krytron

/ ˈkraɪtrɒn /

noun

1. electronics a type of fast electronic gas-discharge switch, used as a trigger in nuclear weapons

Example Sentences

Great masses of warheads could quickly be rendered harmless by removing their tritium bottles and krytron triggers.

Read more on Time Magazine Archive

But take a highly miniaturized capacitor capable of storing 5,000 volts, feed it into a peanut- size switch called a krytron, and the result is a device that can be used for the deadliest purpose of all: triggering a nuclear explosion.

Read more on Time Magazine Archive