Laboratory for Lightning Physics

• For the first time we have found a new type of in-cloud discharges inside an artificial charged aerosol cloud.
• We have demonstrated experimental generation of X-ray radiation from a long spark (laboratory lightning).
• New principles of operative monitoring and forecasting of lightning activity have been developed.
• Our researchers have conducted laboratory modeling of high altitude discharges: sprites and jets.
• We have developed parametrization of ionospheric potential for quantitative models of atmosphere dynamics.

Implemented results of research:

• We have implemented a lightning direction finding system.
• We have implemented a lightning activity forecasting system.

Education and career development:

• 2 doctoral dissertations, 6 candidate dissertations, 5 masters dissertations have been defended.
• 5 students and 7 postgraduates have participated in the project.
• 10 young scientists have completed internships at the Laboratory.
• 2 new courses have been implemented: «Lightning physics» and «Basics of Earth physics and gravimetry».

Organizational and structural changes:

On the basis of the «Bezvodovoe» test range an observatory has been created with a unique complex of measuring equipment for full-scale research of atmospheric electricity and lightning discharges.

Other results:

• 2 international conferences and 3 schools for young scientists have been organized.
• As a pert of public activity the Laboratory has provided consulting on impact of lightnings in objects 2 times upon requests from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and 3 times upon requests from insurance companies.

Collaborations:

• Tel Aviv University (Israel), Yerevan Physics Institute (Armenia), Institute of Computational Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research
• University of Reading (UK): joint research within programs of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and the London Royal Society (UK).