Sidac spark gap

From HvWiki

Abbreviated SISG.

A new “electronic” spark gap using reliable, simple, and totally self contained sections. These sections can be combined, in series, to allow high voltage switching at high current with very low loss. By using SIDACs for voltage controlled triggering and IGBTs as a current pass element, each section can fire at a preset voltage and stay on for a predetermined length of time. The effective resistance of each section is extremely low compared to a conventional spark gap - drastically reducing power loss.

First concieved by Terry Fritz in 2006. Allows for the use of high voltage switching by lower voltage components. In essence, a true "solid state spark gap." His prototype, the Piranha was a success, bringing this new topology into existence.