Vacuum tubes or electron tubes were essential components of electronics before transistors took over their popularity. A vacuum tube is a device for controlling electron flow in a vacuum. It is also referred to as a valve. The valve or tube gets its name because of its functioning, where it controls the flow of electrons by opening and closing like a valve.
Vacuum tubes are still used today, but their usage has decreased, making way for transistors, integrated circuits, and solid-state technology. Nevertheless, some people and industries still use vacuum tubes, and they are essential for audiophiles and musicians who want to maintain the “tube sound.”
If you are looking to use a vacuum tube in a project, you may wonder about other names for this device. Here are some names you need to know:
Thermionic tube
Thermionic tube refers to what vacuum tubes are essentially—electron tubes that function using heated cathodes. The “Thermionic” word means heat-produced motion, which refers to the cathode that emits electrons when heated.
Valve
The word valve traditionally refers to a mechanical device used to direct or control the flow of a substance, typically fluids, through a pipeline or other channels. Vacuum tubes have the same function that of the mechanical valve, but they control the flow of electrons instead.
Magnoval
Magnoval is a vacuum tube with a metal base, which has pins arranged in a circle on it. They are used for high power applications where large power output is required, such as in audio amplifiers.
Electron tube
The electron tube term refers to the fact that vacuum tubes move electrons in a specific direction, and they usually handle their internal functions through the electron beam. The functioning of these devices involves the generation of electrons from a heated cathode that then travel through the vacuum towards the anode, where they are then collected.
Discharge tube
Discharge tube is a vacuum tube that emits gas or light. They are commonly used in lighting applications, like neon lights or aurora borealis lights. In an electron discharge tube, electrons are produced and then accelerated by a high voltage field to collide with the gas molecules or the intermediate electrode, creating emitted gas, plasma, or light.
Klystron
Klystrons are devices that use microwave energy. They direct energy with an electron beam moving through a spate cavity. Since the first klystron was developed in the 1930s, they have been used for radar, particle accelerators, and microwave systems.
Traveling-wave tube
The traveling-wave tube is a vacuum tube that uses electromagnetic waves to amplify signals. It operates on similar principles as the klystron, but it is longer and can be used to amplify high-frequency signals, like those used in satellite communications.
Cathode ray tube
Cathode ray tubes (CRT) were used in televisions and computer monitors before the era of LCD and LED monitors. The CRT has a vacuum tube and encodes data in the form of an electron beam on the screen’s phosphorescent material. The electron beam strikes the screen, causing it to light up and display the image.
Conclusion
In summary, “vacuum tube” is one of various names that refer to devices that control the flow of electrons using high vacuum. Although their usage has declined over the years because of the emergence of transistors, there are still applications where vacuum tubes are indispensable. Moreover, these devices continue to be relevant to the fields of audio engineering and music.
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Frequently Asked Questions for: What Are Other Names For Vacuum Tubes?
What is the difference between a vacuum tube and a valve?
A: There is no difference between vacuum tubes and valves. The term “valve” is commonly used in the UK and other countries, while “vacuum tube” is more commonly used in the US.
What is a thermionic valve?
A: A thermionic valve is another term for a vacuum tube or electron tube. It refers to the way the tube functions, with a heated cathode releasing electrons that flow through the vacuum to reach the anode.
Can vacuum tubes still be used today?
A: Yes, vacuum tubes are still used today in various applications, including audio amplifiers, guitar amplifiers, and radio communications equipment. They are also used in some scientific and medical equipment.
What are some other names for vacuum tubes?
A: In addition to “valves” and “thermionic valves,” vacuum tubes can also be referred to as electron tubes, tube amplifiers, or simply “tubes.” Older terms that are less commonly used today include “radio tubes” and “valvular tubes.”
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