The laser’s ionizing energy pulse creates a heated air channel, or laser filament, that conducts electricity.
These are 2 snapshots recorded by high-speed cameras from 2 different locations of lightning following the laser path. Photos are from the study. Lightning searches out the most direct and quickest route to discharge. The temporary air channel essentially extended the reach of the protecting lightning rod by at least 32 yards. Look at pictures showing lightning branching before it hits the air channel.
“We thought, ‘Let’s start with a smaller lightning rod, but then prolong it with a laser,’” said Wolf. “Then you protect a large zone around it, and you could then protect airports or, electrical power plants or nuclear power plants or a launching pad for rockets and so on.”He explained that the area or zone protected by a lightning rod corresponds to its height. A 50-yard tall lightning rod will protect the entire area within a 50-foot radius.
He said the entire plane lost power for a few moments leaving the pilots unable to steer. Positioning a plane to land with no power could be deadly. Planes need lightning protection from at least a few hundred-meter distance.New laser technology at the end of the last century allowed researchers to achieve control of nature. The new class of lasers pulse with very high intensity.
They hope to develop a stronger lightning laser to increase the length of the plasma channel of electrical-conductive air. Houard feels a different color laser would increase the reach.
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