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**Vikonbarius** · 08-17-2012, 01:13 PM

> MASER stands for Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Devices based on this process were developed by scientists more than 50 years ago, before the first LASERs were invented. Instead of creating intense beams of light, as in the case of LASERs, MASERs deliver a concentrated beam of microwaves.

True. Well put.

> Conventional MASER technology works by amplifying microwaves using hard inorganic crystals such as ruby. However, the MASER has had little technological impact compared to the LASER because getting it to work has always required extreme conditions that are difficult to produce; either extremely low pressures, supplied by special vacuum chambers and pumps, or freezing conditions at temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15°C), supplied by special refrigerators. To make matters worse, the application of strong magnetic fields has often also been necessary, requiring large magnets.

The first MASER used ammonia gas. I don't think low temperatures or strong magnetic fields were needed, just low pressures. Other gases have since been used including hydrogen and water. One limitation there was if I understand correctly that the gas was lost and the signal was weak.

I didn't know that ruby masers exist, am more familiar with ruby lasers. The first working laser was a ruby laser.

Getting a solid state device to mase at near room temperatures is a major breakthrough, although from the article the weak signal and short pulse length remains a problem.

08-17-2012, 01:13 PM	#2
Vikonbarius Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 433 Senior Member	> MASER stands for Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Devices based on this process were developed by scientists more than 50 years ago, before the first LASERs were invented. Instead of creating intense beams of light, as in the case of LASERs, MASERs deliver a concentrated beam of microwaves. True. Well put. > Conventional MASER technology works by amplifying microwaves using hard inorganic crystals such as ruby. However, the MASER has had little technological impact compared to the LASER because getting it to work has always required extreme conditions that are difficult to produce; either extremely low pressures, supplied by special vacuum chambers and pumps, or freezing conditions at temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15°C), supplied by special refrigerators. To make matters worse, the application of strong magnetic fields has often also been necessary, requiring large magnets. The first MASER used ammonia gas. I don't think low temperatures or strong magnetic fields were needed, just low pressures. Other gases have since been used including hydrogen and water. One limitation there was if I understand correctly that the gas was lost and the signal was weak. I didn't know that ruby masers exist, am more familiar with ruby lasers. The first working laser was a ruby laser. Getting a solid state device to mase at near room temperatures is a major breakthrough, although from the article the weak signal and short pulse length remains a problem.
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