The idea is to help industry, government and other agencies save money from damages caused by lightning. They said that computer networks, and the companies dependent on them, are usually the first ones to be affected by lightning strikes. Diel says they can save money by using this laser as a means of lightning protection. Schwarz said that the project can help protect Space Shuttle launches and other space missions. Diels said the experiments have been successful in the laboratory and has applied for funds to conduct the experiments in the field.
Lightning is created by discharging high voltage electrodes which simulate cloud and ground.
Lasers are zapped through the electrodes creating a conductive path which the lightning can follow. Instead of the lightning striking in a zigzag motion, the lightning strikes alongside the laser beam path, hitting the ground at a defined spot. This is a pretty exciting project, Schwarz said. It is an extremely powerful experiment, adding that 200,000 volts of electricity are zapped over a distance of 30-40 centimeters. Schwarz said the alternative to lasers is to use rockets with wire to guide lightning, but the problem with that is that the rocket has to come down.