Cryogenic Applications in-

M.A.S.E.R
PHYSICS INVOLVED IN M.A.S.E.R
 According to classical physics
I(w) is the intensity of distribution of radiation emitted by a harmonic oscillator in equilibrium with a
black body at temperature T.

 Planck’s suggestion: Harmonic oscillator can take up energies only hw at a time

Radiation intensity for radio wave/microwave oscillators corresponds to  E^10 to E^30 Kelvin. Which
seems to be rather out of place.
PHYSICS INVOLVED IN M.A.S.E.R
The Catch….
 According to Planck’s theory , the oscillator would keep pumping energy into the cavity until it piled up enough
radiation to balance the absorption and emission(by Blackbody). So, the radiation at the temperature of the
molecule could not be made more intense without violating the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

How do we raise the intensity of radiation?

Einstein’s explanation: ( Assuming Planck’s formula to be valid)
Consider any two of the many energy levels of an atom, say the mth level and the nth level
When such an atom has radiation of the right frequency shining on it, it can absorb that photon of radiation and make a
transition from state n to state m, and that the probability that this occurs per second depends upon the two levels, of course,
but is proportional to how intense the radiation is that is shining on it. Let us call the proportionality constant Bnm, merely to
remind us that this is not a universal constant of nature, but depends on the particular pair of levels: some levels are easy to
excite; some levels are hard to excite. Now what is the formula going to be for the rate of emission from m to n? Einstein
proposed that this must have two parts to it. First, even if there were no radiation present, there would be some chance that an
atom in an excited state would fall to a lower state, emitting a photon; this we call spontaneous emission. It is analogous to
the idea that an oscillator with a certain amount of energy, even in classical physics, does not keep that energy, but loses it by
radiation. Thus the analog of spontaneous radiation of a classical system is that if the atom is in an excited state there is a
certain probability Amn which depends on the levels again, for it to go down from m to n, and this probability is independent
of whether radiation is shining on the atom or not. But- then Einstein went further, and by comparison with the classical
theory and by other arguments, concluded that emission was also influenced by the presence of radiation--that when radiation
of the right frequency is shining on an atom, it has an increased rate of emitting a photon that is proportional to the intensity
of the radiation, with a proportionality constant Bmn.

Now suppose that we have, in equilibrium at temperature T, a certain number of atoms Nn in the state n and another number
Nm in the state m. Then the total number of atoms that are going from n to m is the number that are in the state n times the
rate per second that, if one is in n, it goes up to m. So we have a formula
for the number that are going from n to m per second.

The number that will go from m to n is expressed in the same manner, as the number N,• that are in m, times the chance per
second that each one goes down to n. This time our expression is

Now we shall suppose that in thermal equilibrium the number of atoms going up
must equal the number coming down.
From Planck’s law for black body radiation..

Combining the above reults..

IMPLICATIONS OF EINSTEIN’S THEORY
 The induced emission probability and the absorption probability must be equal.

 If we knowabsorption rate we can deduce the spontaneous emission and the induce
emission rates.
PRINCIPLE’S OF “MASING”
 We can have, by some non-thermal
methods, a gas in which the number in the state m is much
greater than the number in the state n.

 Ideally number in state n0. Then radiation which has frequency corresponding to (Em - En) will not be
strongly absorbed because there aren’t many atoms in state n. When that radiation is present it will induce
emission from the upper state.

 Create a concentrated source of atoms in the upper state , there would be a sort of chain reaction
in which, the moment the atoms begin to emit more will be caused to emit, and the whole lot of them would dump
down together.

 To obtain such a source , we try to attain a metastable state.

 To enhance induced effect, increase its efficiency, use nearly perfect mirrors.
HYDROGEN (FLUID MEDIUM) RUBY (SOLID STATE)
M.A.S.E.R M.A.S.E.R

BLOCK DIAGRAMS OF MASER:

ROLE OF CRYOGENICS ENGINEERING

 A feeble input signal acts as the inducing photon in the resonating cavity . The induced
photons are the amplified signals.
 The ‘noise’ in this amplifier is:
 Spontaneous emission

 Thermal radiation (~kT)

 The resonating chamber is maintained at cryogenic temperatures (preferably at ~10K) in order to

reduce the thermal radiations. In fact at near room temperatures, thermal radiation is the dominating
factor.

 The spontaneous emission of radiation can be accounted for by probabilistic approach (uncertainty principle).

 The output signal bus can be made superconducting to negate losses in transmission.
 Due to space constraints and low flow rate requirements , pulse-tube cryo-coolers are preferred.
APPLICATIONS OF M.A.S.E.R
 Missile Detectors
 Radio astronomy
 Space communication
 Atomic clocks
 Study of molecular physics
 REFERENCE
 Production Of Coherent Radiation By Atoms And Molecules – Charles H. Townes
Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1964
 The Mechanical Lectures on Physics , Vol.1, Mechanics, Radiation and Heat
– Feynman R.P & Co.
 Introduction to Physics – Resnick & Halliday
 American Institute of Physics (website )