The development of the SCR (technically a silicon controlled rectifier
or thyristor) in the late 1950s spawned a host of new power electron-
ics systems. The SCR made it possible to not only rectify AC power at
high currents and voltages but also to control the output with a low-
power control voltage. And the response time was as fast as the power
line frequency permitted. SCRs advanced rapidly in ratings until, at
this time, they are pushing 10 kV and 10 kA for a single device. They
can be connected in series and parallel for unlimited voltages and
power levels.
The SCR consists of a four-layer sandwich of P and ...
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