to promote a dialogue about the variety of processes involved in social cognition, as well as the relevance of mirroring neural systems to those processes. Social cognition is a broad discipline that encompasses many issues not yet adequately addressed by neurobiologists. Yet, it is a strong belief that framing these issues in terms of the neural basis of social cognition, especially within an evolutionary perspective, can be a very fruitful strategy. This book includes some of the leading thinkers in the nascent field of mirroring processes and reflects the authors’ attempts to till common ground from a variety of perspectives. The book raises contrary views and addresses some of the most vexing yet core questions in the field – providing the basis for extended discussion among interested readers and laying down guidelines for future research. It has been argued that interaction with members of one’s own social group enhances cognitive development in primates and especially humans (Barrett & Henzi, 2005). Byrne and Whiten (1988), Donald (1991), and others have speculated that abilities such as cooperation, deception, and imitation led to increasingly complex social interactions among primates resulting in a tremendous expansion of the cerebral cortex. The evolutionary significance of an imitation capability in primates is matched by its ontological consequences.

Materials Science and Technology Series: Synthetic Modulated Structures focuses on synthetic modulated structures, which is described as any periodically perturbed materials with a repetition greater than the basic unit cell dimension. The book is organized into three parts. Part I provides a perspective of developments and structural characterization of the semiconductor and metal area. The electronic properties in different configurations and structures, including compositional and doping modulation are covered in Part II. Part III begins with preparation methods, followed by a discussion on distinctive fields of interest in metals, transport and magnetic properties, superconductivity, and diffusion. This publication is a good source for students and researchers conducting work in the general area of modulated structures.