Masers

(Microwave Amplification by Stimulated

Emission of Radiation)

Ariunaa Bayarbat
Chuck Protheroe
John Leone
Phys 4D 2006
SRJC
 What’s a maser?
• Maser is a microwave beam that has been amplified through
coherent stimulated radiation emission
• What this means is that a molecule is in a certain
environment where its outer electrons are in a high energy
state and is bombarded by a photon (in this case a
microwave) which causes the electrons to ‘jump down’ in
energy level and release another photon so that both
photons have the same phase, frequency, and direction. This
makes the photons add up and create an amplified beam.
• Masers occur naturally in space and also are created in
laboratories
History and background
• A maser is based on Einstein’s 1917 stimulated
emission principle
• Two soviet scientists, Nikolay Basov and
Alexander Prokhorov came up with the idea in
1952
• In 1953, the first ammonia maser was developed
by Townes, Gordon and Zeiger at Columbia
University.
• Norman Ramsey created the first laboratory
hydrogen maser in 1960. His design is still
being used today
• Discovery of laser (optical maser) was followed
in December of 1958
• Natural masers in space have been discovered
since 1965
• Everyone has different names for masers, such as
losers
 Maser Molecule Types
• Atomic beam
Hydrogen and ammonium
• Gas
Rubidium
• Solid state
Ruby
• Dual noble gas
He3 and Xe
129

• Liquid
Water
 Maser Beam Types
• Originally masers emitted only microwaves
• Upon the discovery of emissions of other
wavelengths in different parts of the EM
spectrum the definition of a maser became hazy
• Now masers can be considered as emitting
solely microwaves, or any type of stimulated
radiation emission depending on the
classification used
• Basically, despite what you call it,
amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation can happen for any wavelength in EM
spectrum, some are more common then others
• Means beam can be x-ray, infra red, radio,
visible light(laser), etc.
 Laboratory vs. Natural
• Naturally occurring masers are
usually much weaker than laboratory
made masers. So radio telescopes are
used to detect
• The laboratory made masers usually
emit more powerful beams because,
with technology, we can create the
perfect coherence, resonant
frequencies, etc.
• Natural masers use magnetic field to
polarize movement and create
coherence
Laboratory made Hydrogen Maser

• The high frequency and regularity of

hydrogen maser can be used as a
standard to keep the atomic clock
accurate (HMC)
• Works similarly to a laser with two
mirrors designed to reflect
microwaves
 Astrophysical Maser

• For an Astrophysical Maser to function in

space, it requires a magnetic field for the
resonant frequency to be formed
• Less effective than engineered masers, because
of the inability to make a perfect resonant
cavity.
• Can be used to identify conditions in space,
such as temperature, magnetic field, and
velocity.
• OH, water, methanol- common types
 Maser Applications
• Improved atomic clock
• Electronic amplifiers in radio telescopes
• Masers are also used as a low-noise radio
frequency amplifiers in satellite
communication and radio astronomy
• Used as a non-lethal weapon (VMADS) for
military purposes
 Works Cited
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maser
• http://www-ra.phys.utas.edu.au/~sellings/queens
.html
• http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0832083.htm
l
• http://www.foundationalquestions.net/townes/art
icles/lasers.asp
• http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/ref/maser
• http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Maser
• http://www.Globalsecurity.org/org/news/2001/010
227/zapper.htm
• web.haystack.mit.edu/RET/Astrochemistry