Scientists for the first time demonstrated that the laser can act as a thunderbate for scattering atmospheric discharges. The experiment described in detail in the journal Nature showed that a teravat laser with a high repetition frequency was used to remove a zipper of more than 50 meters.
The group under the leadership of the UAR ORELEN, a French ENSTA research engineer, showed that over more than 6 hours of work during a thunderstorm, the laser rejected the course of 4 rising thunderstorms.
Scientists noted that the category can follow a beam by almost 60 meters before reaching the tower, which means that the radius of the protective surface increases from 120 to 180 meters.
The laser’s work is explained by this – when very powerful laser impulses emit into the atmosphere, the threads of very intense light are formed inside the beam (similar threads in the incandescent lamp). These threads ionize nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air, which then release electrons that can move freely. This ionized air is called plasma and becomes an electric conductor.
The laser was radiated by picosecond pulses with a capacity of 500 MJ, a wavelength of 1030 Nm and a repetition frequency of 1 kHz near a 124-meter telecommunication tower, into which lightning strikes about 100 times a year.
Researchers said that work can help in studying laser physics in the atmosphere and lead to the development of new lightning protection systems. This is the first practical experiment that demonstrates the opportunity to control lightning with the help of a laser. This work is an important step in the development of laser lightning protection for airports, starting platforms or large infrastructure facilities.