Crossatron switch as thyratron replacement in high repetition rate, high average power modulators
The Crossatron is a cold cathode, low pressure, gas discharge switch with opening and closing capabilities. Due to its cold cathode operation, the Crossatron may offer lifetime advantages compared to the hydrogen thyratron. Unfortunately, little information regarding Crossatron lifetime and performance in high repetition rate, high average power, pulse modulators exists. Four prototype Crossatron devices, fabricated by Hughes Aircraft, were obtained to evaluate their performance and lifetime in high repetition rate, high average power, pulse modulators that had previously been equipped with hydrogen thyratrons. The prototype Crossatrons were evaluated over a range of operating parameters. Various grid drive, keep alive power levels and triggering schemes were employed in the tests. Switch parameters such as trigger time, anode fall time, jitter, recovery time, peak di/dt, switch efficiency, and the gas pumping effect of the discharge were observed. One Crossatron prototype was also subjected to lifetime tests that accumulated tens of billions of pulses. Lifetime data will be compared to various thyratron models tested similarly.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6841908
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-98072; CONF-880699-8; ON: DE88013706
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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