Initiation of discharge inside the switches at low pressure

The most important parameter of such devices as the thyratron and pseudo-spark gap is the switching time. This parameter depends on a design of the device, pressure and type of filling gas. Its magnitude is defined by the plasma formation time and determines the magnitude of pulse forward front of a voltage on loading and the magnitude of starting losses of power. Carrying out optimization of the circuit of the pulse generator using the thyratrons it is possible to considerably reduce finishing (after impulse) losses of the power in it, however to reduce starting losses is possible only by reduction of switching time. In this paper the experimental study of the process of switching inside the thyratron is discussed