Abstract
This paper deals with the investigations of the sealed-off hold-cathode thyratron (pseudospark switch) TPI1-10k/50, which is commercially produced by the Pulsed Technology Ltd., Ryazan, Russia. The trigger unit of the switch is based on a low-current auxiliary glow discharge. The new method for the switch triggering is proposed. The essence of the method is that the thyratron grid and the hollow cathode of the auxiliary discharge has to be grounded and the trigger pulse is applied to the ring anode of the trigger unit. In the proposed method, an undesirable high-voltage spike at the thyratron grid, which can appear with a usage of the other methods of triggering, is absent. It is shown that to trigger the thyratron a critical pulsed current to the main cathode cavity at a level of 0.8 A and higher should be provided. When the current exceeds the critical value, the jitter in the delay time to triggering falls in a range of 10 ns. This means that the method of triggering can be used in a variety of applications that require a low jitter in the delay time.
Highlights
Since the end of 1980s, considerable interest has been generated in a new type of low-pressure high-current switching device with a cold cathode, often named the pseudospark switch.[1,2,3] The principle of function of the switch resembles that of a classical thyratron with a grounded grid
This means that the method of triggering can be used in a variety of the applications, which require a low jitter in the delay time
The trigger unit of the switch is based on the low-current auxiliary glow discharge
Summary
Since the end of 1980s, considerable interest has been generated in a new type of low-pressure high-current switching device with a cold cathode, often named the pseudospark switch.[1,2,3] The principle of function of the switch resembles that of a classical thyratron with a grounded grid. The main discharge current starts flowing from the anode A to the hollow cathode of a complex form composed of the electrode C and C1, i.e. the thyratron is switched. These measures lead to appearance of a parasitic prebreakdown current from the anode A1 to the main cathode cavity C due to which the static breakdown voltage of the switch decreases.[7,35] choosing the switch design and the range of operating pressure implies a compromise between the above factors. To enhance the static breakdown voltage of the switch as applied to the particular construction of the electrode system, it is appropriate to use such regimes of the auxiliary discharge operation in which the parasitic current i2 is minimal. The issues of the current interception to the electrode C during the triggering are the central subject of the present investigation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
