1. Laser-induced water condensation in air
- Author
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Rohwetter P, Kasparian J, Stelmaszczyk K, Hao ZQ, Henin S, Lascoux N, Nakaema WM, Petit Y, Queisser M, Salame R, Salmon E, Woste L, and Wolf JP
- Abstract
Triggering rain on demand is an old dream of mankind with a huge potential socio economical benefit. To date efforts have mainly focused on cloud seeding using silver salt particles. We demonstrate that self guided ionized filaments generated by ultrashort laser pulses are also able to induce water cloud condensation in the free sub saturated atmosphere. Potential contributing mechanisms include photo oxidative chemistry and electrostatic effects. As well as revealing the potential for influencing or triggering water precipitation laser induced water condensation provides a new tool for the remote sensing of nucleation processes in clouds.
- Published
- 2010