Breaking of follow currents by gas discharge tube in overvoltage protection

After clearing an over voltage surge superimposed on the AC line voltage by gas discharge tube (GDT) the follow-on current proceeds to flow between electrodes of spark gap due to the ignition of arc. Regarding the self-interrupting capacity of GDT it extinguishes in the next current zero moment. In order to avoid the necessity of backup breaking devices for over voltage protection of AC power circuits, self extinguishing phenomena in spark gap were investigated due to the adequate approach for the increase of breaking performance of GDT.