Comparison of Network Topologies for Optical Fiber Communication

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Comparison of Network Topologies for Optical Fiber Communication International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 1 Issue 10, December- 2012 Comparison Of Network Topologies For Optical Fiber Communication Mr. Bhupesh Bhatia Ms. Ashima Bhatnagar Bhatia Department of Electronics and Communication, Department of Computer Science, Guru Prem Sukh Memorial College of Engineering, Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Delhi Delhi Ms. Rashmi Ishrawat Department of Computer Science, Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Delhi Abstract advent of the Information age. Optical In this paper, the various network topologies technologies can cost effectively meet have been compared. The signal is analyzed as it corporate bandwidth needs today and passes through each node in each of the network tomorrow. Internet connections offering topology. There is no appreciable signal degradation in the ring network. Also there is bandwidth on demand, to fiber on the increase in Quality factor i.e. signal keeps on LAN. Fiber to the home can provide true improving as it passes through the successiveIJERT IJERTbroadband connectivity for nodes. For the bus topology, the quality of signal telecommuters as well as converged goes on decreasing with increase in the number multimedia offerings for consumers [2]. of nodes and the power penalty goes on increasing. For the star topology, it is observed These different communication networks that received power values of each node at a can be configured in a number of same distance from the hub are same and the topologies. These include a bus, with or performance is same. For the tree topology, it is without a backbone, a star network, a observed that the performance is almost identical ring network, which can be redundant to the performance of ring topology, as signal quality is improved as it passes through the and/ or self-healing, or some successive nodes of the hierarchy. combination of these. Network topology is the study of the arrangement or I. Introduction mapping of the elements (links, nodes, Communication systems have etc.) of a network, especially the revolutionized the telecommunications physical (real) and logical (virtual) industry and played a major role in the interconnections between nodes A local www.ijert.org 1 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 1 Issue 10, December- 2012 area network (LAN) is one example of a received by all nodes in the network network that exhibits both a physical and virtually simultaneously. Star is the a logical topology. Any given node in topology in which each of the nodes of the LAN will have one or more links to the network is connected to a central one or more other nodes in the network node with a point-to- point link. All data and the mapping of these links and that is transmitted between nodes in the nodes onto a graph results in a network is transmitted to this central geometrical shape that determines the node, which is usually some type of physical topology of the network [1]. device that then retransmits the data to some or all of the other nodes in the network, although the central node may also be a simple common connection point without any active device to repeat the signals. In ring topology, each of the nodes of the network is connected to two other nodes in the network and with the first and last nodes being connected to IJERTIJERTeach other, forming a ring. All data that is transmitted between nodes in the network travels from one node to the next node in a circular manner and the Fig. 1. Diagram of different network topologies. data generally flows in a single direction Fig. 1 shows the different types of only. In tree topology, the central ‘root’ topologies. Bus is the network topology node (the top level of the hierarchy) is in which all of the nodes of the network connected to one or more other nodes are connected to a common transmission that are one level lower in the hierarchy medium which has exactly two (i.e. the second level) with a point-to- endpoints (this is the ‘bus’, which is also point link between each of the second commonly referred to as the backbone, level nodes and the top level central or trunk) – all data that is transmitted ‘root’ node, while each of the second between nodes in the network is level nodes that are connected to the top transmitted over this common level central ‘root’ node will also have transmission medium and is able to be www.ijert.org 2 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 1 Issue 10, December- 2012 one or more other nodes that are one clients are connected via a shared level lower in the hierarchy. communications line, called a bus. This Optical networks are the next revolution topology is easy to implement and in technology, because they deliver the