HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dpbsmith@world.std.com (Daniel P. B. Smith)
Subject: Re: Laser Quotation
Keywords: Solution wthout a problem...
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 00:25:35 GMT

I can't really help you, except that I'm sure the "solution without
a problem" characterization was current while I was at MIT, in the
early sixties.  Townes had just joined MIT in some capacity or other
(Provost?) and, to give the undergraduates a thrill (I don't mean that
in any demeaning way -- it WAS a thrill), they had him come in and
guest-lecture one of the 8.031 (Physics--Electromagnetism) lectures.

I may be getting this mixed up, but it seems to me that he almost made
a point of not using the word "laser." Seems to me he called it an
"optical MASER" (please don't ask me what an optical microwave was).
So it's possible that the correct quote might have been something like
"the optical MASER is a solution without a problem?"

The other thing that comes to mind, and unfortunately I don't have an
exact quote or reference, is a story by Jack Finney.  The story's been
anthologized several times.  I think the title is "Such Interesting
Neighbors."  It's a sort-of-science-fiction story, Finney leaning more
toward fantasy -- a recurrent theme of his stories is that you can
travel into the past just by YEARNING for the golden days gone by.

Anyway, the gist of the story is that WE, but not the narrator, soon
catch on that the neighbor is a time-traveller from the future, who makes
his living by "inventing" those common items from his time that are
technologically feasible in ours.  I think the story was written in the
fifties.

One of the things his neighbor invents is a handy little gadget for
measuring distance.  It's about the size of a flashlight, but it has a
dial on the side.  I guess he's describing it to the narrator as something
he's about to build. He says "you turn it on, and a beam of light comes
out -- a special KIND of light -- and you can read off the distance on the
dial, in feet, inches, and fractions." The narrator says "But how will it
work?" The neighbor replies, "On flashlight batteries."

At the time I read, I remember thinking, "What bulls--t. A special KIND
of light, that's nonsense."

So, if Arthur C. Clarke invented the communications satellite, did
Jack Finney invent the laser (or optical MASER)?

-- 
Daniel P. B. Smith
dpbsmith@world.std.com
Newsgroups: sci.optics
From: siegman@EE.Stanford.EDU (Anthony E. Siegman)
Subject: Re: Zernike fitting routine (wanted)
Keywords: zernike, curve fitting
Organization: Stanford University
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 18:27:31 GMT

>I am looking for a routine to fit Zernike polynomials to data on a grid,
>perferably with sources and *documentation*. Does anyone have such a
>critter that they might share with me? Fortran or C are both cool.

1) Zernike polynomials are not built into Mathematica, but could be
easily added; and then the "Fit" routine that is in Mathematica could
be used to fit data to these polynomials as a basis set.  This routine
is remarkably good.

2) In addition, given below is a "SimpleFit" routine which is a subset
of "Fit" supplied to me by somefrom from Wolfram Research, which is
even more useful in that it returns the list of coefficients for the
expansion of "data" in terms of the "basis" functions and the
"variables".  The syntax is more or less like "Fit".


SimpleFit[data_, basis_, vars_] :=
  Block[{purebasis, designmatrix, designinverse, response,
fitcoefficients},
    purebasis = Function[Evaluate[vars], Evaluate[basis]];  
    designmatrix = Apply[purebasis, data, 1];
    designinverse = PseudoInverse[designmatrix];  
    response = Last /@ data;
    fitcoefficients = designinverse . response; 
    fitcoefficients 
  ]
From: wellison@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: sci.optics
Subject: HeNe Lasers for sale
Date: 23 Nov 92 17:02:21 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services


HeNe laser modules which consist of a .5mW to .90mW red HeNe tube and power
supply intergrated into one unit. The power supply runs from +12 volts at
600mA. Typical power output is .7mW. Mode is TEMoo, random polarization.
Size is about 6.5" X 2.25" X 1.5".

I have access to several of these and am selling them for $45 plus $5.00 for
shipping ($50.00). They sell on the surplus markets for $59 on up (plus
shipping). Great little lasers to start with or just have fun with.

