Can a thyratron be used as a current booster?
According to Perkin-Elmer: 


  Conduction:
  Once the commutation interval
  has ended, a typical hydrogen
  thyratron will conduct with nearly
  constant voltage drop on the
  order of 100 volts regardless of
  the current through the tube


This applies to a typical 32kV 20kA deuterium-filled hydrogen thyratron (HY-3202).