Lasers in Eng., Vol. 17, pp.

311328 Reprints available directly from the publisher Photocopying permitted by license only

c 2007 Old City Publishing, Inc. Published by license under the OCP Science imprint, a member of the Old City Publishing Group

Energy Analysis of Solar vs Laser Lightning

N. K HAN , Z. S ALEEM , A. WAHID AND N. A BAS
Department of Electrical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology H-8/1, Johr Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan

Ultrashort pulsed lasers and triggered lightning are very often considered potential future energy sources for electricity generation. This work is focussed on the energy engineering behind this most fascinating dilemma. The available ultrashort pulsed lasers are reviewed and the prospects of Attosecond to zeptosecond pulse generation barriers are discussed to investigate the potential solutions. Natural and rocket or laser triggered lightning are reviewed regarding pulse durations, inter-pulse periods, frequency of occurrence and number of pulses per ash in the light of available data. Laser pulses and lightning ashes of energy are evaluated critically in the more familiar kWh units and the prospects of causing very high power or energy pulsed events in highly repetitive (continuous) manner is analysed to develop sustainable ultimate energy sources. An attempt was made also to demonstrate that the available natural solar energy on one half of Earths surface is several billions times more than the present human survival needs. The possibilities of ultrashort pulsed lasers to record live movies of Attosecond to Zeptosecond short lived events and trigger Exa to Zettawatt threshold chemical, natural nuclear or articial processes are discussed.
Keywords: Ultrashort pulsed laser, Lightning, Articial lightning, Femto-chemistry.

1 INTRODUCTION Available lasers can produce ultrashort pulses of the order of a few femto-seconds. The pulse duration can be shortened further using pulse compression techniques [1]. As the pulse duration decreases its pulsed peak power increases. The energy content can be amplied using the standard chirped pulse amplication techniques [2]. It is just possible to
Corresponding

author: E-mail: nasrullahk@yahoo.com

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produce a few joules femtosecond laser pulses using the available technology. Successful operation has been demonstrated for attosecond lasers [3] and the theoretical basis for zepto and yoctosecond lasers has been reported by Kozlowska and Kozlowski [4]. It is expected to generate zeptosecond laser pulses routinely by 2012 and down to a few yoctosecond laser pulses by 2017. It might take even longer to generate the subyocto-second laser pulses due to material limitations. CW lasers can be produced from X-rays to FIR range, but Q-Switched (ns) or mode-locked (ps) lasers only from UV to FIR. However, passively mode-locked (fs) lasers may fall within the UUV and UV range. Harmonic mode-locking and SC lasers (fs to as) may fall in spectral range of UUV to X-rays. Light modulated lasers (as to zs) may fall in the range of (X-rays). Nuclear pumped lasers (zs to ys) may fall in the spectral range of X-rays to G-rays. The pulse shortening history, from the invention of the laser in 1960 up to 2017 is shown in Figure 1 [5]. Beyond Planks time limit (1043 ) with which many do not agree [6], we redene the concept of a Bangosecond1 (1045 ) [7] laser pulse, capable of transforming matter into energy. It may fall somewhere beyond G-rays. The theoretical considerations, in the light of intensive research, may result in the current hypothetical views at least to have produced subzepto-second laser pulses at the end of the next decade, 2017. Femto-second pulses can now be produced routinely, but it is another problem to measure accurately the true pulse duration. There are no photo-detectors or electronics fast enough to measure directly events on the Attosecond timescale. The fastest available electronic devices have a time resolution of about few hundreds of fs which cannot measure pulses shorter than 1fs [89]. One must use the Attosecond pulse to measure itself, using SPIDER [10], FROG [11] and THz Streak Camera [12]. Measurement techniques need to be developed further to measure natural suyocto-second events such as the mean lifetime of the top quark reported to be 0.4 yoctoseconds [13]. In reality, time, space, and energy all become intertwined at too short time intervals (Around Planks time) over too short distances (1035 to 1045 ), for which the energy becomes very large and matter-energy transformation might take place. According to Zewail [14] there are many natural movements, which take place in an extremely short duration i.e. a light sensitive pigment in the eye (retina) undergoes a chemical reaction in about 200 femto-seconds and double benzene rings in stilbene are bound by covalent bonds, which break in 300 femto-seconds on zapping with laser light. Similarly, the NaI bond breaks in about 8 femto-seconds. In order to see molecular motion at speeds of 1000
1 Term Bangosecond is used due to lack of any prex for 1045 second pulse in SI units. Word Bangosecond is consistent with big bang theory. Proposed unit for above pulse in SI system of units may be rimtosecond. Authors are writing an endorsement, with real examples, for need of prexes for 1099 to 10+99 quantities of space, time, energy and matter.

