'A new 10 cm klystron, developed by Mullard, develops a peak power output up to 10 megawatts with a power gain in excess of 50dB. It is among the largest tubes of its kind in the world.'
So, 50 years ago this year, starts a story in Electronics Weekly's edition of September 21st 1960.
The story continues:
'It is intended for use in linear accelerators for medical, industrial and research purposes. It is also suitable for use in high power radar systems.'
The story ends:
'The tube was designed, and is being manufactured, at the company's factory at Waddon,
Wow! What a beast. Do you know if there are any of these still in existence and on display?
I'm afraid I don't, George. Hopefully someone out there might enlighten us
They were a beast. They were used on a ground radar, type 85, in uk that had 12 klystrons for a frequency agile multi beam system. They were housed in a lead cabinet, the door was so heavy that you leaned backwards holding the handle for the door to accelerate very slowly, when the door got to around 45 degrees, you leaned the other way to slow it down. It took about 30 seconds or so to open or shut the door. They were also used in a broadcast radio transmitter that was known as "the beastie". When the radars were dismantled at Boulmer, I believe one of the transmitter cabinets, with the klystron was donated to the London Science Museum. I don't know if it is on display though!
Thank you very much Dave, that is fascinating.
How can it be both 10cm and 7 feet long at the same time?
Ed
See this link for more on the type 85 radar and it's klystrons
http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/linesman/type85.htm
Diameter 10cm, Length 7ft, Ed
My God, Dave, that's awesome stuff. Thanks very much indeed.
10cm is the wavelength of the transmitted frequency, 10cm to 30cm is a common long range radar wavelength, Airfield radars for local control use around 3cm. Generally the smaller wavelength gives more definition and discrimination of the target but lower range.
(David, this bit To add somewhere, probably the beginning, in the last post, as I've already sent it I cant edit and add)
The diameter of the klystron was about 4 foot, not 10cm, after all it was a beast.
Thanks Dave, my mistake