A GAS MASER AT MILLIMETER WAVELENGTHS

$^{*}$ Now at The Martin Company, Orlando, Florida.Author Institution: Radiation Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins UniversityThe advantages of extending gas maser techniques to millimeter wavelengths are presented. Following a review of the requirements for maser action, several molecules are examined for those features satisfying such requirements Data include rotational energy level schemes and their populations along with the Stark focusing efficiencies for several heavy symmetrical and anti-symmetrical top molecules. Among the gases studied thus far which have transitions in the one to two millimeter wavelength region, methyl fluoride shows some promise of satisfying the conditions for maser action. Consequently, a maser has been designed for the two millimeter wavelength region and is under construction. Design features of this unit will be shown. The anticipated performance or the maser as a spectrometer using different resonant structures and the progress on the unit will by given