University of St. Thomas

Interests and expertise

Computer based measurement systems, analog and digital electronics, development of sensors and controls, and high-power optics and laser-matter interactions

Career

Vern Cottles' expertise in electronics and computers has kept him at the forefront of new technology development for more than 30 years. At Los Alamos National Lab, he developed advanced diagnostics to study intense laser-matter interactions. While at 3M, he led award-winning research and product development teams in advanced magnetic thin-film metal recording systems. He also led in the development of on-line sensor systems and other key projects. At Imation, he developed diagnostics for advanced tape recording systems. Cottles has been lecturing at UST since 1988 and was a co-holder of the 3M Thwaits Chair at St. Thomas (1996-2006). He has taught courses on sensors, control systems, actuators, manufacturing in the process industries, metrology, analog electronics, and digital electronics. He also serves as a thesis adviser and/or committee member. He is semi-retired and is currently employed as an independent consultant in Applied Physics.

Selected publications

"Remnant-magnetization Decay in CoCr Films," Journal of Appl. Phys . 67 (9) (with J. Skorjanec, J. Close, P. Iverson, J. Edwards and E. Dan Dahlberg), 1 May 1990

"The Effect of Viscosity on the Rotational Motion of Small Magnetic Particles," 5th International Conference on Surface and Colloid Sci & 59th Colloid and Surface Sci Symposium, Potsdam, NY (with Raymond Senkus), June 24, 1985.

"Measurements of Absorption and Ion Production in Laser Fusion Experiments," Invited talk, Am. Physics Society, Atlanta 11/7/77. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Report LAUR-2543.

"Tape Edge Monitoring" United States Patent US 6,697,206 - February 24, 2004. (with M. Drutowski)

Education

B.S. 1970 and M.S. 1972, Physics, Tulane University
Ph.D. 1975, Experimental Nuclear Physics, Tulane University