Crossatron switch development at Hughes Electron Dynamics Division (HEDD)

The ability of the 8451H Crossatron modulator switch to operate as a closing thyratron replacement switch at current levels up to 3 kA peak current is demonstrated. The 8451H is readily adaptable to closing even higher peak current by parallel operation. The tube's interrupting ability up to 1.2 kA peak current has also been demonstrated. Interruption times of 500 ns have been measured, limited only by the SCR switch-capacitor rectifier drive circuits used. By optimizing the control grid configuration for on-off modulation switching, a pulse repetition of 1 MHz has been demonstrated. >