In a development that sounds straight out of a science fiction film, lasers fired at the sky have demonstrated success at diverting lightning during storms.

International scientists tested the new-age lightning rods on the Säntis Mountain in northeastern Switzerland over 2021.

A team of international researchers tested whether a powerful laser could deter lightning on the Säntis Mountain in northeastern Switzerland. (TRUMPF/Martin Stollberg)

They used a laser the size of a large car that was able to fire up to a thousand pulses per second.

The researchers found that during a six-hour storm the pulsing light diverted four lightning strikes.

One of the lightning strikes was caught on a high-speed camera and the bolt was shown to follow the path of the laser for over 50 metres.

The real-world experiment was a first, and the powerful laser successful diverted four strikes.
The real-world experiment was a first, and the powerful laser successful diverted four strikes. (TRUMPF/Martin Stollberg)

Study author Aurélien Houard told 9news.com.au the findings could help to develop better lightning protection methods for critical infrastructure and could be deployed in Australia.

The laser lightning rod in action.
The laser lightning rod in action. (TRUMPF/Martin Stollberg)

“It’s the first step toward a laser-based lightning protection that could virtually reach a height of hundreds of metres or kilometres with sufficient energy,” he said, explaining lasers generate plasma columns that help to “guide” the bolts.

“Such giant lightning protection would be able to protect very large infrastructures such as airports, launchpads or wind farms.

“In theory this technique could be used anywhere.”

He added that Säntis Mountain made the ideal location for testing as it’s home to a telecommunications tower, which acts as a lightning rod in and of itself.

“About 100 lightning events are recorded every year on the mountain and most of these event start from the tower,” he said.

“At other locations, you would have to wait years to see two lightnings appearing at the same place.”

Researchers corroborated their observations using high-frequency electromagnetic waves generated by the lightning, to locate the strikes.

Increased readings of X-ray bursts also confirmed the successful guiding. 

January 17 - Proserpine, Queensland

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