James Power Gordon

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).

Biography and personal life J. P. Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 20, 1928, and was raised in Forest Hills, Queens and Scarsdale, New York.

In addition to his scientific career, Gordon played platform tennis, having won the U.S. National Championship for men's doubles in 1959, and mixed doubles in 1961 and 1962. . The Gordon Lecture in Epidemiology is a yearly award in his honor, granted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). National Academy of Engineering (member since 1985) National Academy of Sciences (member since 1988) Max Born Award (OSA, 1991) Willis E. Lamb Award for laser science and quantum optics (2001) Fredric Ives Medal/Jarus W. Quinn Prize (OSA, 2002) Honorary Member of the Optical Society (OSA, 2011)