Laser that can make it rain: Radical system to start storms and create lightning on command unveiled

Researchers have developed a new technique to cause rain and lighting by firing a laser at clouds, the Daily Mail reported.

The technique uses a “double laser” to stimulate particles within a cloud.

The technique could one day be used to create rainstorms and even lighting on command, the researchers hope.

The researchers at the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics & Photonics and the University of Arizona developed a new technique to aim a high-energy laser beam into clouds to make it rain or trigger lightning.

They found the key was to surround the beam with a second beam to act as an energy reservoir, sustaining the central beam to greater distances than previously possible.

The secondary “dress” beam refuels and helps prevent the dissipation of the high-intensity primary beam, which on its own would break down quickly.

A report on the project, “Externally refueled optical filaments,” was recently published in Nature Photonics.

Water condensation and lightning activity in clouds are linked to large amounts of static charged particles.

Stimulating those particles with the right kind of laser holds the key to possibly one day summoning a shower when and where it is needed.

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