Vacuum Tubes

Vacuum Tubes
In electronics, a vacuum tube is a device generally
used to amplify a signal.

Once used in most electronic devices, vacuum tubes

are now used only in specialized applications.

For most purposes, it has been replaced by the

much smaller and less expensive transistor, either

as a discrete device or in an integrated circuit.

Vacuum Tubes
Vacuum tubes, or thermionic valves are arrangements
of electrodes in a vacuum within an insulating,
temperature resistant envelope.

Resembles incandescent light bulbs, in that they have a

filament sealed in a glass envelope, which has been
evacuated of all air.

Vacuum Tubes
A process called thermionic emission occurs, when

the filament releases electrons into the vacuum due

to rise in temperature.

The resulting negatively charged cloud of electrons

is called a space charge.

These electrons will be drawn to a positively

charged metal plate, the anode. This results in a

current of electrons flowing from filament to plate.

4 Methods of Electron Emission

1. Thermionic Emission when electrons are emitted from an
emitter by supplying heat energy.

2. Photo Electric Emission in this process, light energy

falling upon the metal surface is transferred to free
electrons and ejects them from the surface.

3. High Field Emission the electric field set up by a high

positive voltage yanks free electrons from the emitter.

4. Secondary Emission results when primary electrons strike

a metal surface at high speed resulting to collision of some
electrons with the metal surface that causes them to be
projected outward like a billiard ball.

Methods of Heating a Cathode

Direct Heating electric current is applied to a

filament wire that serves as the

emitter.

Indirect Heating electric current is applied to a

separate heater element, located

inside a cylindrical cathode that
serves as emitter.