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FIGURE 1 Maximum intensity history of ultrashort pulse lasers (Redrawn to update [5]).

m/s (3600 km/hr) at a resolution of 0.1A, one needs femto-second pulses i.e. ( t)= S/c=0.1 1010 /100 = 1014 . Any object moving at 1000 km/s can be imaged at a 0.1Aresolution using Attosecond pulses only. Pulses of the order of 250 Attoseconds have been created and used to study the motion of electrons around the nucleus of a Neon atom. Further scientic research is required to develophighlyrepetitiveultrashortpulsedlasers.Electro-absorption(EA)gated CW and gain switched distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes can produce the desired repetition rate of pulses 1520ps, which can be reduced further to the femto-second range after chirp compensation and adiabatic compression techniques. Simple mode-locking can generate a xed repetition rate, fs to 10ps transform limited pulses. Harmonic mode-locked EDF and SC lasers can produce a tuneable repetition rate ps to fs transform limited pulses from UUV to FIR. Available low energy repetitively pulsed lasers are shown in Table 1. Q switched solid state lasers typically operate from below 1 Hz to about 100 kHz. Mode-locked solid state lasers emit with pulse repetition rates between 50 MHz and a few GHz, but in extreme cases it is possible to reach 10 GHz. Gain switched lasers can provide repetition rates from

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K HAN et al. TABLE 1 Available repetition rates of pulsed lasers [After Ref.9} Modulator Q. Switching Gain Switching Modelocking H Modelocking Pulse duration Nanoseconds Picosecond Femtoseconds Attoseconds BW MHz GHz THz PHz Pulse Rep Rate 1Hz to several KHz 1Hz to several MHz 10 MHz to 100 GHz 10 GHz to 100 THz

below 1 Hz to many MHz. Attosecond pulse trains can be generated with repetition rates of several hundreds of MHz. Pulse shortening limiting factors may include gain narrowing, group velocity dispersion and etalon effects. Collision pulse mode-locking, double saturable absorber and Kerr lensing may produce direct femto-second pulses. In order to obtain a high repetition frequency, it is better to have a short cavity length. According to Wada [15] a passive short cavity has led to high repetition rates (480 GHz) 2ps pulses lasers. The spread of frequencies is inversely related to the temporal length of the pulse as illustrated in Figure 2. For example, a visible pulse, which is approximately ve femto-seconds long requires a range of optical frequencies of the order of 200 1012 Hz or alternatively a small rainbow of light spanning from 500nm to 750nm. Multiple passive grating Bragg bre lasers or dynamic grating multi-wavelength dye lasers or higher order harmonic generation are suitable options to produce the shortest possible pulses [7]. Similarly, well known optical parametric oscillators or implied super-continuum (SC) lasers have a wide spectral range and therefore they can produce subfemto-second pulses [16]. Multiple harmonic generation [17] with a mode-locking technique

FIGURE 2 Irradiance and spectrum of CW, long and ultrashort pulse lasers.

