Scientists develop laser system as lightning rod

Scientists have developed a way to make a laser system act as a lightning rod. The system works with laser beams that travel through the air. The lightning follows the path of the lasers, because it is the path of least resistance.

The concept was conceived and designed by scientists from universities in Arizona and Florida, ExtremeTech reports. For lasers to act as lightning rods, at least two are needed: the first is used to shoot a beam of light into the air, while a second is needed to amplify the beam as it ‘extinguishes’.

Normally, lightning takes the path of least resistance, something that conventional metal lightning conductors are based on: they catch lightning, for example on top of a tall building, and direct the current to the ground. The scientists believe that the laser system can create a path of least resistance that completely bypasses the building. When a laser beam travels through the air, the air becomes ionized, which in turn causes the lightning to choose the ionized path, as it conducts better than “regular” air.

For the time being, the laser system cannot be used in practice. This requires a very strong beam that can maintain its focus over very long distances. It is unclear when the scientists think lasers could be used in practice as lightning rods.

a: a single laser beam. b: a laser beam which is amplified by a second laser beam.