install. It is well-suited for temporary or increased bandwidth demanded by the small networks not requiring high speeds information explosion. Optical networks (quick setup), resulting in faster are spreading outward from Internet networks. Cost effective and easy backbones to cities to corporations and identification of cable faults is possible. even to the home. Cities are in a Moreover, Bus networks are the simplest strategic position to create a leading- way to connect multiple clients, but edge optical infrastructure that will drive often have problems when two clients economic growth [3]. Optical want to transmit at the same time on the technologies can cost-effectively meet same bus. Thus systems which use bus corporate bandwidth needs today and network architectures normally have tomorrow. Internet connections offering some scheme of collision handling or bandwidth on demand, to fiber on the collision avoidance for communication LAN. Fiber to the home can provide true on the bus, quite often using Carrier broadband connectivity forIJERT IJERTSense Multiple Access or the presence of telecommuters as well as converged a bus master which controls access to the multimedia offerings for consumers [2]. shared bus resource. Many active Based on optical fiber cables, digital architectures can also be described as a microwave and satellite subsidiary, a ‘‘bus’’, as they provide the same logical transport network with fully coverage, functions as a passive bus, for example, large capacity and high rate has been switched Ethernet can still be regarded basically formed. However, the as a logical bus network, if not a development of the transport network is physical one. The limitations of Bus still slower as more and more capacity is Network topology are limited fiber needed for various communication length, higher Maintenance costs, if technologies. there is a problem with the cable, the entire network breaks down. Moreover, II. Bus network topology: the performance degrades as additional computers are added or on heavy traffic A bus network topology (fig. 2) is a (shared bandwidth). network architecture in which a set of www.ijert.org 3 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 1 Issue 10, December- 2012 all links between devices. To implement a ring network, one typically uses FDDI, SONET, or Token Ring technology. Ring topologies are found in some office buildings or school campuses. Fig. 2. Bus network layout Fig. 3. Ring network layout III. Ring network Topology IV. Star network topology In a ring network (fig.3) each node connects to exactly two other nodes, Star networks are simplest form of forming a single continuous pathway the network topologies. This network for signals through each node - a topology consists of one central ring. Data travels from node to node,IJERT computer, which acts as a central with each node along the way IJERTnode, to which all other nodes are handling every packet. Ring network connected. This central node Performs better than a bus topology provides a common connection point under heavy network load and does for all nodes through a hub. If the not require a central node to manage central node is passive, the the connectivity between the originating node must be able to computers. But the limitations are tolerate the reception of an echo of that one malfunctioning workstation its own transmission, delayed by the can create problems for the entire two-way transmission time (i.e. to network or a node failure or cable and from the central node) plus any break might isolate every node delay generated in the central node. attached to the ring. Communication An active star network(fig. 4) has an delay is directly proportional to active central node that usually has number of nodes in the network. In the means to prevent echo-related adition, bandwidth is also shared on problems. The star topology reduces www.ijert.org 4 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 Vol. 1 Issue 10, December- 2012 the chance of network failure by all peripheral nodes on the network, connecting all of the systems to a sometimes including the originating central node. When applied to a bus- node. All peripheral nodes may thus based network, this central hub communicate with all others by rebroadcasts all transmissions transmitting to, and receiving from, received from any peripheral node to the central node only. The failure of transmission line linking any peripheral network, a cable failure in one of the star node to the central node will result in the networks will isolate the node that it isolation of that peripheral node from all links to the central node of that star others, but the rest of the systems will be network, but only that node will be unaffected. isolated. The limitations of the tree topology are If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down and it is more difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.