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can produce even shorter pulses. The above two methods increase a good chance of direct Attosecond laser pulses [1819]. 1.1 Solar Vs Pulsed Laser Power Calculations The power density (watts/cm2 ) of a normal 257.0mJ, 1.0 fs laser pulse may be approximated by (P= E/ t). The laser pulse power is relatively low in the unfocussed mode but extremely high in the focussed mode. The power density of an unfocussed laser may be 3 1012 watts/cm2 or 3 1016 watts/m2 and that of the focussed laser of order of 3 1021 watts/m2 . The peak pulse powers of ys, as and fs lasers with 43J energy may be approximated by: 1ys, 43J peak pulse power 1as, 43J peak pulse power 1fs, 43J peak pulse power E/ t = 43/1 1024 = 4.3 1025 Watts E/ t = 43/1 1018 = 4.3 1019 Watts E/ t = 43/11015 = 4.3 1016 Watts

If every human (out of 6.6 billions population) uses 1kW of power daily then the average power used by 6.6 billions people on the Earths surface is 1kW 6.6 109 = 66 1011 watts. This implies the total consumption of 6.6 billions people is about (0.66 1013 /43 1015 = 0.15 102 ) i.e. 0.1% of a 1fs laser power. The sun shines on the Earths surface @1.3 103 W/cm2 = 1.3 107 W/m2 Earth radius is 6.4 106 m Earths surface area 4r2 = 4(6.4 106 )2 = 5 1014 m2 Half of Earths surface area 2.5 1014 m2 = 2.5 1018 cm2 Total sun power on half earth 1.3 107 2.5 1018 = 4.3 1025 Watts This means the total sun power delivered to half of the earth surface at an instant is just equal to the peak power of 1.0ys laser pulse. The kWh energy generated by a high repetition rate quasi-cw laser with a pulse energy of 43J and pulse duration of 1ys or 1fs in 12 Hrs (12 60 60 = 43200 s) may be estimated by For as lasers: 4.3 1025 43200 = 5.15 1023 kWh For fs lasers: 4.3 1016 43200 = 5.15 1014 kWh If we assume a pulse train of zero inter-pulse duration as shown in Figure 3, then the kWh energy of the pulsed laser would be half of the upper values. This may be illustrated for Gaussian pulses using the equal area criterion by superposition of normal and inverted pulses. Practically, it is not possible to produce pulse trains without any inter-pulse period of 2nL/C. Theoretically, it may be as short as the pulse duration itself or somewhat longer. Solar energy received by Earth in 12 Hrs = 4.3 1025 12 = 5.16 1023 kWh. 6.6 billion People use energy @1kWh/person/12Hrs = 12 1 kWh 6.5 109 = 79.2 109 kWh.

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FIGURE 3 Superimposed laser(s) pulses may act as CW laser source.

This means the sun delivers 6.5 1012 times more energy everyday than all living species can use. This is an enormous amount of energy, which we must nd the wisdom of how to use it for our specic energy requirements. The sun energy is much more than enough for our needs. Technically there is not any impending energy crisis in near future. 2 LIGHTNING AND ENERGY PROSPECTS Lightning is a form of visible electric discharge (arc) between the rain clouds or clouds to Earth. How rain clouds become charged up to 10 kV/cm is not fully understood, but most rain clouds are negatively charged at the base and positively charged at the top. The negatively charged leaders, called stepped leader, zip downward in about 100 segments of 50m long jumps at a speed of about 10km/s bridging the clouds to earth. It may take 100s of ms to approach the ground but subsequent dart strokes are 10 times faster than the stepped leader. This initial phase involves a relatively small current (100s of A) and an invisible leader. When the stepped leader is quite close to the ground, a few positive streamers arise from grounded objects to the approaching leaders. The stepped leader and the positive streamers meet in the air to cause a short circuit, a return strike, with a

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FIGURE 4 A lightning ash consisting of four strikes lasting 567ms [Based on Ref.20].

