Inexpensive solid-state trigger unit for thyratrons

An SCR based unit suitable for triggering thyratrons was developed. It is capable of developing over a kilovolt peak into a 50 ohm load with a risetime of under ten nanoseconds. Both grounded grid and common cathode styles of thyratrons may be driven with minor circuit changes. Jitter characteristics show less than half a nonsecond peak to peak, and a standard deviation less than 100 picoseconds has been obtained.