Recommended publications
  • Part 2: Packet Transmission
    Mesh networks LAN technologies and network topology • Early local networks used dedicated links between each pair of computers LANs and shared media • Some useful properties Locality of reference – hardware and frame details can be tailored for Star, bus and ring topologies each link Medium access control protocols – easy to enforce security and privacy Disadvantages of meshes Links between rooms/buildings • Poor scalability • Many links would follow the same physical path Shared Communication Channels Locality of reference • Shared LANs invented in the 1960s • LANs now connect more computers than any other form of network • Rely on computers sharing a single medium • The reason LANs are so popular is due to • Computers coordinate their access the principle of locality of reference • Low cost – physical locality of reference - computers more • But not suitable for wide area - likely to communicate with those nearby communication delays inhibit coordination – temporal locality of reference - computer is more likely to communicate with the same computers repeatedly 1 LAN topologies • LANs may be categorised according to topology ring bus star Pros and cons Example bus network: Ethernet • Star is more robust but hub may be a • Single coaxial cable - the ether - to which bottleneck computers connect • Ring enables easy coordination but is • IEEE standard specifies details sensitive to a cable being cut – data rates • Bus requires less wiring but is also sensitive – maximum length and minimum separation to a cable being cut – frame formats
    [Show full text]
  • Introducing Zigbee Theory and Practice Into Information and Computer Technology Disciplines
    AC 2007-1072: INTRODUCING ZIGBEE THEORY AND PRACTICE INTO INFORMATION AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY DISCIPLINES Crystal Bateman, Brigham Young University Crystal Bateman is an Undergraduate Student at BYU studying Information Technology. Her academic interests include ubiquitous technologies and usability. She is currently finishing an honors thesis on using mobile ZigBee motes in a home environment, and enjoying life with her husband and two daughters Janell Armstrong, Brigham Young University Janell Armstrong is a Graduate Student in Information Technology at BYU. Her interests are in ZigBee and public key infrastructure. She has three years experience as a Teacher's Assistant. Student memberships include IEEE, IEEE-CS, ACM, SWE, ASEE. C. Richard Helps, Brigham Young University Richard Helps is the Program Chair of the Information Technology program at BYU and has been a faculty member in the School of Technology since 1986. His primary scholarly interests are in embedded and real-time computing and in technology education. He also has interests in human-computer interfacing. He has been involved in ABET accreditation for about 8 years and is a Commissioner of CAC-ABET and a CAC accreditation team chair. He spent ten years in industry designing industrial automation systems and in telecommunications. Professional memberships include IEEE, IEEE-CS, ACM, SIGITE, ASEE. Page 12.982.1 Page © American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Introducing ZigBee Theory and Practice into Information and Computer Technology Disciplines Abstract As pervasive computing turns from the desktop model to the ubiquitous computing ideal, the development challenges become more complex than simply connecting a peripheral to a PC. A pervasive computing system has potentially hundreds of interconnected devices within a small area.
    [Show full text]
  • The Design of PROFIBUS-DP HUB Based on FPGA
    International Conference on Computer Science and Service System (CSSS 2014) The Design of PROFIBUS-DP HUB based on FPGA Jiao Ping Zhou Tong Lab. of Networked Control Systems Lab. of Networked Control Systems Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), Chinese Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA), Chinese Academy of Sciences China, Shenyang Academy of Sciences China, Shenyang [email protected] [email protected] Abstract—This paper analyzes the PROFIBUS-DP and specified the standard EIA RS-485, and the traffic rate is physical layer signals states, DP time series and other from 9.6kbps to 12Mbps [2, 3, 6]. characteristics. In the past, PROFIBUS-DP HUB common IEC 1158-2 specified the station number of problems of poor universal apply, shape communication is PROFIBUS-DP is 126 (station address from 0 to 125 contain more time-consuming, required message analysis, Drop frame master and slave station) [4]. In the one segment of etc, this paper propose a new design of PROFIBUS-DP HUB PROFIBUS-DP, the maximum station is 32. DP HUB or DP which based on FPGA. The design contain a detector which Repeater device requires the use, if want to connect more used to monitor the physical layer signal state of the DP bus, stations or change the network topology. As figure shown, use of FPGA synthesis logic signal, could control the direction DP HUB or DP Repeater divided the DP network into many of data flow in the physical layer, and Unrelated with the subnet segments [7]. Each interface of DP HUB is a upper layer protocol, without message analysis, compliance the protocol which used the standard RS-485, and Repeater, which can independently drive a PROFIBUS baudrate-adaptive.
