May be I miss something, but that idea of ionising air above lightning rod to create conductive channel for lightning is already used for a long time. Directed source of ionising radiation at the top of the rod is not something new. Thorium or americium f.e.
Lasers (especially cheap nitrogen/air UV) could do that too, but you need a lot of power.
Theoretically you could power nitrogen laser with thunderstorm potential difference to create a conducting channel for free, but it will be tricky to make that thing reliable and stable.
Do you know that nitrogen UV laser is a simpliest laser possible? Just two parallel metal blades under high voltage and here we go. It could have been discovered in 18 century, when people began to actively play with electricity. Ben Franklin could invent it, f..e.
May be I miss something, but that idea of ionising air above lightning rod to create conductive channel for lightning is already used for a long time. Directed source of ionising radiation at the top of the rod is not something new. Thorium or americium f.e.
Lasers (especially cheap nitrogen/air UV) could do that too, but you need a lot of power.
Theoretically you could power nitrogen laser with thunderstorm potential difference to create a conducting channel for free, but it will be tricky to make that thing reliable and stable.
Do you know that nitrogen UV laser is a simpliest laser possible? Just two parallel metal blades under high voltage and here we go. It could have been discovered in 18 century, when people began to actively play with electricity. Ben Franklin could invent it, f..e.
fun read for DIY-ers: http://technology.niagarac.on.ca/people/mcsele/lasers/LasersN2.htm
And so, if you see a glowing red dot on your ass, expect either a lightning strike or an annoying rectal puncture followed by a pig swarm.