Pulse Response of Thyratron Grid-Control Circuits

For applications in which a thyratron must function as an accurately controlling device, rather precise grid control is required. Frequently, the desired precision of firing is obtained by applying peaked voltage pulses to the grid of the thyratron. Satisfactory operation of the thyratron and its associated grid-control circuit usually requires an external grid-cathode capacitance and a current-limiting grid resistance. For a given pulse shape supplied by the grid signal generator, the grid resistance and capacitance can alter materially the wave form of the voltage which appears on the grid. This paper presents, in the form of curves, an analysis of the influence of the grid-circuit components upon the grid response for several commonly used grid signal pulses. Advantages of peaked wave-form grid control are discussed, and an example is worked out to illustrate the use of the curves in evaluating the grid response to a typical signal pulse.