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.