Discharge Formation in a Trigger Unit Based on a Breakdown Over the Dielectric Surface in a Coldcathode Thyratron

The results of an investigation of pulsed discharge in a trigger unit based on a breakdown over the dielectric surface in a demountable single-sectioned cold-cathode thyratron are presented. The data on delay times in the surface discharge ignition, the hollow-anode arc discharge ignition and the ignition of a discharge in the thyratron main gap are obtained for different trigger pulse amplitudes. It is revealed that the main contribution to the delay time jitter comes from that of the surface discharge ignition. It is shown that the minimal jitter in the delay times of the discharge ignition in the thyratron main gap of no worse than 3 ns is achieved when the trigger pulse amplitude is 8 kV.