-=-=- Wes =-=-
Newsgroups: sci.optics
From: clarke@acme.ucf.edu (Thomas Clarke)
Subject: Holo Film , Blue Lasers etc.
Organization: University of Central Florida
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:19:14 GMT

First:  I have some 4 by 5 Agfa Holotest film which I will
be working with shortly.  It has a notch near one corner to
orient the emulsion.  Does anyone now whether the emulsion
is up or down when the notch is at the lower right?

Advice about blue laser light seemed to boil down to
buy an argon or helium cadmium unit.  If price is object
then get one used.

So I bit the bullet and ordered a used, but not refurbished
(fingers crossed) 100 mw multiline (get green also) argon 
from MWK industries 1-800-356-7714.  I'll let y'all know
how it turns out.

By the way the MWK catalog has a larger number of NeNe units,
various parts even a dye laser and a surgical CO2 laser.
This will be my first dealings with them, so I can't comment
about their service.

--
Thomas Clarke
Institute for Simulation and Training, University of Central FL
12424 Research Parkway, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32826
(407)658-5030, FAX: (407)658-5059, clarke@acme.ucf.edu
Newsgroups: sci.optics
From: steve@fulcrum.oz.au (Steve Taylor)
Subject: Re: Laser Quotation
Keywords: Solution wthout a problem...
Organization: The Fulcrum Consulting Group
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 00:30:30 GMT

hnr@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Harvey Rutt) writes:


> Someone is supposed to have said (in the 70's I would guess) that the
>'Laser is a solution without a problem' or words to that effect.
I'd heard it as "Holography is a solution looking for a problem".

>Does anyone know the exact quotation and source?
But I still have no idea who said it. Sorry.


						Steve
From: hnr@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Harvey Rutt)
Newsgroups: sci.optics
Subject: Laser Quotation
Keywords: Solution wthout a problem...
Date: 16 Nov 92 11:30:29 GMT


 Someone is supposed to have said (in the 70's I would guess) that the
'Laser is a solution without a problem' or words to that effect.
Does anyone know the exact quotation and source?

I have searched a heap of Quotation dictionaries,including one
specifically scientific quotations source, and the Dialog
online quotation database! Interestingly I did not locate **any**
referenced quotations involving lasers!

The only other one I know of is quoted in Svelto's book Principles of
Lasers.

'The Laser is numbered amongst the most miraculous gifts of nature and
lends itself to a variety of applications'
Plinius, Naturalis Historia, 1st century AD!!!!!!!!!!!!
It appears 'laser' was a culinary/medicinal herb, whose exact identity
is lost.

Anyone know any others?

Harvey Rutt, Southampton Univ. UK
From: hnr@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Harvey Rutt)
Newsgroups: sci.optics
Subject: Re: LUX vs. mW/cm**2 ????
Date: 20 Nov 92 14:28:41 GMT

Photometric units always make me wince, but

1lux=one lumen per sq metre.
Absolute luminosity in lumen Watt-1=680 times relative luminosity.
Relative luminosity depends on whether you are dark or light adapted,
but =1 at 556nm for light adapted eyes.
In other words there are 680 lumens per Watt at 556nm and less at
other wavelengths, depending on the (usually light adapted, photopic)
response curve you can find in reference books.
By 700nm it has fallen to 0.0041
750 0.00012
770 0.00003
no points tabulated in my books beyond that.
Hence in the main part of the visible you can readily convert your lux
meter to mW (you need the area of course)
But in the deep red/near ir the wavelength function is extremely
steep; I doubt the meters calibration & response curve is accurate out
there. Beyond 770 its pretty meaningless, since the lux is a unit of
'illuminance' and the unit is really only meaningful with the light
adapted eye as sensor.Indeed one of my references remarks that the
units (inc the lux) only have meaning from .35 to .77 micron. If the
lux mete manufacturer has done a good job, it should have no response
beyond c770nm
Harvey Rutt Southampton UK

