Back to Search Start Over

Laser-induced water condensation in air

Authors :
Rohwetter P
Kasparian J
Stelmaszczyk K
Hao ZQ
Henin S
Lascoux N
Nakaema WM
Petit Y
Queisser M
Salame R
Salmon E
Woste L
Wolf JP
Source :
NATURE PHOTONICS
Publication Year :
2010

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.

Details

Volume :
4
Issue :
7
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
NATURE PHOTONICS
Accession number :
edsair.snsf.p3.pubs..abd4d16c3cc1617eb6c599252d35894f