Thyratron-choke switch for high-current nanosecond pulses

Electric-discharge excimer lasers and high-current nanosecond accelerators, i.e., linear induction accelerators, require highcurrent nanosecond pulse (HCNP) generators with high repetition frequencies. This paper describes a design and some formulas for a thyratron-choke assembly for switching high-current nanosecond pulses, which consists of a thyratron and a single turn nonlinear choke connected in series with it; these are enclosed in a coaxial shield. The operation of a thyratronchoke assembly with a TGI1-1000/25 thyratron in switching pulses of up to 10kA with a duration of 250 nsec is studied. The current rise rate is 200 kA/usec, the pulse repetition frequency is 200 Hz, and the average switched power is 5kW.