Laser Triggered Lightning Experiment-Understanding the Mechanism of Laser Induced Discharges-

1992年，我们在实验室用峰值功率和能量分别为1千兆瓦和100焦耳的高功率CO_2脉冲激光器和高压脉冲发生器进行了实验。我们可以实现8.5米的间隙电击穿。人工8.5米的电击穿是世界上最长的电击穿。我们还通过将一束激光分成三部分建立了Z型电击穿，这表明闪电通道可以由激光等离子体控制。在实验室实验取得成功后，我们决定在冬季雷暴发生时进行触发闪电的野外实验。我们选择的野外试验点位于和卡萨区，这里有冬季雷暴活动区之称。本次野外实验的主要目的是研究激光在降水作用下的传输特性，并在50米雷电塔顶附近产生激光等离子体。还研究了50米铁塔对雷电云中电荷形成的电场的影响。我们得出的结论是，这座50米高的铁塔将电场提高了近100倍。向上的领导者不能被启动。

In 1992 we carried out experiments in a laboratory by using a high power CO_2 pulse Laser, of which peak power and energy are respectively one Giga Watts and 100 Joules, and a high voltage impulse generator. We could realize a 8.5 meters gap electric breakdown. The artificial 8.5meters electric breakdown is the longest one in the world. We also established a Z type electric breakdown by splitting a laser beam into three parts, which showed us that the lightning channel could be controlled by laser plasma. Following the success of laboratory experiments, we decided to carry out the field experiment to trigger lightning during the winter thunder storm occurrence. The place which we chose as the field experiment site was situated in the Wakasa district where was well-known as the winter thunder storm active area. The main objectives of this field experiment are studying the propagation features of Laser beam under precipitations and producing Laser plasma near the top of 50 meters lightning tower. We also study the influence of 50 meters tower to the electric fields which is originally formed by the electric charges in the thunder cloud. We concluded that the 50 meters tower enhances the electric fields nearly 100 times. The upward leaders could not be initiated.