A high-voltage pulse generator comprising a charge storage means, a high-voltage source able to charge said charge storage means, a first photoconductor element connected firstly to the reference of the potentials and secondly to the said storage means, a second photoconductor element connected firstly to said storage means and secondly to a useful load, a first light source able to deliver a light pulse to said first photoconductor, a second light source able to deliver a light pulse to said second photoconductor, and a means of synchronising the emission delay between the first light source and the second light source, characterised in that said first photoconductor and said second photoconductor are linear-mode passive semiconductor elements forming photosensitive switches, said first and second photoconductors being photoconductors made from doped silicon.