Bidirectional gas discharge tube

A bidirectional gas discharge tube (GDT) comprising:

• a discharge chamber;
• a first cathode disposed within the discharge chamber;
• a second cathode disposed within the discharge chamber;
• a gas disposed within the discharge chamber and configured to insulate the first cathode from the second cathode;
• a first control grid disposed adjacent the first cathode and between the first cathode and the second cathode within the discharge chamber, the first control grid configured to generate a first electric field to initiate establishment of a conductive plasma between the first cathode and the second cathode to close a conduction path extending between the first cathode and the second cathode;
• a second control grid disposed adjacent the second cathode and between the first cathode and the second cathode within the discharge chamber, the second control grid configured to generate a second electric field to initiate establishment of the conductive plasma and to close the conduction path;
• and
• at least one insulating barrier at least partially defining the discharge chamber, wherein the at least one insulating barrier is/are spaced apart from each of the first cathode and the second cathode by a distance of approximately 0.5 to 1 millimeter;
• wherein the at least one insulating barrier defines a first space between the first control grid and the at least one insulating barrier, and a second space between the second control grid and the at least one insulating barrier, the first space and the second space being in a range of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 millimeters.