Roger J. Hanson
Emeritus Professor of Physics
As a follow-up of his studies of the physics of musical stringed instruments, Emeritus Professor Roger Hanson has been making precision measurements of fundamental vibrational properties of a brass harpsichord string. These properties are profoundly affected by nonlinearities ignored in simple theory and by asymmetries intrinsic to the string. Professor Hanson's measurements of vibrational characteristics utilizing a Fast Fourier Transform frequency analyzer are augmented by associated theoretical studies by Emeritus Professor H. Kent Macomber.
Dr. Roger Hanson lead the Physics Department as Department Head from 1969-1980 and returned to teaching and research in 1980 until he was again asked to serve as Acting Department Head from 1990-1992. Professor Hanson retired in May 1997, but continues to do research when his busy schedule allows time for it.