much higher current (10s of kA) follows. A lightning ash may consist of a single or multiple strikes separated by 2060ms or on average 30ms time intervals. Subsequent return strikes are initiated by the dart leaders, akin to the stepped leader as shown in Figure 4 [20]. The long duration (500ms) single strike (10100A) lightning ash may be more dangerous for utility TSS or MOV devices. With regard to test electrical power equipment against a lightning threat IEC 616431 uses 10/350s, VDE 0160 uses 100/1300 s, IEEE C62.41.1 uses 10/1000 s test waveforms and recently IEEE Std C62.41.2-2002 uses 100kHz Ring Wave and the 1.2/50 s-8/20 voltage current combination waves. The specic energy parameter (W/R) may be calculated using I2 dt [20]. Lightning phenomena occur under such diverse natural weather conditions it is hard to predict the times involved in 1 to 40 (Average 56) lightning ashes occurring in 12 s. Every return strike occurring after 15ms needs a fresh start leader. However, the channel looses its ionization in about 100ms. Most of the 80% multiple strike events follow the same channel or location but some subsequent strikes may be separated by 0.24.5 miles. Figure 4 is based on Umans explanation [20] for three strikes of lightning. It is usually applied to the most negative lightning ashes but does not t to some of the negative and all positive lightning ashes. The main strike travels at a speed of 2 4.9 107 m/s within a few tens of s but the peak current decays over several tens of s. Before 1994 the inter-strike time

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K HAN et al. TABLE 2 Typical CG lightning ash parameters [1-88] Names Parameters Step-length Steps interval Velocity Charge Voltage Velocity Charge Velocity di/dt t peak t halfpeak Peak current Charge Channel length Channel dia No. of strokes Stroke interval Flash duration Charge Magnetic eld Temperature K Temperature C Temperature F Length Electron () Super-cooling Negative Positive Negative Positive (rare) Can measure Occurrence Visible Sound Heat Radio waves Average Possible Based on Uman measurements 50 m 3-200 m 50 s 30-125s 150km/s 100-2600 km/s 5 C 3-20 C 1 106 V 1 106 -1 108 V 2000km/s 1000-21,000km/s 1 C 0.2-6 C 80,000km/s 20 160 106 m/s <1- >80 106 kA/s 106 kA/s 2 s < 1 30 s 40 s 10-250 s -10-20kA -110kA 2.5 C 0.2-20 C 5km 2-14km 2 cm Size of thumb 3-4 1-40 40 ms 3-100 ms 0.2 s 0.01 - 2 s 25 C 3-90 C 1000 G 900-1100 G 30,000K 24,000-40,000K 10,000 C 8,000-16,000 C 18,000 F 15,000-60,000 F 5km ............. .......... ............. -10-20 C Negative C -120kA -20-120kA +300kA +30 - +300kA 1 105 1 108 5 108 3 1011 1 107 1 1013 6 km 1.2-12.5miles away 2 km 0-4.5 miles around 2 1-3 35 10-50 35 10-50 28 10-50 Typical Based on others 60-80 m 50-60 s 0.1C 10 C 1 108 -1 109 V 0.9-1c 2-3 C Decays in 100ms 300x106 kA/s(+ve) 1.82.5 s 30s -200kA 300 C (+ve) 1500-7000 feet 0.1 m 5-6 1-500 ms 1 500 ms 300 C (+ve) Hotter than sun 20,000 C 50,000 F 6 miles 1023 -1024 e/m2 10kV/cm 138 250 kWh 84000 kWh 100W bulb/0.25Yr 100Wbulb/100Yrs 3-4 miles 500 m Based on data http://FusEdWeb. llnl.gov/CPEP/

Stepped leader Dart leader

Return stroke

Lightning ash

Channel

Graupel Lightning Types Lightning Energy Lightning effects Total Energy dissipated 100kJ/m

was thought to be 315 ms but recently it was measured to be <1ms [21]. Lightning parameters for engineering calculations are shown in Table 2. The typical lightning impedance is around 1000 and the peak power about 1000 GW. The number of strokes per ash may vary from 1 to 15 but the average may vary from 46. The overall ash duration may vary from 5001000ms but there is more chance of 23 to 31ms. Out of 900 ashes about 780 ashes had an overall duration of 50ms and 725 ashes had and average duration of 40ms. The mean rise time of a strike may vary from 8 to 9s [22]. Large lightning pulses have total pulse duration of about 56s and fwhm of 26. According available data the number of pulses in rst 5ms, 20ms, 80ms and total ash duration are 4,

