This design, dating from the late 1940s, is still capable of pulse-power performance which even the most advanced semiconductors (even IGBTs) cannot match easily. The krytrons and sprytrons are capable of handling high current high voltage pulses, with very fast switching times, constant low time delay between application of the trigger pulse and switching on, and a low jitter of this delay.
Krytrons can switch currents up to about 3000 amperes and voltages up to about 5000 volts. The commutation time of less than 1 nanosecond can be achieved, with the delay between the application of the trigger pulse and switching achievable as low as about 30 nanoseconds. The achievable jitter may be below 5 nanoseconds. The required trigger pulse voltage is about 200-2000 volts. Higher-voltage pulse can to a degree decrease the switching delay. The switching delay is strongly independent on the environment. The commutation time can be somewhat shortened by a faster rise time of the trigger pulse. A given krytron tube, with identical trigger pulse, will show very similar performance (low jitter) between the pulses.<sup id="cite_ref-pulse_3-4" class="reference">[4]</sup> The keepalive current ranges in tens to hundreds microamperes. The pulse repetition rate can range from one per minute to tens of thousands per minute.<sup id="cite_ref-tubecol_2-2" class="reference">[3]</sup>
The switching performance is largely independent on the environment (temperature, acceleration, vibrations, etc.). The formation of the keepalive glow discharge is however more sensitive, which necessitates the use of the radioactive source to aid its ignition.