Design considerations for NPN magnetic-core-driver transistors

The important characteristics of an NPN magnetic-core-driver transistor are D.C. amplification factor at high current, power dissipation rating, saturation voltage, breakdown voltage and transient response. The D.C. amplification at higher currents must be sufficiently high to give satisfactory power amplification. The power dissipation rating must be high enough to allow pulse operation with a high peak power required for core driver application. The saturation voltage must be low such that the dissipation in the "on" state is low. The breakdown voltage must be high enough to give sufficient voltage pulse swing, and the transient response must be fast enough to reproduce the pulse shape.