SOME CREDITS ARE DUE
There are so many people and institutions to thank in this research project. The work could not have been done without their help and support. Too all of those who have contributed in one way or another let me extend to you my deepest thanks and gratitude. Here is my list of ÒcreditsÓ in no particular order. If, as I am sure I have, I have forgotten someone, I apologize in advance.
Professor Paul Beale, Chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Paul is co-author and resident expert in mathematics, a great colleague and friend. He also flies a really neat airplane.
Kelly Kohls has contributed to this project in major ways. Most importantly, though, was how Kelly helped me navigate through the complexities of a precision digital-to-analog interface that sported a high-speed serial connection.
Mike Kenny of MWK Lasers has been a great resource for me, both in terms of information and it terms of high-quality used laser parts and systems. He stands behind his products and is fair.
Jason Kyle of JPK Electronics supplied the high-speed serial to DMX-512 converter for my system. It is a great product and works very well. The unit is easy to write code for.
Dr. Manhar L. Shah, of MVM Electronics, provided the PCAOM unit and eight-channel control board for this project. The uits is reasonably priced and of excellent quality. Additionally, he has given me much technical advice regarding the mysterious world of polarized light in lasers.
Mentor Graphics has been most generous in letting me hold a license for their state-of-the-art CAD circuit board design software. All of the boards in this project were designed with the Mentor Expedition series software.
Analog Devices donated many of the more expensive and sophisticated integrated circuits to this project. The chips they gave me have been ultra reliable and extremely accurate.
National Semiconductor also donated a number of integrated circuits to this project. All of the chips worked perfectly and with impressive accuracy.
Texas Instruments, another great integrated circuit company, donated many chips to this project. A good number of the ÒlogicÓ chips used in the project are from Texas Instrument5s. The chips are smart.
Sid Gustafson, Director of the Physics Machine Shop at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Sid is a teacher "par excellent." He taught me how to use a vertical milling machine, a metal lathe, and a host of other high-tech tools. I used these skills to assemble many of the optical mounts used in this project. Sid is patient, tough, and smart. He taught me how to use all of those power tools and still keep all ten of my fingers. Thank you Sid.
Tim Riggs of the University of Colorado Instructional Technology Services (ITS). Tim held my hand through many complicated moments in terms of making high quality DVD recordings of the Laser Light Math images. He also provided enormous help when it came to assembling the Laser Light Math site.
Gary Stadler, one of my long-time ago students from San Diego State University, who has gone on to be an accomplished musician, artist, lighting expert, and well-known designer of many unique electrical circuits. For this project, I used one of his Argon Laser Power supply units. It has been a blessing: always working and always stable, and always cool. Even when one of my lasers shorted out, the supply survived just fine. Oh, and you might know that GaryÕs brother plays a little golf.
Paul Hoza, a member of my wifeÕs family tree, Paul helped me through the nuances of Visual Basic and other compiler programs. I could not have managed it without his help.