Small and light thyratron grid driver

Thyratrons are typically used to provide pulsed energy to lasers. A design is reported based on a line type pulser but making use of a high voltage switching power supply to provide a reliable, compact, fault tolerant unit. This pulser is referred to as the thyratron grid driver. During pulser operation the switching power supply cannot keep the pulser thyratron in conduction after the pulse forming network has been discharged, thus eliminating latch up problems.