Adiabatic mode operation of thyratrons for megawatt average power applications

Significant impact on the size, weight, and cost of high energy pulse systems having short on times can be obtained by designing components to operate in the adiabatic mode. Several thyratron design concepts for short term, high peak and average power switching applications have been studied. They include cavity grid designs for high voltage reliability, grid baffling designs to improve anode take over times, and plasma cathode designs to eliminate standby filament power. Using these concepts, several thyratron designs have been fabricated and evaluated at average powers approaching one megawatt. Evaluation of an off the shelf HY-5 operating in the adiabatic mode, was also conducted. It was found that by modifying the cathode structure the device was capable of being operated reliably at 22.5 amperes of average current at a peak voltage of 15 kilovolts.