If you are not immediately redirected, please click here
Plesset, Milton S. (Milton Spinoza)
Oral history interview with Milton Plesset, 1981 December 8.
This interview begins with Plessets decision to study physics at the University of Pittsburgh; PhD in physics at Yale [1932] on Dirac electron theory. Also discusses: Plesset's postdoctoral fellowship brings him to Caltech that year to work under Epstein; recalls giving theoretical physics seminar which Einstein attended on day of Long Beach earthquake [March 10, 1933]; records story of Einstein and Gutenberg in conversation and unaware of the quaking; importance of John Robert Oppenheimer to American theoretical physics in early 1930s; his early collaboration with Oppenheimer on Dirac electron theory; Robert A. Millikans interest in this work in connection with cosmic rays; year spent in Copenhagen at Niels Bohr Institute as National Research Council fellow [1933-1934]; return to U.S. to teach at University of Rochester; meets Lee A. DuBridge there; return to California [1941] to do wartime work at Douglas Aircraft Company; beginning of interest in fluid mechanics; sent by Douglas to Europe following German surrender to investigate German rocketry [1945]; return to Pasadena to work on torpedo hydrodynamics at Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS); hired at Caltech [1948] as associate professor of applied mechanics; begins research in hydrodynamics and cavitation; serves on Air Force Science Advisory Board (started by Theodore von Kr̀mǹ); recalls McCarthy era at Caltech; cases of Tsien, Oppenheimer; interest in nuclear energy leads to 1959 advisory appointment to California Atomic Energy Development and Radiation Protection Program; also membership on Advisory Committee on Reactor Safety for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; discussion of nuclear safety in connection with Three Mile Island reactor incident; becomes professor of engineering science [1963]. In closing notes special admiration for Epstein, along with Oppenheimer and Richard Tolman; cultural value of Epsteins stammtisch.
Milton S. Plesset (1908-1991); PhD physics, Yale (1932); professor of engineering science, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (1948- ).
DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994-
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955
Epstein, Paul S. (Paul Sophus), 1883-1966
Gutenberg, Beno, 1889-1960
Millikan, Robert Andrews, 1868-1953.
Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967
Plesset, Milton S. (Milton Spinoza)
Tolman, Richard C. (Richard Chace), 1881-1948
Von Kr̀mǹ, Theodore, 1881-1963.
California Institute of Technology -- Faculty.
Douglas Aircraft Company.
Naval Ordnance Test Station (China Lake, Calif.)
Niels Bohr institutet.
Cavitation.
Cosmic rays
Engineering.
Fluid mechanics.
Hydrodynamics.
Nuclear engineering.
Bug,̌ Carol, interviewer.
AIP-ICOS
California Institute of Technology. Institute Archives. 1201 East California Blvd. (Mail Code 015A-74), Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Catalog