Model experiments of laser-triggered lightning

Experiments to guide electric discharges with a chain of apparently discrete air breakdown plasmas (plasma channel) produced by a laser are reported. The electric discharge was guided up to 2 m with a high-power CO/sub 2/ laser focused by a 10 m focal length mirror. Voltage was applied at selected delay times tau following laser radiation. The relationships between 50% flashover voltage of a gap filled with laser-produced plasmas and delay times, and between guided length and the peak of the applied voltage, were obtained experimentally. The effects of the polarity of the applied voltage and the position of the plasma channel on flashover voltage are described. The development of the guided discharge is discussed.>