The Maser—New Type of Microwave Amplifier, Frequency Standard, and Spectrometer

A type of device is described which can be used as a microwave amplifier, spectrometer, or oscillator. Experimental results are given. When operated as a spectrometer, the device has good sensitivity, and, by eliminating the usual Doppler broadening, a resolution of 7 kc/sec has been achieved. Operated as an oscillator, the device produced a frequency stable to at least 4 parts in 10¹² in times of the order of a second, and stable over periods of an hour or more to at least a part in 10¹⁰. The device is examined theoretically, and results are given for the expected sensitivity of the spectrometer, the stability and purity of the oscillation, and the noise figure of the amplifier. Under certain conditions a noise figure approaching the theoretical limit of unity, along with reasonably high gain, should be attainable.