Lightning rods have been used to safely guide strikes into the ground since the days of Benjamin Franklin, but their short range (about the same radius as height) and fixed-in-place design make them ineffective for protecting large areas. Technology may finally be here to replace them in some situations. European researchers have succeeded tried a system that uses terawatt-level laser pulses to direct lighting onto a 26-foot pole. It is not limited by its physical height and can cover much wider areas, in this case 590 feet, while penetrating clouds and mist.
The design ionizes nitrogen and oxygen molecules, releasing electrons and creating a plasma that conducts electricity. Since the laser fires at a very fast speed of 1000 pulses per second, it is considerably more likely to intercept a beam as it forms. In the test, conducted between June and September 2021, lightning followed the beam for nearly 197 feet before striking the rod.
Researchers have been exploring laser beam guides during years. However, experiments have generally been limited to much shorter distances and relatively slow pulses that were more likely to lose illumination as it formed. Dr. Aurélien Houard, who helped lead the project, saying the Wall Street Journal that this laser fired 100 times more pulses per second than previous attempts.
It could be a long time before lasers are used beyond experiments. Matteo Clerici of the University of Glasgow, who did not work on the project, told The newspaper that the laser in the experiment costs about $2.17 billion. The discoverers also plan to extend the range significantly, to the point where a 33-foot rod will have an effective coverage of 1,640 feet.
If the scientists are successful, the breakthrough could make lightning protection viable over large areas. This would be particularly useful for safeguarding rocket launch pads, where lightning strikes can cause mission delays if too close to the flight path. They could also be useful for protecting airports, power plants, forests, and other large locations where a strike could prove catastrophic.
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