Researchers create first maser able to operate at room temperature

Standing for 'Microwave Amplification Stimulated Emission of Radiation', maser technology delivers a concentrated beam of microwaves. Conventionally, it works by amplifying microwaves using crystals such as ruby in a process known as 'masing', which only works at a very low temperature. The team from Imperial College London and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) discovered that a crystal called p-terphenyl doped with pentacene can replace ruby and replicate the same masing process at room temperature. "When lasers were invented no one quite knew exactly how they would be used and yet, the technology flourished to the point that lasers have now become ubiquitous in our everyday lives," commented Professor Neil Alford, head of the department of materials at Imperial College. "We've still got a long way to go before the maser reaches that level, but our breakthrough does mean that this technology can literally come out of the cold and start becoming more useful." According to the researchers, the maser could be used in a range of applications such as sensitive medical instruments, chemical sensors, advanced components for quantum computers and radio astronomy devices. The team are currently working on getting the maser to work continuously as the prototype only works in pulsed mode for fractions of a second at a time. The researchers also wish to identify different materials that can mase at room temperature while consuming less power, and work on new designs that make the device smaller and more portable.