Swiss physicists have achieved a groundbreaking breakthrough in lightning control using laser beams, which could lead to advanced lightning protection systems for critical infrastructure such as airports and rocket launch sites, Science reports.
The study, led by scientists at the École Polytechnique and the University of Geneva, successfully demonstrated the ability to steer lightning using high-powered lasers. This expensive breakthrough could offer enhanced protection against lightning strikes, which can cause significant damage and pose risks to human safety.
A More Advanced Lightning Rod
Traditionally, lightning protection has relied on lightning rods invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1752. However, the effectiveness of these rods compared to the new laser-based system remains uncertain.
The study, conducted over a 5-year, €4 million European project, involved mounting a femtosecond laser atop Säntis mountain in Switzerland, a location prone to lightning strikes. The laser, firing 1000 times per second, created conductive channels in the atmosphere, guiding lightning strikes away from sensitive infrastructure.
During the experiment, the researchers observed lightning strikes following the path of the laser beam, providing tangible evidence of the technology's effectiveness. This marks the first experimental demonstration of lightning guided by lasers in a real-world setting.
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(Photo : GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)
A photograph shows lightning discharges from a thundercloud over trees in Montlouis-sur-Loire, Central France, on May 22, 2022. - Meteo France has placed 21 departments on orange alert for storms due to the heavy temperatures observed since a few days.
Interesting Findings
Throughout the study, the tower was hit at least 15 times, four of which occurred while the laser system was in operation. The researchers investigated the strikes using both radio antennae flanking the mountain, which traced the lightning's route, and high-speed cameras.
Key findings of the study include the ability of laser-induced filaments to guide lightning discharges over distances of up to 50 meters. Interferometric measurements further confirmed the guiding of lightning by laser filaments, indicating a significant advancement in lightning protection technology.
While further research is needed to fully understand the potential of laser-based lightning protection systems, the study offers promising prospects for mitigating the damage and casualties caused by lightning strikes.
The implications of this breakthrough extend beyond traditional lightning protection methods, opening up new possibilities for atmospheric applications and enhancing safety for critical infrastructure worldwide.
According to Science, the team behind the breakthrough has explored developing a device to shield Ariane rockets on the launch pad at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.
In 2023, we reported that Dr. Aurélien Houard, a physicist at the École Polytechnique, and his colleagues at ENSTA Paris revealed that lasers can act as virtual lightning rods, modifying the path of lightning bolts in an experiment also done on Switzerland's Säntis Mountain.
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