Laser lightning rod system
OwnerLeonard M. Ballinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system utilizing ionization produced by beams from laser and laser-like devices to pre-determine the course of stepped leader and lightning channel development, thereby affording protection of life and property. The applications of such a capacity to harmlessly discharge thunderclouds include forest fire prevention, protection of aircraft, protection of missiles and spacecraft (particularly at time of launch), protection of electric power transmission and distribution networks, protection of communication networks, and (to the extent that Vonnegut's electrical theory of tornadoes may be valid) reduction of the destructive force of tornadoes.
Claims9
A method of establishing an ionized conductive path of substantial length through air and thereby predetermining the course of a stepped leader and resultant lightning channel, such method comprising:
- a. mode locking a laser;
- b. determining the probable presence of a stepped leader and activating said mode-locked laser to produce a laser beam composed of clusters of photons before said lightning channel is established;
- c. passing the beam produced from said mode-locked laser through said air and establishing by multi-photon ionization an ionization path of sufficient concentration and length to guide said stepped leader toward a predetermined location;
- and
- d. electrically coupling said ionization path to ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.