The document discusses the programmable unijunction transistor (PUT). It begins by explaining that the PUT consists of 4 layers like a thyristor, with connections to the first, last, and inner layers as the anode, cathode, and gate. PUTs require an external resistor network to set the intrinsic standoff ratio η, similarly to how external resistors program unijunction transistors. The document then covers the basic operation and characteristic curves of PUTs, which resemble those of unijunction transistors. It presents an example PUT relaxation oscillator circuit and discusses design considerations for the charging resistor values.