There's a sectioned Cs tube at the science museum in London, sadly I can't see the pics you link to but I'd be interested to see if they're the same as that exhibit (I think I have a picture somewhere)
On 31 Oct 2016 20:54, "Skip Withrow" <skip.with...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Time-Nuts, > > > > I recently acquired a stock of dead cesium beam tubes, and my curiosity got > the best of me, so I have cut one open. After watching lots of YouTube > video of burning and exploding cesium I was a little leery at first. The > first step was to make a very small hole just to let a small amount of air > in, no flames or heat so I let it sit for a while for any reactions with > air to take their course. Next I proceeded to cut off the ends, and after > that the bottom of the unit, finally I trimmed the top off as far as I > could. Pictures are linked below for your enjoyment. I have attached two > of the before and after at low resolution. > > > > 1. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube1.jpg > > > > This is the before picture of a tube (not the actual one opened). It is HP > part number 05061-6077. The band around the center of the tube is a mu > metal shield that is removed by removing the screws along the seam. > Unfortunately > 11 of the 14 tubes that I received had the cables cut as shown (ouch!). > > > > 2. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube2.jpg > > > > This is a shot of the deconstructed tube. The cesium oven is on the left, > the microwave cavity is in the center (under a metal cover), and the > detector is on the right. > > > > 3. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube3.jpg > > > > This is the oven end of the tube. The oven (with the cesium) is the copper > vessel. The ion trap assembly is at the top (with magnet). The first beam > magnet is between the oven and the microwave cavity. One thing that I can > say is that HP brought the art of spot welding to a new level. Note the > stainless steel strips welded over the screw heads (and lots of other > things). > > > > 4. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube4.jpg > > > > This is the detector end of the tube. I believe the hot wire ionizer is > the broken metal strip. The electron multiplier/detector is in the metal > box above it. The second beam magnet sits between the microwave cavity and > the electronics at this end of the tube. I don’t think I broke the > filament, this was probably the failure mode of this tube. Also note that > all the wiring insulation is ceramic tubing, since insulation that out > gasses in vacuum is a no-no. > > > > 5. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube5.jpg > > > > This is the bottom view of the tube for completeness. I have not yet > removed the cover that is over the microwave cavity (and has the C-field > coil around it). > > > > 6. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube6.jpg > > > > This is the top of the tube with the potting compound removed. I was > surprised to find a couple of embedded resistors. I guess the good news is > that it would be easy enough to remove the potting and solder on new wires > if deemed useful. > > > > 7. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube7.jpg > > > > This is just a close-up of the broken hot wire ionizer (and all the spot > welds). > > > > 8. http://www.rdrelectronics.com/skip/CS-tube/cstube8.jpg > > > > This is a close-up of the ion trap where the +3500V connects. I’m not a > physics expert, but didn’t think about a magnet being involved. I don’t > think any of the drawings that I have seen have ever mentioned it. > > > > So, enjoy. I will most likely be throwing the rest of the tubes up on ebay > at some point. If there is strong interest in having them cut open first > please let me know. I intend to cut up some wood to make an appropriate > stand and add this one to my tube collection. > > > > Sorry for the long post, but I hope you found it informative. > > Regards, > > Skip Withrow > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ > mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.