Can lasers guide lightning strikes to a safe target?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the innovative use of lasers to guide lightning strikes to safe targets, specifically a telecom tower in Switzerland. Researchers utilized lasers to create a path of ionized atoms, enhancing the effectiveness of traditional lightning rods. This method reduces the randomness associated with lightning strikes, ensuring a more reliable connection between the clouds and the ground. Concerns regarding pilot safety in relation to laser visibility were raised, but it was concluded that the angle of the laser beam minimizes risk to aircraft.

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  • Understanding of lightning rod functionality and principles
  • Basic knowledge of laser technology and ionization
  • Familiarity with atmospheric physics
  • Awareness of aviation safety regulations
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  • Explore advancements in lightning protection systems
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This discussion is beneficial for researchers in atmospheric science, engineers focused on lightning protection technologies, aviation safety professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of laser technology and natural phenomena.

anorlunda
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I like this idea. Very creative, but in retrospect it sounds obvious. Just create a path of ionized atoms.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/lasers-used-to-guide-lightning-strikes-to-a-safe-target/
Lightning rods protect buildings by providing a low-resistance path for charges to flow between the clouds and the ground. But they only work if lightning finds that path first. The actual strike is chaotic, and there's never a guarantee that the processes that initiate it will happen close enough to the lightning rod to ensure that things will work as intended.

A team of European researchers decided they didn't like that randomness and managed to direct a few lightning strikes safely into a telecom tower located on top of a Swiss mountain. Their secret? Lasers, which were used to create a path of charged ions to smooth the path to the lightning rod.

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I wonder what happens to the health and safety of pilots who glance at the lasers ?
 
Baluncore said:
I wonder what happens to the health and safety of pilots who glance at the lasers ?
Good question. I expect that they couldn't operate them unless safeguards were in place to protect the pilots.
 
anorlunda said:
Good question. I expect that they couldn't operate them unless safeguards were in place to protect the pilots.
Is that a real picture, or an artist's rendition? Why is there so much backscatter of the laser light in clear atmosphere? If the beam is truly that visible in clear air, there will be no pilots flying through it and looking right down at the source...
 
By now, Nature too
41566_2022_1139_Fig2_HTML.png


Apparently, that's a real picture
random internet find
zw200721.jpg


Regarding the planes/pilots: since the laser comes from below, I don't think it's an issue. From that angle the pilot cannot look into the beam. Those incidents around airports are mostly about the low flying planes and lasers at low angles.
 
So a Bond-villain's space lasers could direct lightning strikes onto specific targets? Please don't let some of our congress-persons hear about this.
 
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Rive said:
Regarding the planes/pilots: since the laser comes from below, I don't think it's an issue. From that angle the pilot cannot look into the beam. Those incidents around airports are mostly about the low flying planes and lasers at low angles.
Helicopter pilots get a better view. The laser pointers that frequent airports do not usually generate high-power ionising radiation.