Abstract

Recent theoretical analysis^1,2,3 show that a continuous ionized path of several tens of meters is sufficient to initiate a lightning discharge at 1/5 or less of the natural lightning threshold. We present a method to use femtosecond ultra-violet (UV) pulses to create a moderate (>10¹¹/cm³) electron density in a narrow vertical column of air. The essence of this method is that the motion of the charges in the "external" electric field results in a field enhancement at the "tip" of the cylinder of charges which initiates lightning discharges.

© 1995 IEEE