What is a Klystron

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.