Recent devolopments in the orbitron Maser

The Orbitron MASER is a device which can be used to produce millimeter and submillimeter radiation. Frequencies up to 1 THz have been observed. It can be operated in a pulsed mode or in a steady state mode, using a hot cathode or glow discharge as a source for electrons. In some experiments we have used the entire outer wall of the device as a hot cathode. We have also been using the device as a fast opening switch.