James P. Gordon

James P. Gordon
James P. Gordon (1928–2013)
Born	(1928-03-20)March 20, 1928 New York City, New York
Died	June 21, 2013(2013-06-21) (aged 85) Manhattan, New York, New York
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Columbia University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Scientific career
Fields	Physics
Institutions	Bell Labs
Doctoral advisor	Charles Hard Townes

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).