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6, 8 and 9 respectively [2326]. Umans group developed lightning gas dynamics, EM, distributed circuits and engineering models to calculate electric and magnetic elds of lightning and associated currents [2728]. Saba and Ballarotti [29] have recently reported lightning parameters using high speed video observations. The lightning parameters may be measured using Rogowski coils and shunt resistance techniques [30]. The average thunder storm (cumulonimbus at an elevation of 610 miles) moves at speed of 25 mph. There are more than three million lightning ashes worldwide per day, or about 40 ashes per second. Normally it can be seen as a single lightning bolt but it also occurs in the form of a ball, ribbon, sheet, or string of beads. Lightning not only occurs on earth but also on other planets such as Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. The basic studies on lightning parameters were conducted sometime ago by Kitagawa, Berge, Loaeb and Ogawa etc in 1960 to 1999 [3033]. Weidman [34] improved further lightning parametric studies and also started time resolved and spectral analysis of the lightning spectrum in the range of 8501400nm. Orvile [3536] also started daytime lightning photography and reported a slight current variation with the altitude of the clouds. A typical lightning bolt may transfer 1020 electrons in a few s causing a peak current of about 1000 kA. Most lightning current measurements range from 5 to 20 kA but some, more than 200 kA have been reported. The total earth charge around 106 C and the potential between earth and the electro-sphere is 300-500 kV. A continuous current of 1pA/m2 ows from a 50km height (E=100V/m) to the Earth uniformly. Lightning recharges the earth by transferring electrons. The lightning energy is produced by solar energy. According to Rakov and Uman [37], usually the lightning current ceases within 1ms for a given strike, but sometimes there is a continuing current of the order of 100 A following one or more of the strikes [38]. The temperature of lightning may be in range of 10,000 C. A moderate thunderstorm may generate several hundred megawatts of electrical power [39]. According to the Discovery Channel Report one lightning strike has enough energy to light 150 106 light bulbs [40]. Much information is available, such as, polarisation, electrostatic induction, supercooling, cosmic rays and yet the lightning phenomenon needs to be debated [41]. According to Rakov [42] each cloud-to-ground lightning ash involves energy of the order of 1.3 109 J (=360 kWh) but it is impractical to utilize it. It would operate ve 100 W light bulbs continuously for one month (5 100W 3600s 24 30 = 1.3 109 J), probably comparable to the monthly energy consumption of an average household. One would need to attract 12 ashes to an energy storage facility in order to operate these ve light bulbs for one year. Due to less chance of lightning striking the same location, the number of lightning capturing towers needed to operate only ve 100 watts bulbs in areas of moderate lightning activity would be 48 to 72. Thus the main problems with using lightning energy

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includes the power associated with a lightning ash is very high and that it is released in pulses of short duration (10-100s). The integral of high power over a short period of time is moderate. The capturing of lightning strikes requires the use of a large number of tall towers, which is rather impractical. However, the lightning energy of one average ash may be equivalent to an amount of energy released in the burning of 20 to 30 kg of oil. The measured value of energy per unit resistance for negative lightning of 105 108 A2 s and an assumed range of effective resistance at the strike point of 10 to 100 , we estimate the range of lightning energy at the lightning point to be from 106 to 107 J, which is only 102 -103 of the total energy involved in lightning. If we can somehow download safely the whole energy then it might be of the order of some 109 to 1010 J. 3 ROCKET AND LASER GUIDED LIGHTNING Rocket triggered lightning discharge studies were originally initiated by the Franklin Kite experiments in 1876 [43]. Newman et al [44] in 1967 used wired rockets to cause articial lightning for characterization of this marvellous natural phenomenon. Later many experiments were conducted in various parts of world including France [45], Japan [46], USA [4747] and China [49] to further explore lightning in different perspectives. Initial phase of triggered lightning studies was summed up by Depasse [50] by reviewing statistics on the reported data in 1994. Rakov et al [51] explained the lightning parameters measured through long triggered lightning experiments at ICLRT at Camp Blanding at Florida. However, the real credit of the pioneering work on rocket triggered lightning for its characteristic studies may be attributed to Uman and Rakov Group (University of Florida) [5158]. They also reported the observation of ground level Gamma and X-rays during their rocket triggered lightning experiments [5253]. They gave a true picture of lightning phenomena with their own rocket triggered lightning research compared to other parallel researchers elsewhere from 1995 to 2005 [5455]. A complete picture of the Rakov and Uman Group is available online [56]. At present, Uman and Rakov are working on initial processes leading to a natural rocket triggered or laser guided lightning [57]. Recently, Uman has focussed on the calculation of input energy in rocket triggered lightning [58]. Rocket triggered lightning (w.e.f 1967) research was also pursued in parallel (w.e.f 1971) using laser guided lightning techniques by other research workers. According to Kozima [59] the objective of laser guided lightning in the USA was to avoid lightning hazards to the space shuttle, missile launch and air trafc control and those of the Japanese was to protect the grid system and energy harvesting. The rst successful laser guided lightning experiments were performed by J-C Diels (USA) [60] and

