This may seem like a strange question, but I was wondering if such a thing like the light sabers used by Jedis and Sith in Star Wars could ever possibly exist. If they could exist, would they be related to the laser?
Possibly as some kind of entangled forcefield related to a real plasma burning in some sun ::))
I was wondering how long it would be before Empress Palpatine posted this. It is to do with Star Wars, so it will be posted at some point.
Keep it up, Empress.
- Gizmo
Keep it up, Empress.
- Gizmo
QUOTE (Empress Palpatine+Jul 28 2007, 04:53 AM)
This may seem like a strange question, but I was wondering if such a thing like the light sabers used by Jedis and Sith in Star Wars could ever possibly exist. If they could exist, would they be related to the laser?
No. At least, not "like a laser". Light does not bump into itself; it is not "hard" like a stick.
But here is an idea: Have a microscopically-thin superconductive wire. It is stowed coiled up in the handle. By itself, it would cut anything, being so sharp. But it is limp like string, and is easily broken. So you run a magnetic field around it, making it stiff and strong. Furthermore, vibrating the field will add to the cutting effect, disrupting the molecules it cuts through. Otherwise cutting through a block of metal might have no effect, since the cut is so thin the metal snaps right back together again (like wire through a block of ice).
The visible glow is mainly a side-effect of the vibration, as it radiates at various harmonics including optical frequencies. But it is also handy to know where the blade is.
So, you could have a "stealth mode" where it is invisible in a vacuum, and is barely visible as a thin line in air as it disrupts the air molecules.
No. At least, not "like a laser". Light does not bump into itself; it is not "hard" like a stick.
But here is an idea: Have a microscopically-thin superconductive wire. It is stowed coiled up in the handle. By itself, it would cut anything, being so sharp. But it is limp like string, and is easily broken. So you run a magnetic field around it, making it stiff and strong. Furthermore, vibrating the field will add to the cutting effect, disrupting the molecules it cuts through. Otherwise cutting through a block of metal might have no effect, since the cut is so thin the metal snaps right back together again (like wire through a block of ice).
The visible glow is mainly a side-effect of the vibration, as it radiates at various harmonics including optical frequencies. But it is also handy to know where the blade is.
So, you could have a "stealth mode" where it is invisible in a vacuum, and is barely visible as a thin line in air as it disrupts the air molecules.
Wow friggin inventive there. I am not a Star Wars connaisseur but given what ive seen from clips here and there on youtube, lightsabers arent actually possible.
The amount of energy needed to supply this laser would be massive and could no way be conscealed in the handle. Also it would be impossible to create a very powerful laser that stops at a certain distance to create a sword.
Also light doesnt effect light so two lightsabers could not collide
The amount of energy needed to supply this laser would be massive and could no way be conscealed in the handle. Also it would be impossible to create a very powerful laser that stops at a certain distance to create a sword.
Also light doesnt effect light so two lightsabers could not collide
I fenced sabre, foil, and epee in college. If the question is whether a light sabre would be a good weapon -- for practice or sport -- the answer would surely be a definite no.
As a sports weapon, it would be too dangerous. If it were reduced to a stick with electronic sensors, then it would be largely the same as today's regular sporting sabre.
As a fighting weapon, I wouldn't use it (say, in preference to a gun or a knife). The main purpose of personal defensive or offensive weapons is not to damage property, or hurt innocent bystanders, yet there's almost no way to avoid doing that with the light sabre. There are several other problems, among them that the Lucas concept conveniently omits that regular fencing weapons, especially sabres, regularly come in contact with the floor; if that happened with a light sabre, presumably it would dig a hole in the ground and/or set the ground on fire.
Just as Lucas created phony, unbelievable, politically correct (according to Marin County standards) religion in "The Force", so has he created a bogus weapon, which in the words of Alec Guiness is in some whimsical way which is never explained, death and maiming and out-of-control destruction is "kinder and gentler".
As a sports weapon, it would be too dangerous. If it were reduced to a stick with electronic sensors, then it would be largely the same as today's regular sporting sabre.
As a fighting weapon, I wouldn't use it (say, in preference to a gun or a knife). The main purpose of personal defensive or offensive weapons is not to damage property, or hurt innocent bystanders, yet there's almost no way to avoid doing that with the light sabre. There are several other problems, among them that the Lucas concept conveniently omits that regular fencing weapons, especially sabres, regularly come in contact with the floor; if that happened with a light sabre, presumably it would dig a hole in the ground and/or set the ground on fire.
Just as Lucas created phony, unbelievable, politically correct (according to Marin County standards) religion in "The Force", so has he created a bogus weapon, which in the words of Alec Guiness is in some whimsical way which is never explained, death and maiming and out-of-control destruction is "kinder and gentler".
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