We develop a microscopic model for the recently demonstrated double quantum
dot (DQD) maser. In characterizing the gain of this device we find that, in
addition to the direct stimulated emission of photons, there is a large
contribution from the simultaneous emission of a photon and a phonon, i.e., the
phonon sideband. We show that this phonon-assisted gain typically dominates the
overall gain which leads to masing. Recent experimental data are well fit with
our model.Comment: v1: 6 pgs, 2 figures; v2: 6 pgs, 3 figures, added Fig 2b and Fig. 3b,
modified main text; v3: 6+ pgs, 3 figures, modified main tex