    [Show full text]
  • 13 Embedded Communication Protocols
    13 Embedded Communication Protocols Distributed Embedded Systems Philip Koopman October 12, 2015 © Copyright 2000-2015, Philip Koopman Where Are We Now? Where we’ve been: •Design • Distributed system intro • Reviews & process • Testing Where we’re going today: • Intro to embedded networking – If you want to be distributed, you need to have a network! Where we’re going next: • CAN (a representative current network protocol) • Scheduling •… 2 Preview “Serial Bus” = “Embedded Network” = “Multiplexed Wire” ~= “Muxing” = “Bus” Getting Bits onto the wire • Physical interface • Bit encoding Classes of protocols • General operation • Tradeoffs (there is no one “best” protocol) • Wired vs. wireless “High Speed Bus” 3 Linear Network Topology BUS • Good fit to long skinny systems – elevators, assembly lines, etc... • Flexible - many protocol options • Break in the cable splits the bus • May be a poor choice for fiber optics due to problems with splitting/merging • Was prevalent for early desktop systems • Is used for most embedded control networks 4 Star Network Topologies Star • Can emulate bus functions – Easy to detect and isolate failures – Broken wire only affects one node – Good for fiber optics – Requires more wiring; common for Star current desktop systems • Broken hub is catastrophic • Gives a centralized location if needed – Can be good for isolating nodes that generate too much traffic Star topologies increasing in popularity • Bus topology has startup problems in some fault scenarios • Safety critical control networks moving
    [Show full text]
  • Field Networking Solutions
    Field Networking Solutions Courtesy of Steven Engineering, Inc. ! 230 Ryan Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080-6370 ! Main Office: (650) 588-9200 ! Outside Local Area: (800) 258-9200 ! www.stevenengineering.com TYPES OF FIELDBUS NETWORKS* Field Networking 101 Features and Benefits of Fieldbus Networks The combination of intelligent field devices, digital bus networks, and various open communications protocols Fieldbus networks provide an array of features and benefits that make them an excellent choice is producing extraordinary results at process plants in nearly all process control environments. around the world. Compared to conventional technology, fieldbus networks deliver the following benefits: Just as our ability to retrieve, share, and analyze data Reduced field wiring costs has increased tremendously by use of the Internet and - Two wires from the control room to many devices PC network technology in our homes and at our desk- Reduced commissioning costs tops, so has our ability to control and manage our - Less time and personnel needed to perform process plants improved. Digital connectivity in process I/O wiring checkouts - No time spent calibrating intermediate signals manufacturing plants provides an infrastructure for the (such as 4-20mA signals) - Digital values are delivered directly from field flow of real-time data from the process level, making it devices, increasing accuracy available throughout our enterprise networks. This data Reduced engineering/operating costs is being used at all levels of the enterprise to provide - Much smaller space required for panels, I/O racks, and connectivity boxes increased process monitoring and control, inventory and - Fewer I/O cards and termination panels for materials planning, advanced diagnostics, maintenance control system equipment - Lower power consumption by control system planning, and asset management.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Important Issues in UAV Communications Networks
    1 Survey of Important Issues in UAV Communication Networks Lav Gupta*, Senior Member IEEE, Raj Jain, Fellow, IEEE, and Gabor Vaszkun technology that can be harnessed for military, public and civil Abstract—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have enormous applications. Military use of UAVs is more than 25 years old potential in the public and civil domains. These are particularly primarily consisting of border surveillance, reconnaissance and useful in applications where human lives would otherwise be strike. Public use is by the public agencies such as police, endangered. Multi-UAV systems can collaboratively complete missions more efficiently and economically as compared to single public safety and transportation management. UAVs can UAV systems. However, there are many issues to be resolved provide timely disaster warnings and assist in speeding up before effective use of UAVs can be made to provide stable and rescue and recovery operations when the public communication reliable context-specific networks. Much of the work carried out in network gets crippled. They can carry medical supplies to areas the areas of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), and Vehicular rendered inaccessible. In situations like poisonous gas Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) does not address the unique infiltration, wildfires and wild animal tracking UAVs could be characteristics of the UAV networks. UAV networks may vary from slow dynamic to dynamic; have intermittent links and fluid used to quickly envelope a large area without risking the safety topology. While it is believed that ad hoc mesh network would be of the personnel involved. most suitable for UAV networks yet the architecture of multi-UAV UAVs come networks has been an understudied area.