Newsgroups: sci.optics
From: sigurd@novaja.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Sigurd Tjelmeland)
Subject: Change of laser beam direction
Organization: University of Bergen, Norway
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 13:46:32 GMT

I suppose a laser beam direction could be controlled
by using a piezoelectric crystal setting up standing
acoustic waves in an elasto-optical glass rod.
However, I know nothing about this stuff yet, and I am
very curious. Can anyone recommend a good book? Are
the parts expensive?

regards,
Sigurd Tjelmeland
e-mail: sigurd@imr.no
From: hnr@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Harvey Rutt)
Newsgroups: sci.optics
Subject: Re: Laser for a science fair
Keywords: laser
Date: 20 Nov 92 09:09:02 GMT

In <1dtv06INNdp2@janus.hal.COM> bobs@hal.COM (Bob Schaugaard) writes:


>My son is in an 8th grade honors science class and is interested in doing
>a science fair project on lasers.  Is there an easy and inexpensive way
>to get a laser to work with?   How hard would it be to make one?
>Any suggestions or comments? Thanks in advance.

>Bob Schaugaard
>bobs@hal.com
>(512)794-2855

I'm not sure what age 8th grade is, but irrespective of this I have a
standard answer to his question which arrises quite regularly.

The *construction* of any laser in the home environment is highly
inadvisable on safety grounds, unless the person doing it already
knows enough about lasers not to need to ask the question.
With one exception noted below all lasers are a serious eye hazard;
most have major electrical hazards, and some serious chemical & fire
hazards. It just is not suitable for the home.Significant cost and
specialised knowledge are also needed.

If you wish to do something *with* a laser, rather than construct one,
buy a low power (<=1mW) red diode laser; this is small, safe and quite
impressive; last time I looked you could get one in a laser pointer
for maybe US200. Various optical phenomena (interference, diffraction,
optical communication, fibre optics, ordinary geometrical optics) can
be beautifully demonstrated with one of these.

If you do wish to construct contact local University or College
physics Dpts and form a group; ensure there is someone genuinely
knowledgeable, and take safey **seriously** especially with children.

I hate to be off-putting, and I am a 'laser enthusiast' who lectures
to schools & has helped such projects; but it really is not safe for a
do-it-yourself-at home-project without specialised knowledge.

Not a sci. optics question, but despite having vistited the USA dozens
of times I don't know what age is wghat grade! Could you tell me
please?
Harvey Rutt, Southampton University UK
From: szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo)
Newsgroups: sci.nanotech
Subject: Re: Water
Date: 21 Nov 92 01:58:56 GMT
Organization: TECHbooks of Beaverton Oregon - Public Access Unix

hagerman@ece.cmu.edu (John Hagerman) writes:

>How might nanotechnology contribute to
>bulk chemical processes?

Even early nanotech can contribute in a myriad of ways.  For
example, catalysts need to have structures precisely designed 
to trap certain kinds of molecules, let others flow through, 
and keep still others out, all without getting clogged or 
poisoned.  Currently these catalysts are built by growing 
crystals of the right spacing in bulk.  Sometimes catalysts
come from biotech, for example the bacteria used to grow
the corn syrup in soda pop.  Within this millenium (only 7.1
years left!) I predict we will start to see catalysts built 
by new techniques of nanolithography, including AFM machining, 
AFM arrays and nanoresists (see my previous article, "Nanolithography" 
for more details).  Catalysts are critical to the oil industry, 
the chemical industry and to pollution control -- the worldwide 
market is in the $100's of billions per year and growing rapidly.

Beyond new catalysts, I see a big market for micron-size chemical
reactors.  Their first use may be in artificial organs to produce 
various biological molecules.  For example, they might replace or 
augment the functionality of the kidneys, pancreas, liver, thyroid 
gland, etc. They might produce psychoactive chemicals inside the
blood-brain barrier.  Microplants in space could manufacture 
propellant, a wide variety of industrial inputs and perform life 
support functions more efficiently.  Over 95% of the mass we now 
launch into space could be replaced by these materials produced from 
comets, asteroids, Mars, etc.  Even if Drexler's self-replicating 
assemblers are a long time in coming, nanolithographed tiny chemical 
reactors could open up the solar system.


