Jeysies Thread

[racx_00]

And why are there swords with beams of light

[B'rrr]

there is a perfectly good explanation for that    .....I hope  

[Louisiana Night]

The question, is how they stop at a certain point. Since they're "light"sabers, should it travel indefinitely?

[racx_00]

Yeah thats a good point , George didnt get that point straight then

[Shadowfax]

Hmmm,

I have never heard any explanation on how light sabers work so here is my two cents;

The "light" of the lightsabers may not necessarily by light at all, it could be some form of plasma which is held in check by very powerful projection electromagnets that are coiled up inside the central grip. Mind you, the pretty colours would not exist then, you can only create plasma by superheating a gas or ionising it severely (from what I remember).
Ionised gas is a soft blue, superheated gas looks vaguely volcanic.
In the case of a hand held weapon you would be better off ionising the gas as superheating it would be very difficult and the equipment to do so (even in the Star Wars universe) would be very bulky. However, ionising gas into plasma would still require lots of electrical power so unless some form of self-regnerative power source is equipped into the actual hand grip (using some form of stirling cycle engine) then problems will be encountered. Besides, plasma would be far more effective as a projectile weapon using similar magnetic technology to variably focus the "blast" area of the plasma.

Therefore a light saber would not be worth the complexity and subsequent expense when compared with an equally effective weapon (i.e a form of sword made out of titanium carbide to keep it just as light as a lightsaber and probably more lethal.)

(everyone on forum looks at Shadow with stunned bemusment). Well thats my two cents over with!

[Louisiana Night]

That's the best explination I've heard so far.

[B'rrr]

i thought a Jedi needed special crystals in order to be able to construct his own lightsaber

[B'rrr]

*googles*

anatomy of lightsabers

[Shadowfax]

I don't proclaim that anything I have said is THE explantion but it is what my limited knowledge of plasma weaponry can tell me.

BTW, there would also be a problem "draining" the plasma from the weapon once it is to be powered down. With ionised gas it wouldn't be too much of a problem but excess charge would have to be ducted away through an earthing wire. With superheated gas there would be no chance, you would have to use more expensive equipment to cool it down (that is why a superheated plasma weapon would be better off using the gas as a projectile, any superheated steam can be vented out safely and the main plasma body would form the projectile. Heat control would be an issue though.)

As for the crystals, I assume the idea was that a lightsaber was meant to be a laser based weapon in Lucas's mind, the crystals would form the principle lense that would form the beam. However, in order to contain the beam a form of fiber optic tube would be needed using total internal reflection to keep the beam in a "beam" shape and retain it within a limited area. Therefore it would be the tubing, not the actual light beam itself, that would make a light saber lethal (personally, plastic collapsible tubing would not be that dangerous.) The only time when light can form a lethal weapon is in a true focused laser format where it can physically "punch" an object using pure photon power and the heat caused by the focused light energy would burn through soft targets as well.

Oops, Ive ranted again.

[Shadowfax]

I will have to study your link B'rrr, seems interesting but I still say a lightsaber wouldn't be worth the cost compared to a cheap projectile weapon or (if close combat was unavoidable) a special metal alloy blade with electrical mono-filaments if you wished to "shock" a target upon impact.

At the end of the day, a 200mm round travelling a 1300yrds/per sec with a depleted uranium/high explosive/incendiary shrapnel core is going to be an awful lot more effective at tearing apart a target quickly then a beam of light (unless you are willing to lose all forms of practicality with the light weapon).

[B'rrr]

of course it isn´t worth the effort!! too much work for a close combat weapon....

it isn´t worth for normal ppl, but remember that a Jedi can deflect laser blasts with it, it´s not only offencive but defensive as well!

iirc george first idea for the stormtroopers was that they would carry a lightsaber, later he decided to make it an elite weapon, for the more elite ppl (the Jedi´s/sith)

iirc the royal guards guarding the emperor has a close combat weapon that shocks ppl (not sure though)

EDIT: ok, the ´force pikes´ of the royal quard does not shock ppl, but it has a vibrating tip which cuts through stone, metal ...bones

[Louisiana Night]

Well what do you know, we're on-topic.

i thought a Jedi needed special crystals in order to be able to construct his own lightsaber

Yeah, but we're looking for a logical/rational/possible way to make one.

results=there isn't one

[B'rrr]

check the link, at the bottem you can see how all different parts work together....

[Shadowfax]

Well, with the expense needed to build I lightsaber I think the Imperial Stormtroopers were better off without it (would trade off absolute technological refinement for something a lot cheaper, easier to produce and would leave over money to purchase better equipment in other areas.) Besides, in the case of all armed forces it is foolish to rely upon a technlogical solution to an operational problem (it may yield results but on its own it is a very brittal solution, the appropriate tactics and training must be applied to exploit its advantages and cover its weaknesses until the technology evolves to compliment the soldier/pilot/master at arms)

[Shadowfax]

BTW B'rrr, even though the lightsaber may be possible using these special crystals, it would also be logistically very unwise to rely upon a weapon which uses a material which is extremely rare and located only at one source as if that source is captured or destroyed then the existing weapons will have to be treated like gold dust. The Sith have the superior idea of manufacturing their own crystals and I am surprised that the Jedi haven't thought of it themselves (yes, I know they are supposed to be noble warriors and yes I know building their own weapon is a spiritual journey).

As for the crystals using the force to aid the jedi, well I would prefer a good solid predictor targeting system myself!  

[B'rrr]

heee, luke decide not to use a targeting system and trust on the force, he succeded where Garven Dreis (Red leader) failed  

I agree on you that the siths have a superior way of manufacturing. I wonder how mary Jane got hers though, do you know that Daniel? (you've read the books, right?)

* B'rrr  wonders why no mods interfere when ppl are talking about sith and Jedi's cuz they are religions  

[Shadowfax]

Mary Jane?

(grins at B'rrr's red highlighted comment)  

Suppose as long as it isn't real, it's just fantasy, then it is okay. (I have already had two run ins with the "law" during my stay here, the most recent one was today!)

[FataliOmega]

Its a lot harder to get into heated arguments about whether Siths or Jedi's have a better, more economical weapons manufacturing plan then real religion...

Now, If I were to come online and say Babylon 5 is way better than Star Wars in everyway... We might just strike a match or two.

(not everyway... I just prefer the former...)

BTW: We arnt allowed to talk about religion? When did this happen?  

[Shadowfax]

Lord knows mate!

All I know is that anything which can possibly generate negative arguments (whether it be politics, history, religion, personal opinions of an description that have any real substance), then it is simply BANNED.

Still, I am no mood to get chucked out of the forum yet so I will stick by those rules and hope for the best. I SHALL remain cool.  

[FataliOmega]

Is this a new KQ9 forum rule?

*wonders if his idiot KQ3+ comment was the cause...*

*whacks himself hard on the head repeatedly with a trout*