Varian, Sigurd Fergus, 1901-1961

Biography

Russsell and Sigurd Varian were co-inventors, with William W. Hansen, of the klystron and rhumbatron and co-founders of Varian Associates. Educated at Stanford University, physicist and inventor Russell Varian began his career with Philo Farnsworth on early television technology and with Humble Oil on instrumentation for oil exploration. In 1935, he returned to Stanford. Joined by his brother, Sigurd, a pilot with Pan American Airlines, he began work on microwave technology as a research assistant with Professor William Hansen. The klystron patent brought both financial gain to the University and the attention of federal research agencies, while leading to the formation of Varian Associates, one of California's first Silicon Valley companies.

From the guide to the Russell and Sigurd Varian papers, 1836-1988, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)