Introduction. High voltage silicon mass transistors have the ability to perform circuit functions similar to the gas thyratron tube. Upon being triggered the transistor junction breaks down, or "avalanches", and can conduct a large current for a short time. The rise time of the avalanche breakdown pulse can be short, and the delay between triggering and avalanching can be short and very consistent. This avalanche action is non-destructive if the amount of peak and average power being dissipated at the junction is limited by the circuitry.

Report discussing experiments on particle density, plasma compression, electron heating, and electron energy distribution of plasma in a pyrotron. Past experiments that led to this investigation are discussed as well.

From abstract: "This bibliography consists of reports compiled from the AEC Library Card Catalog. Only the Classified and Unclassified report literature is included. For the published literature the reader is referred to an unpublished paper by V. Carson (UCRL - Livermore Library)" titled "Radioactive Waste Disposal" (April 25, 1957). "All progress reports covering the work have been omitted in order to exclude a large amount of duplicate information which is usually found in more detail in topical reports."