The details of this project are too long, so I am not going to bore you guys with them. What I am trying to do is to get the voltage across the right-hand side of the circuit to reach its highest and then drop abruptly to near zero.
But what's happening is that it reaches its peak and then stays at that level (essentially, a voltage clamp). The Zeners are used to clamp the voltage at that level but I somehow need to drop it abruptly right after it peaks. Any suggestions? 
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\$\begingroup\$ So the zeners and resistors are doing their job and clamping the voltage. You don't want the output clamped. The conclusion is that you should get rid of them. Or at least cut R1 down to about 1 ohm. \$\endgroup\$– WhatRoughBeastCommented May 28, 2014 at 23:03
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2\$\begingroup\$ It might be helpful if you could explain what you are trying to observe and how you came up with this model for the spark gap. \$\endgroup\$– FL_EngineerCommented May 29, 2014 at 0:01
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\$\begingroup\$ @WhatRoughBeast If I take out the zeners, or even lower their breakdown voltage, the simulation does not converge. And the inductor acts as a short so the value of the resistor wouldn't matter. \$\endgroup\$– vasiqshairCommented May 29, 2014 at 11:38
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1\$\begingroup\$ @FL_Engineer This is based on Basso's spark gap model. I am trying to simulate his model and once it works I will change it to meet the specifications of my spark gap \$\endgroup\$– vasiqshairCommented May 29, 2014 at 11:40
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\$\begingroup\$ He is talking about intusoft.com/nlhtm/nl50.htm#SPARKGAPMODELING It's not clear how you've configured your "zener_spark" since that's not shown in your schematic. \$\endgroup\$– got trolled too much this weekCommented Dec 8, 2015 at 9:38
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1 Answer
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Maybe you could use a Shockley diode or DIAC model (NOT a Schottky diode). A Shockley diode turns on when the voltage across it reaches its breakdown voltage and doesn't turn off until the current though it falls below a minimum holding current level.
Here's a site that goes through creating a SPICE model: http://www.beigebag.com/case_shockley.htm
