Laser-guided lightning using kHz filamentation at 1030 nm

Controlling lightning is a long-time dream of mankind. Along with the rapid evolution of laser technologies, the idea to develop lightning protection based on filamentation of high-power ultrashort-pulse lasers emerged in the 1990s [1]. The goal of the Laser Lightning Rod (LLR) project that started in 2017 was to investigate a new type of lightning protection based on the use of upward lightning discharges initiated through a high-repetition-rate terawatt laser [2]. To that end, a high-power laser was developed by Trumpf scientific with pulse energy in the Joule-range, 1 ps pulse duration, and a repetition rate of 1 kHz [3]. This CPA laser system is based on Yb-YAG thin-disk technology allowing amplification at very high average power at a wavelength of 1030 nm.