-- 
Nick Szabo					 szabo@techboook.com
From: szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo)
Newsgroups: sci.nanotech
Subject: Bulk chemical improvements via early nanotech
Date: 21 Nov 92 02:01:05 GMT


hagerman@ece.cmu.edu (John Hagerman) writes:

>How might nanotechnology contribute to
>bulk chemical processes?

A major benfit could be the prototyping and manufacture of 
catalysts.  Catalysts need to have molecular structures 
precisely designed to trap certain kinds of molecules, let 
others flow through, and keep still others out, all without 
getting clogged or poisoned.  Currently these catalysts are 
built by either by growing crystals with a reasonable spacing
in bulk, or by producing enzymes via biotech.  Often it
is not possible to make catalysts with the proper molecular
shapes via the current methods.  But when it is, the payoffs 
can be big.

For example, a combination of these techniques was used to
turn corn starch into high-fructose corn syrup for a major
bulk market, soda pop.  The _Streptomyces_ enzyme glucose 
isomerase is glued to a ceramic support using a polymer that 
lets the enzyme keep its shape.  The entire system has to be 
molecularly precise, but must be made in bulk instead of optimally 
crafted.  Despite the crude method the results are phenomenal -- 
one pound of the ceramic/polymer/enzyme structure will catalyze the
production of 14-18 tons of fructose before the enzyme loses its 
activity. 

Within this millenium (only 7.2 years left!) I predict we will 
start to see catalysts prototyped by new techniques of nanolithography, 
including AFM machining, AFM arrays and nanoresists.  See my previous 
article, "Nanolithography" for a description of some of these 
methods.  Early in the next century catalysts may be mass-produced
by these processes.  Catalysts are critical to the oil industry, the 
chemical industry and to pollution control -- the worldwide market 
is in the $10's of billions per year and growing rapidly.

Beyond new catalysts, I see a big market for micro-chemical
reactors in artificial organs to produce various biological
molecules.  For example, they might replace or augment the
functionality of the kidneys, pancreas, liver, thyroid gland,
etc.  They might produce psychoactive chemicals inside the
blood-brain barrier.  Microplants in space could manufacture 
propellant, various industrial inputs and to perform life support 
functions more efficiently.  Over 95% of the mass we now launch 
into space could be replaced by these materials produced from 
comets, asteroids, Mars, etc.  Even if Drexler's self-replicating 
assemblers are a long time in coming, nanolithographed tiny chemical 
reactors could open up the solar system.


Nick Szabo					 szabo@techboook.com
From: se_schn@pavo.concordia.ca [ Ranfry ]
Newsgroups: sci.nanotech
Subject: Re: Gold from Seawater?
Date: 18 Nov 92 03:30:33 GMT

In article <Nov.11.17.33.54.1992.19911@planchet.rutgers.edu>, uad1226@dircon.co.uk (Sean Jackson) writes...
>If nanotechnology made it possible to extract gold from seawater, it
>would reduce gold's value.  Do you think this might happen?  If so what
>would be a good store of value?

	Considering that most countries in the world do NOT back their 
money with gold, it would not make all that much difference to the value 
of Earth's currency.  Also, the cost to extract the gold out of seawater 
would probably remain too high for the worth of gold.   We have been 
extracting gold from seawater, in small amounts for experimental purposes, for 
decades, so this is nothing really new.
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Subject: Skeptics Humor
Reply-To: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:23:18 GMT

Not exactly appropriate for this group, but I thought y'all would
enjoy it.  Note: I did not make this up, but I also do not have an
attribution. 


Why God never received tenure at the University

1. Because he only had one major publication.
2. And it was in Hebrew.
3. And it had no references.
4. And it wasn't even published in a refereed journal.
5. And some doubt that he even wrote it himself.
6. It may be true that he created the world, but what has he
   done/publsihed since?
7. His cooperative efforts have been quite limited.
8. The scientific community hashad a very rough time trying to repeat
   his results.

