About ECE
  Welcome, History, Mission, Contact Information, Giving, 100th Anniversary Information
   
  Academics
  Undergraduates, Graduates, Online Degree, Accreditation, Facilities
   
  Admissions
  Undergraduates, Graduates
   
  People
  Faculty & Staff Directories, Student Organizations, Alumni, Visitor Info
   
  Research
  Labs, Research Divisions, Centers
   
  Announcements
  Calendar, Timecard, Faculty In the News, ECE Newsletter, Faculty Searches
   
 
  Webmaster 
Last modified: May 5, 2009  
University of Florida

Dr. Vladimir RakovVLADIMIR A. RAKOV
Professor

 

Education:

PhD, EE, Tomsk Polytechnic, 1983
MS, EE, Tomsk Polytechnic, 1977

Contact Information:

Email: rakov@ece.ufl.edu
Phone: 352-392-4242
Office: 553 New Engineering Building
Homepage:  plaza.ufl.edu/rakov/

Program Affiliation:

Area:  Electromagnetics and Energy Systems
Lab:   Lightning Research Laboratory

Fields of Interest:

  • Lightning
  • Atmospheric electricity
  • Lightning protection  

Employment:

1998 - Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Florida
1991 - Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Florida

Refereed Journals in the Last 3 Years:

2008
M. Rahman, V. Cooray, N.A. Ahmad, J. Nyberg, V.A. Rakov, S.R. Sharma, “X-rays from 80-cm long sparks in air”, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L06805, doi:10.1029/2007GL032678.

J. Schoene, M.A. Uman, V.A. Rakov, J. Jerauld, B.D. Hanley, K.J. Rambo, J. Howard, and B. DeCarlo, “Lightning-induced currents in a buried loop conductor and a grounded vertical conductor”, IEEE Trans. on EMC, Vol. 50, No. 1, February 2008, pp. 110-117.

A. Nag and V.A. Rakov, “Pulse trains characteristic of preliminary breakdown in cloud-to-ground lightning that are not followed by return stroke pulses”, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D01102, doi:10.1029/2007JD008489, 2008,

Y. Baba, and V.A. Rakov, “Applications of Electromagnetic Models of the Lightning Return Stroke”, IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, Vol. 23, No. 2, April 2008, pp. 800-811,

S. Bonyadi-ram, R. Moini, S.H.H. Sadeghi, and V.A. Rakov, “On representation of lightning return stroke as a lossy monopole antenna with inductive loading”, IEEE Trans. on EMC, Vol. 50, No. 1, February 2008, pp. 118-127.

2007
Y. Baba, and V.A. Rakov, “Lightning strikes to tall objects: currents inferred from far electromagnetic fields versus directly measured currents”, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L19810, doi:10.1029/2007GL030870, 2007,

R. Thottappillil, V.A. Rakov, and N. Theethayi, “Expressions for far electric fields produced at an arbitrary altitude by lightning return strokes”, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D16102, doi:10.1029/2007JD008559, 2007,

Y. Baba, and V.A. Rakov, "Electromagnetic fields at the top of a tall building associated with nearby lightning return strokes”, IEEE Trans. on EMC, Vol. 49, No. 3, August 2007, pp. 632-643,

J. Jerauld, M.A. Uman, V.A. Rakov, K.J. Rambo, and G.H. Schnetzer, “Insights into the ground attachment process of natural lightning gained from an unusual triggered-lightning stroke”, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D13113, doi:10.1029/2006JD007682, 2007.

V. Cooray, and V.A. Rakov, “A current generation type return stroke model that predicts the return stroke velocity”, J. Lightning Research, 2007, vol. 1, pp. 32-39.

V.A. Rakov, “Lightning Return Stroke Speed”, J. Lightning Research, 2007, vol. 1, pp. 80-89.

R. Thottappillil, and V.A. Rakov, "Review of three equivalent approaches for computing electromagnetic fields from an extending lightning discharge”, J. Lightning Research, 2007, vol. 1, pp. 90-110.

M. Rahman, V. Cooray, V.A. Rakov, M.A. Uman, P. Liyanage, B.A. DeCarlo, J. Jerauld, and R.C. Olsen III, “Measurements of NOx produced by rocket-triggered lightning”, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L03816, doi:10.1029/2006GL027956, 2007.

G. Maslowski and V.A. Rakov, “Equivalency of lightning return stroke models employing lumped and distributed current sources”, IEEE Trans. on EMC, Vol. 49, No. 1, February 2007, pp. 123-132.

Y. Baba, and V.A. Rakov , “Electromagnetic models of the lightning return stroke”, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D04102, doi:10.1029/2006JD007222, 2007.

V. Cooray, V. Rakov, and N. Theethayi , “The lightning striking distance – Revisited”, J. Electrostatics, 65, pp. 296-306, 2007.

E. Petrache, M. Paolone, F. Rachidi, C.A. Nucci, V. Rakov, M. Uman, D. Jordan, K. Rambo, J. Jerauld, M. Nyffeler, and J. Schoene, “Lightning-Induced Currents in Buried Coaxial Cables: A Frequency-Domain Approach and Its Validation Using Rocket-Triggered Lightning”, J. Electrostatics, 65, pp. 322-328, 2007.

