Avalanche transistor

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jolyon Vater Cox by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jolyon-at-vatercox.freeserve.co.uk>

Dear List,
What exactly is an "avalanche transistor"
how does it work and does it any use in tesla coil work?

By the way, I have seen article on such a device in 
<http://www-eng.llnl.gov/documents/pulser_tech/OLD/esfpms94.html>http://www-eng.llnl.gov/documents/pulser_tech/OLD/esfpms94.html
with reference to high voltage pulsers pockel cell drivers and pulsed 
radars /is the information is of any use?