Operating Characteristics of a Sealed-Prototype Cs-Ba Tacitron
Abstract
Tacitrons are triode gas-discharge tubes, similar in construction to thyratrons. The primary functional difference between a tacitron and a thyratron is that the tacitron is designed to be completely grid-controlled, whereas a thyratron has grid control only over ignition. Demountable cesium-barium (Cs-Ba) tacitrons have exhibited very low forward voltage drops in the range of a few volts, hold-off voltages greater than 200 V, and average conduction current densities greater than 10 A/cm2. These characteristics yield an average power switching density on the order of 1000 W/cm2 approaching 95% peak switching efficiency. This parameter regime places the Cs-Ba tacitron in the range of conventional solid-state devices, with the advantage that the tacitron should reliably operate in extremes of temperature and radiation. The sealed prototype Cs-Ba tacitron discussed herein is intended to demonstrate "off-the-shelf'' operation, taking the first step in moving the tacitron from a laboratory device to the performance level of a commercial product.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA638426
Entities
People
- D. Hidinger
- G. B. Masten
- G. Sharp
- I. N. Djachiachvili
- J. M. Gahl
Organizations
- University of New Mexico