Births on March 20

James P. Gordon

Born on March 20, 1928

James P. Gordon, American physicist and engineer (d. 2013)

James Power Gordon (March 20, 1928 – June 21, 2013) was an American physicist known for his work in the fields of optics and quantum electronics. His contributions include the design, analysis and construction of the first maser in 1954 as a doctoral student at Columbia University under the supervision of C. H. Townes, development of the quantal equivalent of Shannon's information capacity formula in 1962, development of the theory for the diffusion of atoms in an optical trap (together with A. Ashkin) in 1980, and the discovery of what is now known as the Gordon-Haus effect in soliton transmission, together with H. A. Haus in 1986. Gordon was a member of the National Academy of Engineering (since 1985) and the National Academy of Sciences (since 1988).

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James P. Gordon

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Events on 1928

12 Mar

St. Francis Dam
In California, the St. Francis Dam fails; the resulting floods kills 431 people.
12 Apr

Junkers W 33
The Bremen, a German Junkers W 33 type aircraft, takes off for the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west.
4 Jun

Zhang Zuolin
The President of the Republic of China, Zhang Zuolin, is assassinated by Japanese agents.
18 Jun

Amelia Earhart
Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).
2 Oct

Josemaría Escrivá
The "Prelature of the Holy Cross and the Work of God", commonly known as Opus Dei, is founded by Josemaría Escrivá.

Births on March 20

James P. Gordon

Born on March 20, 1928

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1928

St. Francis Dam

Junkers W 33

Zhang Zuolin

Amelia Earhart

Josemaría Escrivá