The krytron is a cold-cathode gas-filled tube used as a very high-speed switch, comparable to the thyratron. It consists of a sealed glass tube with four electrodes. A brief triggering pulse on the grid electrode activates the tube, allowing a large current to flow between the cathode and anode electrodes. The vacuum version is known as a vacuum krytron, or sprytron. The krytron was one of the EG&G Corporation’s early technologies.
Krytrons are gas-filled tubes used in electronics, particularly for high-speed, high-voltage switching. They are typically used in radar systems, pulsed lasers, and nuclear weapons. Krytrons can turn on or off very quickly, making them useful in applications that need precision timing. They are regulated and restricted because of their possible use in explosive devices, as well as their function in triggering high-energy events. Governments often closely supervise their development and dissemination due to their potential military and security implications.
Description
Unlike most other gas switching tubes, the krytron conducts via an arc discharge to withstand extremely high voltages and currents (up to several kilovolts and several kiloamperes), as opposed to the low-current glow discharge used in other thyratrons. The krytron is an evolution of the triggered spark gaps and thyratrons that were originally developed for radar transmitters during World War II.
Krytrons employ hydrogen as the gas, but noble gases (typically krypton) or a Penning mixture can also be used.
Applications
Krytrons are noted for their incredibly quick switching speeds, which are commonly measured in nanoseconds, making them excellent for applications that require precise and rapid control of high-voltage pulses. They are often utilized for triggering high-energy lasers, radar systems, and nuclear bomb detonation systems. Their capacity to handle high voltages and currents while switching quickly makes them useful in a variety of technological and defense applications.
