Solid state organic (pheromone-beeswax) far infrared maser.

A low energy solid state organic maser was constructed from beeswax doped with 100 microg of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), pheromone (sex scent). Maserlike wavelengths were emitted in the 17-microm region. The wavelength fits the 1-2-wavelengths criterion for open dielectric waveguides of the same range as the type 1 (30-57-microm) cabbage looper sensilla trichodea. The wavelength shifted from 16.81 microm to 17.39 microm over a half-hour time period. The log periodic shift of wavelengths is temperature dependent and not concentration dependent, since the concentration of pheromone is fixed within the beeswax.