noun
- a device that produces coherent electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region of the spectrum, operating on the same principle as a laser but at longer wavelengths
Usage: technical; acronym for Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Examples
- The maser was invented before the laser and helped establish the principles of stimulated emission.
- Astronomers use masers to study distant galaxies and stellar objects.
- The maser amplifies weak microwave signals for use in telecommunications.
- Early masers operated using ammonia molecules as the active medium.
- Modern applications of masers include atomic clocks and radar systems.