Thyratron operation using Helium for high-power and high-repetition rate applications

Results of a study of the helium thyratron for high-power applications are reported. The helium thyratron operates at high voltages and currents, comparable to hydrogen, and, for certain of the conditions studied, recovers faster than hydrogen. These results suggest that helium thyratrons should be seriously considered for high-power applications, such as excimer lasers.