The laser lightning rod project☆

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 Santis mountain will assess the laser ability to trigger upward lightning.

Automated summary

Lightning is highly destructive due to its high power density and unpredictable character. Laser technology is being developed to control and guide lightning for the protection of sensitive sites. The research project focuses on the propagation of laser in the multiple filamentation regime and its ability to control high-voltage discharges.