High-power multiple-gap back-lighted thyratrons

The authors report successful operation of flashlamp-switched multiple-stage back-lighted thyratrons at very high pulsed power levels, including 100 kV stand-off voltage and >70 kA switched peak current. Simultaneous optical triggering of each gap for precision timing and plasma triggering is also discussed. The switch closure generates a highly ionized, very homogeneous plasma in a low pressure static background gas, and thus does not require exchange of high pressure gas for repetition rate operation. The results suggest that fairly simple multiple-gap configurations of the device will be useful for applications such as multiple high-power modulator systems for accelerators