Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Science Foundation, and the UC Davis Department of Applied Science at Livermore.
This work would not have been possible without the efforts and enthusiasm of John Holzrichter, an associate director here at LLNL. He has worked tirelessly to promote this new sensor and its possible applications, and has been of invaluable assistance during the writing of this thesis. He has also suggested several experiments and has assisted with their implementation and analysis. He has done all this while continuing his work as a full-time AD and as a husband and father, and he is most appreciated.
I also owe a large debt to Larry Ng, my supervisor and group leader, who has spent much of his sought-after time helping me learn the intricacies of signal processing or just helping me solve problems, whatever they may be. Larry is a wonderful group leader, who knows when and how to lead, but also when to let things run their course. I couldn’t have gotten through my four years here at the Lab without him and have been (and hope to be in the future) a proud member of his group.
I would also like to thank my friend and colleague Todd Gable, for many hours of useful (and not so useful, but always interesting) conversation and camaraderie. It would not have been possible to implement many of the experiments I conducted without Todd’s assistance.
There are many people at LLNL that I would like to thank for their help: Greg Clark and Farid Dowla for invaluable assistance in the murky world of signal processing; Noel Sewall, for help with electronics and horses; Steve Patenaude, for being a good friend, hangar buddy, and patient CFI; Brian Kolner, one of the smartest people I have ever met (no, he didn’t see this before signing it!), for being on my committee and for many stimulating conversations; Jeff Kallman for his help with the 2-D E&M simulations; Rick Freeman, my thesis advisor and chair, for breathing new life into DAS and giving me plenty of good advice; Jong An, for arranging for me to use the Kodak EktaPro; and Roger Perry, who helped me set up and run the shaker experiment.
I would also like to thank my parents, Tommy Burnett and Jo Belle Hopper. They have always given me the love and support I have needed to get through this difficult portion of my life. My father instilled in me a love of working with my hands, and wouldn’t let me just sit around and read when I was a kid. By taking the time to play with me and show me how to do things right the first time, he taught me the value of a well-rounded life. My mother was always there when I needed her and taught me the true meaning of compassion and sacrifice. She also bought me all the books I wanted and passed on to me her particular brand of witty sarcasm, to the everlasting chagrin of those around me. I couldn’t ask for more loving or devoted parents.
My brother Jeff is the best brother a guy could hope for, and I miss our football games and camping trips together. He is a very talented athlete and a quiet man who enjoys helping others and protecting the innocent. He will be a great cop. My sister Jeni "Coach" Hopkins is a very successful athlete and coach, who has also excelled in her new job as Mama. I am very proud of both of them; they are both the best at what they do.
I would also like to thank the Cessna Corporation for the solid construction of N3781V, a 1949 140A in which I have spent many an hour getting the best therapy I could ever buy. Also, I thank Bjorn Anderson for helping me keep 81V in the air and for teaching me to fly in clouds. A more patient and calm man the skies have never seen.
Finally, I would like to thank my partner for the last six years, Melinda Sue Bass. She is my first and only love, and has inspired me to do more and go farther. She is confident without being egotistical, and has a strength of mind and character few can equal. She is smarter than me in more than one area, but always makes me feel like I am the best. She will be one hell of a medical doctor, and I am proud of her intelligence, patience, and perseverance. I am honored that in six months she will take my name and I hope she will continue to put up with me for a very long time.