Abstract

A thyratron is a very common switching device in many high-power pulse systems. However, it is difficult to diagnose switching characteristics of the thyratron during its operation. A new diagnostic factor of the thyratron has been developed from a convection heat transfer theory. The new diagnostic factor is obtained from a dependence of a thyratron heater current on a thyratron internal gas pressure. We have verified theoretical proprieties of the diagnostic factor and confirmed experimentally that the assumption used in the theory is applicable to typical thyratrons. Using the diagnostic factor, we have designed and constructed an autoranging and autodiagnostic device for the thyratron.