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This thesis makes contributions to the methodology of quantitative description of the tilting systems of perovskite structures and theoretical analysis of high-pressure phase transitions of representative perovskites. Chapter 1 and 2 introduce the perovskite structures, tilting classification and descriptions. The structures in each of the 15 tilt systems have been decomposed in to the amplitudes of symmetry-adapted modes in order to provide a clear and unambiguous definition of the tilt angles. A general expression in terms of tilt angles for the ratio of the volumes of the two polyhedra within the perovskite structure is derived. Chapter 3 uses the first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential calculations to investigate the high-pressure to phase transition and elasticity of LaAlO3 perovskite. This second order transition is determined to occur at ~14 GPa by the pressure variation of the squared frequency of the soft R-point mode in the structure. Elastic moduli are inverted from the calculated stress-strain data by the singular value decomposition method. The Landau parameters for this phase transition are calibrated from the calculation results. Chapter 4 uses the same method to investigate the high-pressure phase transitions and elasticity of YAlO3 perovskite. The Pnma, Imma, I4/mcm, , perovskite structures and the NH4CdCl3-, Gd2S3-, U2S3-, CaIrO3-type structures are considered. A continuous Pnma to Imma transition occurs at ~89 GPa, determined from the soft Z-point mode of the Imma structure. Then, a discontinuous Imma to I4/mcm transition occurs at ~100 GPa, suggested by the relative enthalpies and phonon dispersions. The elasticities of the Pnma, Imma and I4/mcm structures show mechanical stabilities compatible with the phase transitions. The NH4CdCl3- and CaIrO3-type structures are dynamically stable although not energetically favorable. The relative A/B site polyhedral volume ratios are found to qualitatively reproduce the relative enthalpies of the perovsk

Scintillation properties of undoped YAP crystal were studied. The emission spectra show a very intense light component at 360 nm. Analysis of the light pulse shape resulted in five components, four of them, with time constants of 38+/-2 ns, 92+/-3 ns, 7.5+/-0.5 mu s and 24+/-3 mu s, representing high light intensity. The light yield was found to be temperature dependent, N-ph=3090+/-130 ph/MeV at liquid nitrogen temperature and N-ph=1440+/-60 ph/MeV at room temperature. Also the light yield non-proportionality shows temperature dependence and is more pronounced at room temperature., QC 20100525

Erasure of data stored by use of photon echoes has been investigated as a function of data writing time and data storage time. The results clarify the requirements on laser phase and frequency stability for performing photon-echo data erasure. The analysis of phase and frequency stability of a light source by the photon-echo erasure process is illustrated. A theoretical analysis emphasizing the physical processes that affect the erasure efficiency as well as an extensive discussion of possible error sources are given. Finally, an approach to bit-selective photon-echo data erasure that is insensitive to laser phase and frequency fluctuations is suggested.