“Lightning is very unpredictable,” Houard says. Some tests were unlucky and never had a storm come close enough to the laser. However, demonstrating the system in the field has proven more difficult. Laser-based lightning guidance was first proposed in 1974, and several experiments have confirmed the basic concept in a lab setting. Unlike a metal structure, the laser “rod” could be turned on only when the skies are threatening. “The idea of using a laser is to create an extension of a metal rod that could, in theory, be several hundreds of meters or a kilometer high,” Houard says. Building a higher rod would protect a larger area, but this solution is not always practical. But this protection is only afforded to objects within a certain distance of the rod, given roughly by the rod’s height. These tall metal rods are good conductors that provide a path of least resistance from the clouds to the ground. “Currently, the only available protection against lightning is a classical Franklin lightning rod,” says Aurélien Houard, a member of the research team from the École Polytechnique in Paris. The damage caused by lightning-estimated to cause billions of dollars of damage per year in the US-can be reduced by controlling where the electric discharge goes. Such a laser system could one day provide lightning protection to sensitive facilities, such as airports, rocket launchpads, and wind farms. Stationed on a Swiss mountain, researchers have shown that the beam from a high-powered laser provides a preferential path for lightning bolts. A 21st century update on Franklin’s kite is a laser fired up into the atmosphere. When Benjamin Franklin launched his famous kite into a stormy sky in 1752, he provided a preferential path for the charge accumulated in the clouds to reach the ground. To make the laser light visible in the photo, the researchers converted it from infrared to green wavelengths using a frequency-doubling device. Stollberg A laser fired into the sky near a communications tower has been shown to guide lightning strikes. ![]() Length of Electrical Rod: Rods Included: 2 x 9.5" 90' swivel.Comes with two sections of decorative linked stems, plus chain.When you choose a Savoy House lighting fixture, you can be certain you've selected a piece that will withstand the test of time. ![]() Its comfortable elegance means it is a perfect choice for rooms of any decor style. ![]() You can pair Alden with hardware finished in black or mix it with hardware in other finishes. Alden's shade design concentrates light downward, so it is great for directed task lighting. Because this pendant is chain-hung, you can use as much or as little chain as you need to fit your specific hanging height needs, and this pendant can be used on a sloped ceiling. Pendants are extremely versatile and can fit in many different spaces, such as kitchens, family rooms, great rooms, foyers, entryways, offices, bedrooms and bathrooms. The Savoy House Alden 1-light large pendant showcases the beauty of metals with an opaque shade and subtle, smart detailing on the hanging chain, creating an eye-catching visual for your home.
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