Transient Response of Glow Discharges with Applications

The transient responses of a number of glow discharges were observed. From the response time of several microseconds, and the characteristic overshoot, they can be described as having an inductive component approaching a henry. This is consistent with the observed frequency response. It is shown how standard neon lamps can be used as fast and noiseless coupling elements for voltage level changing in direct coupled circuits, in spite of the above.