    [Show full text]
  • Efficiently Triggering, Debugging and Decoding Low-Speed Serial Buses
    Efficiently Triggering, Debugging and Decoding Low-Speed Serial Buses Hello, my name is Jerry Mark, I am a Product Marketing Engineer at Tektronix. The following presentation discusses aspects of embedded design techniques for “Efficiently Triggering, Debugging, and Decoding Low-Speed Serial Buses”. 1 Agenda Introduction – Parallel Interconnects – Transition from Parallel to Serial Buses – High-Speed versus Low-Speed Serial Data Buses Low-Speed Serial Data Buses – Challenges – Technology Reviews – Measurement Solutions Summary 2 In this presentation we will begin by taking a glance at the transition from parallel-to-serial data and the challenges this presents to engineers. Then we will briefly review some of the most widely used low-speed serial buses in industry today and some of their key characteristics. We will turn our attention to the key measurements on these buses. Subsequently, we will present by example how the low-speed serial solution from Tektronix addresses these challenges. 2 Parallel Interconnects Traditional way to connect digital devices used parallel buses Advantages – Simple point-to-point connections – All signals are transmitted in parallel, simultaneously – Easy to capture state of bus (if you have enough channels!) – Decoding the bus is relatively easy Disadvantages – Occupies a lot of circuit board space – All high-speed connections must be the same length – Many connections limit reliability – Connectors may be very large 3 Parallel buses present all of the bits in parallel, as shown in the logic analyzer display. A parallel connection between two ICs can be as simple as point-to-point circuit board traces for each of the data lines. If you can physically probe these lines, it is easy to display the bus state on a logic analyzer or mixed signal oscilloscope.
    [Show full text]
  • 16 1.6 . LAN Topology Most Computers in Organizations Connect to the Internet Using a LAN. These Networks Normally Consist of A
    1.6 . LAN Topology Most computers in organizations connect to the Internet using a LAN. These networks normally consist of a backbone which is a common link to all the networks within the organization. This backbone allows users on different network segments to communicate and also allows data into and out of the local network. Figure 7 shows a local area network which contains various segments: LAN A, LAN B, LAN C, LAN D, LAN E and LAN F. These are connected to the local network via the BACKBONE 1.Thus if LAN A talks to LAN E then the data must travel out of LAN A, onto BACKBONE 1, then into LAN C and through onto LAN E. Figure 7. Interconnection of local networks Networks are partitioned from other networks with a bridge, a gateway or a router. A bridge links a network of one type to an identical type, such as Ethernet, 16 or Token Ring to Token Ring. A gateway connects two dissimilar types of networks and routers operate in a similar way to gateways and can either connect to two similar or dissimilar networks. The key operation of a gateway, bridge or router is that they only allow data traffic through that is intended for another network, which is outside the connected network. This filters traffic and stops traffic, not intended for the network, from clogging-up the backbone. Most modern bridges, gateways and routers are intelligent and can automatically determine the topology of the network. Spanning-tree bridges have built-in intelligence and can communicate with other bridges.
    [Show full text]
  • Satellite Communication & Networking
    SATELLITE COMMUNICATION & NETWORKING Submitted By- Sanket Gupta NTPC Electronics & Communication National Thermal Power Corporation Raj Kumar Goel Engg. College INDEX 11.. IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn aa.. HHooww DDoo SSaatteelllliitteess WWoorrkk?? bb.. FFaaccttoorrss IInn SSaatteelllliittee Communication 22.. MMaajjoorr PPrroobblleemmss FFoorr SSaatteelllliitteess aa.. AAddvvaannttaaggeess OOff SSaatteelllliitteess Communication b.b. Disadvantages Of Satellites Communication 33.. TTyyppeess OOff SSaatteelllliitteess aa.. GGeeoossttaattiioonnaarryy EEaarrtthh OOrrbbiitt (GEO) bb.. LLooww EEaarrtthh OOrrbbiitt ((LLEEOO)) cc.. MMeeddiiuumm EEaarrtthh OOrrbbiitt ((MMEEOO)) 44.. FFrreeqquueennccyy BBaannddss OOff SSaatteelllliitteess aa.. SSaatteelllliittee SSeerrvviicceess bb.. FFrreeqquueennccyy BBaannddss 55.. TTeerrmmss UUsseedd IInn SSaatteelllliittee Communication 66.. CCoommppoonneennttss OOff SSaatteelllliittee Communication 7.7. Satellite Communication System 88.. SSaatteelllliittee EEaarrtthh SSttaattiioonn Introduction How Do Satellites Work? If two Stations on Earth want to communicate through rraaddiioo bbrrooaaddccaasstt bbuutt aarree ttoooo ffaarr aawwaayy ttoo uussee coconvnvenentitiononalal memeanans,s, ththenen ththesesee ststatatioionsns cacann ususee aa satellite as a relay station for their communicacommunication.tion. One Earth Station sends a transmission to the satellite. This is called an Uplink . ThThee sasateltellitlitee Transponder earthconverts station. the signalThis is calledand sends a Downlink it down.. to the
