Laser-assisted guiding of electric discharges around objects

Clerici, M. et al. (2015) Laser-assisted guiding of electric discharges around objects. Science Advances, 1(5), e1400111. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1400111) (PMID:26601188) (PMCID:PMC4640611)

Abstract

Electric breakdown in air occurs for electric fields exceeding 34 kV/cm and results in a large current surge that propagates along unpredictable trajectories. Guiding such currents across specific paths in a controllable manner could allow protection against lightning strikes and high-voltage capacitor discharges. Such capabilities can be used for delivering charge to specific targets, for electronic jamming, or for applications associated with electric welding and machining. We show that judiciously shaped laser radiation can be effectively used to manipulate the discharge along a complex path and to produce electric discharges that unfold along a predefined trajectory. Remarkably, such laser-induced arcing can even circumvent an object that completely occludes the line of sight.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Clerici, Professor Matteo and Faccio, Professor Daniele
• Authors: Clerici, M., Hu, Y., Lassonde, P., Milian, C., Couairon, A., Christodoulides, D.N., Chen, Z., Razzari, L., Vidal, F., Legare, F., Faccio, D., and Morandotti, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Science Advances
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 2375-2548
• ISSN (Online): 2375-2548
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Science Advances 1(5):e1400111
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License