Experimental simulation of a laser lightning-protection system on a device with an artificial cloud of charged aqueous aerosol

The possibility of using a long laser spark for protecting objects against lightning is studied. Conditions under which the electric charges from clouds can be guided reproducibly along a long laser spark are found. Experiments reveal that the interaction between the laser spark and the discharge from an electrode rod (lightning rod) leads to a decrease in the lifetime of the streamer corona burst, as well as to an increase in the current of the developing leader and its velocity compared to the case without the laser spark.