--
Gerry Roston (gerry@cmu.edu)    | Why has government been instituted at all?
Field Robotics Center,          | Because the passions of man will not con-
Carnegie Mellon University      | form to the dictates of reason and justice
Pittsburgh, PA, 15213           | without constraint.  Alexander Hamilton
(412) 268-3856                  | 
                                | 
The opinions expressed are mine | 
and do not reflect the official | 
position of CMU, FRC, RedZone,  | 
or any other organization.      |
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Innumeracy, humorous ... maybe.
Date: 16 Nov 1992 06:29:21 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <1992Nov16.045407.29782@udel.edu>, mccoy@pecan.cns.udel.edu (Don McCoy) writes:
=In article <BxoJK2.KzI@ccu.umanitoba.ca> 
=   vnelson@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Gerald Vernon Nelson) writes:
=>
=>Speaking of inummeracy...
=>
=>There was an article in our local paper about a year back on the
=>subject.  The author went to lengths to point out how little people
=>understand numbers.  In his example he used the 6/49 lottery.
=>You know, pick 6 different numbers from 49.  He stated that people
=>just didn't understand that the odds of winning that lottery were
=>about 10 billion to 1 (49 * 48 * 47 *46 * 45 * 44).
=>
=>He was of course, inumerate himself, as the odds of winning are 
=>actually about 14 million to 1.
=>
=Uh, I could be wrong here, but I believe 10 billion to 1 is right.
=How did you arrive at the 14 million to 1 figure???

                                       49!     
Order doesn't count, so the odds are ------ = 13,983,816 to one against.
                                     43!*6!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY
Date: 18 Nov 1992 03:23:39 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <1992Nov17.163444.2391@cnsvax.uwec.edu>, mcelwre@cnsvax.uwec.edu writes:
>
>          
>
>                              BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY
>                          
>                        ( ANOTHER Form of COLD FUSION )
>

See?  I told you that jackass posts to sci.skeptic, too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: parson_r@cubldr.colorado.edu (Robert Parson)
Subject: Re: Heidleberg Appeal-FOUND
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:13:13 GMT

In article <1992Nov16.211037.8490@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu>, kamchar@ibm.cl.msu.edu (SunCat) writes:
> Headline:  Beware of False Gods in Rio
> 
> Abstract:  The full text of a petition called the Heidleberg Appeal,  
> signed by 46 prominent scientists and intellectuals in the US in an appeal  
> to the heads of state attending the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro Brazil  
> in Jun 1992, is presented.
> 
>   The full text is below, followed by the names of the U. S. signers.
> 
 Does anyone have a list of the non-US signatories? I believe Umberto Eco 
 is one.

 Robert
From: snorthc@relay.nswc.navy.mil (Stephen Northcutt)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Rant concludes
Date: 20 Nov 92 13:53:25 GMT
Reply-To: snorthc@relay.nswc.navy.mil
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center

Rick Moen, Director
Bay Area Skeptics writes:

|On the other hand, skeptics do indeed confront religious quackery that 
|involves testable claims on the fringes of science.  Notable examples 
|are faith-healing and creationism.

My 8 yr old son likes to drive the radio while I drive the car,
mostly using a combination of the SCAN and SEARCH button.  So I
don't know the channel, but Monday, he hit on a short 1 minute
talk clip called: Creation Moments.  A fellow with a British accent
was interviewing a scientist who said:
	During the Mount St. Helen eruption, a canyon 1/4 the size
of the grand canyon was created in a matter of HOURs by a mud flow.
Also that rock formations with many layers were created in a few
days.

Please understand that this post isn't trying to prove anything!
But, it had occured the me that "creation scientists" I think that
was the lable the radio used may be performing a valuable function
of skepticism as well... I do remember being singularly unimpressed
with freshman geology and geomorphology "how do they KNOW, that
hunk of blue quartz is a billion years old?"  Think of it as
"reverse" skepticism. 

Disclaimer:  I am not asserting ANYTHING, I was just trying to
make you smile, this is a light hearted post!