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Optica Publishing Group
  • Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics
  • OSA Technical Digest (Optica Publishing Group, 1995),
  • paper CWE1

2-kJ CO2 pulse laser for laser-triggered lightning

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Abstract

Many short-circuit faults on power-transmission lines in Japan are caused by lightning on the Sea of Japan in winter. There are many nuclear power stations on which large cities depend for a large part of their electricity. Lightning faults can paralyze the power transmission lines and these cities. The idea of laser-triggered lightning as an active remedy for this problem was first proposed by Ball in the 1970’s.1 Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a laser-triggered lightning system consisting of a CO2 laser, focus optics, and a lightning tower to protect power transmissions lines.2 Laser light produced by a CO2 laser is focused on the top of the lightning tower. Focusing optics consist of a Cassegrain-type-focusing telescope. Focused laser light produces plasmas, whose cores are aerosols or air molecules. When a winter thunderstorm occurs, the enhanced electric field at the top of the lightning tower reaches a maximum of about 1000 kV/m. Under this condition, a leader initiating from the top of the tower propagates through the plasma channels with the help of the electric field.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

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