Abstract
Lightning is highly destructive due to its high power density and unpredictable character. Directing lightning away would allow to protect sensitive sites from its direct and indirect impacts (electromagnetic perturbations). Up to now, lasers have been unable to guide lightning efficiently since they were not offering simultaneously terawatt peak powers and kHz repetition rates. In the framework of the Laser Lightning Rod project, we develop a laser system for lightning control, with J-range pulses of 1 ps duration at 1 kHz. The project aims at investigating its propagation in the multiple filamentation regime and its ability to control high-voltage discharges. In particular, a field campaign at the Säntis mountain will assess the laser ability to trigger upward lightning.
Highlights
Lightning fascinates due to its destructive power, which makes it a major natural risk
In the framework of the Laser Lightning Rod project, we develop a laser system for lightning control, with J-range pulses of 1 ps duration at 1 kHz
Within the Laser Lightning Rod (LLR) project [36] we focus on developing a kHz-terawatt laser system and assessing its ability to stimulate upward lightning flashes from the grounded, 123 m tall telecom tower at Santis, Switzerland, in order to initiate and guide the lightning strikes
Summary
Lightning fascinates due to its destructive power, which makes it a major natural risk. The researchers reported two successful events, but this low number of events did not lead to conclusive proof of the effectiveness of the lightning triggering technique This approach was progressively abandoned because of the discontinuous profile of the plasma generated with such “long” IR or mid-IR pulses through avalanche ionization and the huge laser energy required to extend the laser-generated plasma column beyond a few meters. A terawatt laser at a kilohertz repetition rate would allow the formation of a permanent low-density channel likely capable of guiding discharges over long distances Based on these results, we decided to investigate the impact of laser filamentation at a kHz repetition rate on lightning strikes, in real scale. Within the Laser Lightning Rod (LLR) project [36] we focus on developing a kHz-terawatt laser system and assessing its ability to stimulate upward lightning flashes from the grounded, 123 m tall telecom tower at Santis, Switzerland, in order to initiate and guide the lightning strikes
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