Hollow-cathode glow discharge in a trigger unit of pseudospark switch

Abstract

This paper deals with the investigation of the sealed-off cold-cathode thyratron (pseudospark switch) with a trigger unit that uses a low-current auxiliary glow discharge. As distinct from the commercially produced thyratron TPI1-10k/50, the trigger system of the device under investigation is modernized so that it is able to operate in the absence of the so-called high-emissivity tablet. The data on the principal features of the discharge sustainment in the novel trigger system are obtained. The interpretation of the data is carried out based on the model of the discharge with a hollow cathode, which has been developed as applied to the conditions of the low current densities. It is shown that the regimes of the auxiliary discharge have an impact on the trigger characteristics of the switch. The ability of the switch operation with nanosecond stability with respect to a trigger pulse at high anode voltages is demonstrated.