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T. Shindo (Japan) [61] but the rst outdoor successful lightning discharge was demonstrated by Ushida et al [6263]. Although, laser triggered high voltage discharges and laser triggered lightning were investigated by many research workers but the major breakthrough, leading to long term success may be attributed to J-C Diels, J. Schwarz and P. Rambo et al (University of New Mexico) [6472]. Earlier workers used ns FIR lasers but the J-C Diels group for the rst time proposed a combined use of fs UV and IR lasers for laser triggered lightning. He carried out good characteristic studies on the measurement of ionisation cross-sections and the impact of oxygen in air at atmospheric pressures. He analysed conditions leading to a discharge over tens of metres using UV (248nm) laser pulses. The European Teramobile Project LASIM directed by Kasparian and headed by W ste, Wolf, Mysyrowicz and Sauerbrey with extensive research by o Rodriguez and Ackermann {(Freie Universit t Berlin (Germany), Universit a e de Gen` ve, Groupe de Physique Appliqu e (France), Universit Claude e e e Bernard Lyon (Switzerland), ENSTA - Ecole Polytechnique (France) and Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany)}[7377] have contributed primarily to supercontinuum generation, lamentation and laser triggered high voltage discharge research. Without doubt several other research workers across the world, for example, Comtois, La Fontaine, Tzortzakis, Akozbek, Kosma, Yu and S. Skupin et al [7886] have been contributing continuously to date towards laser guided lightning studies. Long ago, Koopman and Wilkerson in 1971 [87] started experimental research by directing long electrical spark discharges in air by concentrated CO2 laser pulses (35ns,50-100GW/cm2) from a 350kV positively charged electrode for distances up to 28cm. The average electric eld required to obtain a discharge between electrodes was reduced from 7.3 to 5.5kV/cm. The Japanese have been trying a long time to harness natural lightning energy to protect the high voltage transmission system and in addition to produce renewable energy sources. Shindo and Aihara [61] have produced some 2m electric discharges in air using a CO2 laser under laboratory conditions. Uchida et al (Osaka University: Japan) [6263] succeeded for the rst time in 1999 in attaining a laser triggered lightning strike, enabling lightning to discharge harmlessly to ground with several millions volts at 35 kA current. They used two CO2 lasers of 20 GW power, 1kJ energy at 50ns pulses. The rst beam is focussed in a line onto a dielectric target at the top of the tower and a second beam was focussed to a two metre long line above the target to guide the stepped leader out of the corona region of the clouds. They also focussed a glass laser with 600 J energy and a 50ns pulse onto the target. The fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser with 100mJ/pulse at repetition rate of 70Hz was also aimed well above the target to provide a soft plasma channel between the target (tower top) and the clouds. According to J-C Diels [66] the use of fs UV lasers is preferred

