Abstract

The MASER, the microwave analogue of a laser, is a device which produces electromagnetic waves through the amplification of stimulated emission. The maser has had limited widespread technological impact due to the high vacuum, strong magnetic field and absolute zero temperatures needed to function [1]. With little prospect of cost reduction, mass production, and miniaturisation, the future of room-temperature solid-state maser technology seemed a little bleak until recently, when recent breakthroughs in optically pumping masers have led to significant progress [2]. This advanced technology demonstrates the potential of solid-state masers with unparalleled performance as low-noise amplifiers, with applications in medicine, radio astronomy, and data communication [3].

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