Preface Dr. Paul Merritt has worked on laser systems for 35 years, and has taught control theory at the University of New Mexico for approximately 12 years. Therefore, this book will be biased towards control theory problems and solutions as applied to laser beam control. Dr. Merritt joined the U.S. Air Force Civil Service in 1966 and had the opportunity to start work on laser systems for the Air Force in 1974. Dr. Merritt interrupted his civil service career in 1983 to work for Hughes Aircraft until 1987 and then rejoined the civil service until retirement in 1997. He then worked for Boeing-SVS for 6 years. During this time Boeing developed an internal class on laser systems that included not only beam control but details on optical design and propagation. Upon retirement from Boeing the author developed a subset of the Boeing class and has taught a beam control class for the Directed Energy Professional Society for about 8 years. Starting in 1978 on an intermittent basis, Dr. Merritt taught control theory classes at the University of New Mexico, and after retiring from Boeing taught control theory classes at UNM every semester for 6 years. One of the beautiful things about beam control is the breadth of the material. It can be very basic with a minimum of math or it can be very complex with new mathematical approaches and new systems to understand. Certainly the area of modern control and multiple input and output systems will be a challenge for many years to come. The control theory course has been highly influenced by engineers in the Air Force, Hughes, and Boeing. Dr. Merritt has been very impressed with the effort and generosity of the following individuals for their unselfish sharing of information and the effort that they extended to help in preparing this book: Richard Brunson, Russell Butts, Steven Chodos, Sal Cusumano, Carl Davis, Jim Dillow, Michael Dunn, Dustin Johnston, Demos Kyrazis, Charles Matson, Megan Melin, Jim Negro, Scott Peterson, Ralph Pringle, Robert Richard, Jim Riker, Sean Ross, Dan Sharpes, Larry Sher, John Siegenthaler, Jack Slater, Mark Spencer, Bob Van Allen, Richard Walter, and Matthew Whiteley. And many thanks to his wife, Laura, who has put up with teaching and writing tasks when they are supposed to be enjoying retirement. | ||||||||||
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