D. Pavanello, F. Rachidi, V.A. Rakov, C.A. Nucci, and J.L. Bermudez, “Return Stroke Current Profiles and Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Lightning Strikes to Tall Towers: Comparison of Engineering Models”, J. Electrostatics, 65, pp. 316-321, 2007.

2006
“Estimation of input energy in rocket-triggered lightning”, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L05702, 2006, doi:10.1029/2005GL025141, V. Jayakumar, V.A. Rakov, M. Miki, M.A. Uman, G.H. Schnetzer, and K.J. Rambo.

G. Maslowski and V.A. Rakov, “A Study of the Lightning-Channel Corona Sheath”, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D14110, doi:10.1029/2005JD006858, 2006, 16 p.

R.C. Olsen, V.A. Rakov, D.M. Jordan, J. Jerauld, M.A. Uman, and K.J. Rambo, “Leader/return-stroke-like processes in the initial stage of rocket-triggered lightning”, J. Geophys. Res., 111, D13202, doi:10.1029/2005JD006790, 2006, 11 p.

Y. Baba, and V.A. Rakov, “Voltages Induced on an Overhead Wire by Lightning Strikes to a Nearby Tall Grounded Object”, IEEE Trans. on EMC, Vol. 48, No. 1, February 2006, pp. 212-224.

Contracts and Grants:

  • National Science Foundation, "Further Studies of the Phenomenology and Physics of the Lightning Discharge"
  • DARPA, "The Role of X-Rays, Gamma Rays, and Cosmic Rays in Lighning Initiation and Propagation"
  • U.S. Air Force Research, "Potential Generation and Study of Ball Lightning Using Triggered-Lightning to Earth Soils"
  • University of California/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, "Direct-Strike Lightning Environment for Stockpile-to-Target Sequence"

Honors and Awards:

2005 - IET Fellow
2004 - AMS Fellow
2003 - IEEE Fellow
2001 - IEEE Power Engineering Society Surge Protective Devices Committee, Prize Paper Award
2001 - University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship (three year award)
"Who'sWho in America", 55th , 56th, 57th, and 58th Editions
"Who'sWho in Science and Engineering", 6th Edition
1999 - ASEE Southeastern Section Medallion Certificate, Research Unit Award
1994 - Florida Foundation for Future Scientists Certificate of Appreciation

Patents:

    In the USA
  • Lightning Detector and Related Systems, US60/635, 100 (12/10/2004), J.R. Dwyer, M.A. Uman, H.K. Rassoul, J. Jerauld, D.M. Jordan, K.J. Rambo, V.A. Rakov.
  • Jerauld, D.M. Jordan, K.J. Rambo, V.A. Rakov. A Technique for Determination of the Ground Flash Density Spatial Distribution, No. 1812537, October 10, 1992.
    In the USSR
  • Lightning Detector and Related Systems, US60/635, 100 (12/10/2004), J.R. Dwyer, M.A. Uman, H.K. Rassoul, J. Jerauld, D.M. Jordan, K.J. Rambo, V.A. Rakov.

  • A Device for Determination of the Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 1654845, June 7, 1991, with D.V. Shelukhin and V.D. Dudkin.
  • A Lightning Detector, No. 1606951, November 15, 1990, with R.F. Esipenko and R.M. Gavrilova.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1592824, September 15, 1990, with Y.R. Shoivanov and S.A. Proshutinskaya.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1536337, January 15, 1990, with V.A. Zapryagaev
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1525648, November 30, 1989, with V.M. Krasik and D.V. Shelukhin.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1462218, February 28, 1989, with Y.R. Shoivanov and A.O. Lutz.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1439515, November 23, 1988, with V.A. Zapryagaev.
  • A Device for Registration of Lightning Activity, No. 1348762, October 30, 1987, with Y.R. Shoivanov, A.Y. Kravchenko.
  • A Circuit Model of Lightning, No. 1327151, July 30, 1987, with V.A. Zapryagaev.
  • A Device for Determining the Statistical Distributions of Random Process Parameters, No. 1325530, July 23, 1987, with Y.R. Shoivanov, A.O. Lutz.
  • A Device for Determination of Lightning EMP Maximum Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 1309053, May 7, 1987, with A.A. Dulzon, E.P. Djenikhov.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1267332, October 30, 1986.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Pulse Parameters, No. 1246119, July 23, 1986.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Pulse Parameters, No. 1241267, June 30, 1986.
  • A Device for Lightning Registration, No. 1233085, May 23, 1986, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 1191924, November 15, 1985.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Random Process Parameters, No. 1138811, February 7, 1985, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Pulse Parameters, No. 1111183, August 30, 1984, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 1078445, March 7, 1984.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 1078444, March 7, 1984, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Distributions, No. 1067514, January 15, 1984, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Maximum Amplitude Statistical Distributions, No. 1057968, November 30, 1983, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Random Process Parameters, No. 1043685, September 23, 1983, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Distribution, No. 1019469, May 23, 1983, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distributions, No. 987637, January 7, 1983, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Statistical Distributions of Random Process Parameters, No. 968826, October 23, 1982, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Determination of Lightning EMP Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 942063, July 7, 1982, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Measurement of Pulse Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 926687, May 7, 1982, with V.I. Potapkin.
  • A Device for Measurement of Pulse Maximum Amplitude Statistical Distribution, No. 922805, April 23, 1982.