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since it has the same capability as a 20GW power at reduced energy levels compared to hundreds of joules of a CO2 laser. Rocket triggered (not laser) lightning experiments have been conducted in the USA since 1940 [88]. 3.1 Laser Guided Lightning Energy Analysis A single natural lightning pulse of 1.5 GV potential, 1000A current and 50s duration can produce energy of (V I t = 1.5 109 1000 50 106 /3600) 21 kWh. Consider a typical lightning phenomenon (clouds to ground) Pulse duration = 10s Lightning voltage = 1800 MV Lightning current = 1500 A Charge rate = 10 C Lightning energy (per 10s) = V I t = 1.8 109 1.5 103 10 106 = 27 106 J No of 10s intervals in 24 Hr = 24 60 60 106 /10 = 8.64 109 intervals of 10s Assuming that two high repetition rate (=CW) lasers articially trigger lightning phenomena in every 10s interval in a well synchronized manner, then the total energy received is 27 106 8.64 109 = 233 1015 J. At a conversion rate of 1 kW.h = 3.6 106 J the above lightning energy in kWh is = 233 1015 /3.6 106 = 65 109 kWh. The actual energy requirement for a population of 6.6 billions, @1kWh per person, is 79.2 109 kWh. An example of a four stroke real lightning ash is shown in Figure 5. The typical lightning power ( E/ t = 27 106 /10 106 ) is of the order of 2.7 1012 W. Assuming two high repetition rate (=CW) lasers, the power received in 8.64 109 intervals each of 10s duration is about 2.3 1022 Watts. Energy obtained from clouds in 24 Hrs is Lightning energy in 24 Hrs = 2.3 1022 24 3600 = 1.987 1027 J

FIGURE 5 Time sequence example of a real lightning.

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Lightning energy in 24 Hrs (@1 kWh = 3.6 106 J) = 1.987 1027 J/3.6 10 = 5.51 1020 kWh According to the lightning energy calculation by the Phillips Laboratory [59] any single average lightning ash may produce 30 to 3000 kWh of energy. If the process could be repeated at a high repetition rate (24 60 60/200s = 432 106 ) then the total energy received and stored in 24 Hrs could be as high as low as 30 432 106 = 13 109 to as high as 3000 432 106 = 1300 109 kWh. This difference may be attributed to use of peak and measured rms values in above calculations and natural charge relaxation time constant in space. On average one lightning phenomenon consists of two to eight pulses and therefore 432 106 intervals were used instead of 8.64 109 intervals in the laser triggered single 10s pulse calculations. At the rate of air breakdown voltage of approximately 15kV/mm it takes 15 109 Volts potential difference to cause lightning between 1km height cloud and the earth as assumed in the above calculations. More precise calculations may be able to bridge the difference between the above two calculations.
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4 CONCLUSIONS A laser triggered lightning discharge is not an economic method to protect assets or capture energy distributed in the clouds. However, the laser guided lightning discharge method, if successful, is more economic and naturally renewable plus sustainable renewable energy source as the atmospheric electricity is empowered by the sun. Regarding the nal success of laser guided lightning, the researchers need to focus on ultrafast high energy, highly repetitive, tuneable duration and tuneable wavelength pulsed lasers. Supercontinuum, multiple harmonic generation, multiple pulse pumped lasers are the probable way out to generate an extremely short pulse laser. The peak power of ultrashort pulses need to be transformed into some chemical or nuclear reaction to use its potential capability to generate the equivalent amount of heat energy or indirectly, electricity for public use. May be, laser ignition comes out to be one of the alternative option to spark ignition of high air/fuel ratios. There seems to be a pot of gold in successful laser guided lightning. It may act as alternative energy source but not like sun in nature as the lightning is also powered by the sun energy. To me it appears as if laser guided lightning is only useful for asset protection not electricity. It is hundreds times more reliable to trust the renewable solar energy than the magic atmospheric electricity but the thundering bolts do not let me defocus from their horrible existence inviting ponder their genesis. Laser triggered lightning is more interesting and challenging venture, nevertheless solar technology is a well developed option.

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Solar energy obtained in 12 Hrs on earth is 236 times more than the laser guided (if possible in future) electricity in 24Hrs. However, due to cloudy weathers all the solar energy can not be collected, therefore, solar and laser guided lightning sources may be considered equivalent to each other. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This analytical study was carried out as a part of a Higher Education Commission (HEC) funded, Minimum Ignition Energy, Research Project in CIIT Johr Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. REFERENCES
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