What is a Klystron

Questions and Answers

From tremolu--(at)--ol.com Sat Apr 8 11:28:17 CDT 1995
From: tremolu--(at)--ol.com (Tremolux)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: tube sound
Date: 7 Apr 1995 16:20:03 -0400
Sender: roo--(at)--ewsbf02.news.aol.com
Reply-To: tremolu--(at)--ol.com (Tremolux)

>>And do X-ray machines use tubes?
>>--
>>Tom.

>Yes, I think they are called Klystrons.

No, X-ray machines use x-ray tubes. They're just simple diodes that run
at extremely high voltages, and the electrons slam into the plate with
such force that x-rays are produced.

Klystrons are microwave amplifier tubes. Klystrons that run at extremely
high voltages do produce x-rays, but that is not the intent. I used to
work for Litton in San Carlos, Ca. They make the 500 MHz klystrons used
in the old BMEWS ballistic missile warning radars, a relic of the
cold-war. These things are literally the size of a phone pole, run at
about 150,000 volts, use internal liquid cooling (the water is piped
around inside the tube to cool it's innards), and the x-rays produced are
so hard they have to run the tubes inside a lead-walled booth. Serious
stuff. These monsters cost about $100,000 each.

Regards.

Index:

Amp Shipping	Dealer Cost Vs List Price	Death Switch	Diodes on Plates
Dont Use Stereo Speakers	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ
Fix Reverb Ground Hum	Flea Market Checkout	Hammond Organ Buys	Hammond Tonewheel Organs
How Long Do Tubes Last	How Many Watts	Magnetics for Morons	Microphone Placement
NOS defined	Stage Placement	What Are Optoisolators	What are orange drops
What Dealers Pay	What is 6V6GTA	What is a Fetron	What is a Klystron
What is a Plexi	What is Bias	What is Blue Glow	What is Ground Lift
What is Kinkless Tetrode	What is Single Ended	What Is Tube Glow	What JBL Means
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Why AC on heaters	Why Blackface an Amp	Why Bleeder Resistors	Why Cap Value Spread
Why Care About Phase	Why Change SF Lead Dress	Why Microphonic Cords	Why Not Bias By Scope
Why Opto Trem	Why rectifier is separate	Why Select Highest Z Tap	Why Sprague Caps
Why Use Grid Stoppers	Why Use Standby