"As pointed out in the original article," responded Kasparian, "less than 1 percent of the laser pulses triggered an event. However, the statistical analysis has been conducted according to classical procedures and shows high confidence levels, precisely at the laser beam location." Such a statistical result is considered acceptable in most fields of science, he said, even with few events. Among the other difficulties include the differences in how natural lightning and laser-induced electrical discharges might look to the Langmuir Lab lightning detection system. Messy electrical discharges are usually thrown out when data are analyzed. But Kasparian included them in his statistical analysis because they represent just the kind of signal he expects from multiple discharges along a laser beam. This is sort of a Catch-22 that makes some researchers uncomfortable. About the only thing everyone agrees on is that a lot more work is needed before lasers can begin bringing lightning to the ground. Finally mastering that ability should help in the study of thunderstorms, as well as in developing technology to deliberately bleed off lightning from clouds so that aircraft and sensitive structures are not struck. Right now the only effective method to trigger cloud-to-ground lightning is with tethered rockets. In this method, scientists use rockets connected to the ground by wires. They fire the rockets into clouds and trigger electrical discharges. Related Links: |
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