    [Show full text]
  • Dwdm Topologies
    CHAPTER 16 DWDM TOPOLOGIES 16.1 INTRODUCTION Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks are classified into four major topological configurations: DWDM point-to-point with or without add-drop multiplexing network, fully connected mesh network, star network, and DWDM ring network with OADM nodes and a hub. Each topology has its own requirements and, based on the application, different optical components may be involved in the re- spective designs. In addition, there are hybrid network topologies that may consist of stars and/or rings that are interconnected with point-to-point links. For example, the Metropolitan Optical Network project (MONET) is a WDM network developed for and funded by a number of private companies and by U.S. government agencies. It consists of two sub- networks, one located in New Jersey and one in the Washington, D.C./Maryland area; the two are interconnected with a long-distance point-to-point optical link. 16.2 POINT-TO-POINT TOPOLOGY Point-to-point topology is predominantly for long-haul transport that requires ultrahigh speed (10-40 Gb/s), ultrahigh aggregate bandwidth (in the order ofseveral ter- abits per second), high signal integrity, great reliability, and fast path restoration capa- bility. The distance between transmitter and receiver may be several hundred kilome- ters, and the number of amplifiers between the two end points is typically less than 10 (as determined by power loss and signal distortion). Point-to-point with add-drop mul- tiplexing enables the system to drop and add channels along its path. Number of chan- nels, channel spacing, type of fiber, signal modulation method, and component type se- lection are all important parameters in the calculation of the power budget.
    [Show full text]
  • TR 101 984 V1.2.1 (2007-12) Technical Report
    ETSI TR 101 984 V1.2.1 (2007-12) Technical Report Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Broadband Satellite Multimedia (BSM); Services and architectures 2 ETSI TR 101 984 V1.2.1 (2007-12) Reference RTR/SES-00274 Keywords architecture, broadband, IP, multimedia, satellite ETSI 650 Route des Lucioles F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex - FRANCE Tel.: +33 4 92 94 42 00 Fax: +33 4 93 65 47 16 Siret N° 348 623 562 00017 - NAF 742 C Association à but non lucratif enregistrée à la Sous-Préfecture de Grasse (06) N° 7803/88 Important notice Individual copies of the present document can be downloaded from: http://www.etsi.org The present document may be made available in more than one electronic version or in print. In any case of existing or perceived difference in contents between such versions, the reference version is the Portable Document Format (PDF). In case of dispute, the reference shall be the printing on ETSI printers of the PDF version kept on a specific network drive within ETSI Secretariat. Users of the present document should be aware that the document may be subject to revision or change of status. Information on the current status of this and other ETSI documents is available at http://portal.etsi.org/tb/status/status.asp If you find errors in the present document, please send your comment to one of the following services: http://portal.etsi.org/chaircor/ETSI_support.asp Copyright Notification No part may be reproduced except as authorized by written permission. The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.
    [Show full text]
  • Power Characterisation of a Zigbee Wireless Network in a Real Time Monitoring Application
    Power Characterisation of a Zigbee Wireless Network in a Real Time Monitoring Application Arrian Prince-Pike A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering (ME) April 2009 School of Engineering Primary Supervisor: Dr John Collins Acknowledgements In completing this research I received help from a number of people. First I must thank my supervisor Dr John Collins for his support, guidance and advice during the course of this investigation. I must also thank AUT technician Achala Perera who provided me with much of the equipment required for the experimental investigation. Finally, thanks to my friends and family for their support during the course of my research. i Attestation of Authorship ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where explicitly defined in the acknowledgements), nor material which to a substantial extent has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of higher learning’ Arrian Prince-Pike April 2009 ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................i Attestation of Authorship...........................................................................................................ii Table of Contents....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]