The klystron tube is a vacuum tube used for radar systems, producing microwave energy through electron vibration. It was invented by the Varian brothers and later used for cancer treatment. It has also appeared in popular culture and is still being researched at Stanford University.
A klystron tube is a special type of vacuum tube invented in 1937 by the Varian brothers. A vacuum tube is a piece of electronic equipment, usually a tubular glass structure, from which most of the air has been removed. The klystron tube was used for radar systems during WWII and is still in use for radar systems today. Oddly enough, during WWII, radar systems using this technology were favored by the Axis powers. The Allies relied mainly on another technology for building radar systems.
Microwave energy is produced by a klystron tube. In this application, it works similar to a pipe organ pipe, except that the pipe uses electrons, while the pipe organ pipe uses air. When the air in the organ pipe vibrates, the organ pipe emits sound energy of a specific frequency that we hear as a single note. When the electrons in the tube vibrate, they emit high-frequency microwave energy that can be detected by a radar receiver.
Once World War II was over, Russell and Sigurd Varian continued research into microwave and radar energy with the intention of finding a cure for cancer. They founded Varian Medical Systems to commercialize this technology, and the company is still using the original klystron tube-based technology to develop cutting-edge cancer treatments.
The klystron tube has also become a part of popular culture. The films Forbidden Planet and My Stepmother Was an Alien both make references to it. However, neither case is an accurate representation of its actual function. A great deal of research has been done at Stanford University on the uses of this technology and their studies are still ongoing. It’s worth visiting the university’s website if you’d like to learn more about the technology behind the klystron tube.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
