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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
07:51

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs

Published on: August 27, 2019

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Laser-guided lightning.

Aurélien Houard1, Pierre Walch1, Thomas Produit2,3

  • 1Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée - ENSTA Paris, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, IP Paris, Palaiseau, France.

Nature Photonics
|March 13, 2023
PubMed

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers demonstrated laser-induced filaments can guide lightning discharges. This breakthrough offers a novel approach to lightning protection, potentially safeguarding infrastructure like airports and launchpads.

Area of Science:

  • Atmospheric physics
  • Laser physics
  • Plasma physics

Background:

  • Lightning causes significant damage and casualties, necessitating improved protection beyond traditional methods.
  • Laser-induced filaments offer a potential new avenue for controlling electrical discharges in the atmosphere.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the feasibility of using laser-induced filaments to guide lightning discharges.
  • To investigate the potential of laser technology for advanced lightning protection systems.

Main Methods:

  • An experimental campaign utilizing a high-repetition-rate terawatt laser was conducted on Säntis mountain.
  • High-speed cameras and very-high-frequency interferometric measurements were employed to record and analyze lightning behavior.
  • Detection of X-ray bursts was used to further characterize the guided lightning events.
Keywords:
Nonlinear opticsPlasma physicsUltrafast photonics

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Main Results:

  • The first experimental evidence of laser filaments guiding an upward negative lightning leader over 50 meters was successfully recorded.
  • Three additional instances confirmed the guiding of negative lightning leaders by laser filaments.
  • A significant increase in detected X-ray bursts was observed during guided lightning events.

Conclusions:

  • Laser-induced filaments can effectively guide lightning discharges, marking a significant advancement in lightning physics.
  • This research paves the way for novel atmospheric applications of ultrashort lasers.
  • The findings represent a crucial step towards developing laser-based lightning protection for critical infrastructure.