Abstract: Solid state pulse power sources are widely used in the field of pulse power technology and have become a new research hotspot. Among them, high-power solid-state switching devices are the core of solid-state pulse power sources. This article reports a new type of laser initiated multi gate semiconductor switch (LIMS), which has two working modes: photo induced linear mode and field induced gain mode. It solves the problem of low current rise rate in traditional electronic control devices and achieves high current rise rate of the device. Experimental tests in photo induced linear mode showed a current rise rate of 454 kA/μs. The switch has been preliminarily applied in fields such as detonator initiation and electromagnetic pulse simulation.