English

Alternative forms

• gaser

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹeɪz.ə(ɹ)/
• Rhymes: -eɪzə(ɹ)
• Homophone: grazer

Noun

graser ‎(plural grasers)

1. (physics, science fiction) A device for the coherent amplification or generation of electromagnetic radiation in the gamma ray wavelength by the use of excitation energy in resonant atomic or molecular systems.
   • 1964 February, Cloud, Wallace, “Science newsfront”, in Popular Science Monthly, volume 184, number 2, ISSN 0161-7370, page 29:

     The Russians are working on the graser. One B. V. Chirkov has published a theoretical study in the Soviet Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics. He thinks a very pure crystal, "pumped" with a powerful source of radiation (such a "hard" X rays), much as a ruby crystal is pumped with high-intensity light in one form of laser, could be stimulated to emit coherent gamma rays—pulses of high-energy radiation perfectly in step.

   • 1974 October, Ellison, Harlan, “Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38° 54' N, Longitude 77° 00' 13" W”, in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, volume 47, number 4, page 59:

     Not lasers. Grasers. Gamma Ray Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

2. The beam of coherent gamma rays produced by such a device.
   • 2008, Asher, Neal, The Line War:

     The graser beam melted through the far wall of the lounge, but luckily beyond that lay only sections of the complex containing the cargo runcibles, and there it finally spent its energy slagging the massive handler robots.

Coordinate terms

• laser
• LASER
• maser
• MASER

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007) Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-530567-8, page 81