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PHYSICS OF OUR DAYS

The mechanism of lightning attraction and the problem of lightning initiation by lasers

E. M. Bazelyan^a, Y. P. Raizer<sup>b

a</sup> Open Joint-Stock Company "Krzhizhanovsky Power Engineering institute"
^b Institite for Problems in Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: Physical processes determining the ability of lightning to change its trajectory by choosing high constructions to strike are discussed. The leader mechanism of lightning propagation is explained. The criterion for a viable ascending (upward) leader to originate from a construction is established. The mechanism of the weak long-distance interaction between the ascending counter leader originating from a grounded construction and the descending (downward) leader from a cloud is analyzed. Current problems concerning lightning protection and lightning triggering by a laser spark are discussed, the latter being of special interest owing to a recent successful experiment along this line.

PACS: 52.80.-s, 52.80.Mg, 51.50.+v, 52.90.+z

Received: March 23, 2000

DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0170.200007d.0753

 English version: Physics–Uspekhi, 2000, 43:7, 701–716

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