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The Science of the Lightsaber
Smartcowboy writes "Chances are that you have seen a lightsaber at one time or another, whether on the evening news or down at the local cantina. Therefore you know that a lightsaber is an amazing and versatile device that is able to cut through nearly anything in a matter of milliseconds.
Have you ever wondered how these remarkable weapons work? Where does the energy come from, and how are they able to contain that energy in a rod-like column of glowing power?
In this article, you will have a chance to look inside a lightsaber and discover the source of its incredible characteristics." I was sure the blade was made from the focused hate and disappointment of the last three movies.
On top of that, this has been erroneously filed under "Technology." Let's just pause and let that sink in.
Now I'll quote the article:
You are putting that into the technology category? Seriously? I am sorry, normally I roll with the it and just play along when this stuff is under Idle on the frontpage but this is ridiculous. I know I'm just one of many Slashdotters in bitchbitchbitch mode but the next time you come across an article like this put it in your damned April Fools folder and don't revisit it until then!
... filed under Biotech!
Next week: The Science of NBC's "Heroes"
My work here is dung.
...I don't know why everyone wonders how a fictional lightsaber could work.
"How does it contain the plasma in a rod? Why doesn't it just go everywhere?"
From what I remember of the movies, I don't remember there being any mention of there not being some kind of mechanical core to a lightsaber -- almost like a control rod that extended at the same time that the rod of light did. You'd never know from watching it.
For all we know, even as works of fiction, they could just be normal swords that glow.
It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed
Well, at least they didn't show any household uses for the lightsaber that I've already covered. :)
Lightsaber Uses for the Everyday Dark Lord
I have not lost my mind... it's backed up on disk somewhere!
I think the books and video games (particularly SW Battlefront 2) made for excellent expansion of the universe... WAAAY better than the movies. Should have left the movies to VG plot lines.
--
Looking for work, know someone who is? Keep on eye open on craigslist.com http://www.bigattichouse.com/oneeyeopen.html
meh
I recalled seeing this article at least a few years back, so I clicked the "citation" button on the site to check:
Ah.
Seriously, how does stuff like this get on the front page?
What comes around once gets re-posted elsewhere a thousandfold. Eventually, it may just float around the tubes for a while and resurface on one of the posted websites.
Slashdot isn't immune to this.
Especially when the article in question involves lightsabers. (And wishing that they were real. *daydreams at work*)
enough said
The Jedi ones, I mean. Everyone knows the red ones run Windows.
Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
and apparently there's a lot of trick photography involved in those movies. First of all, the blade is just plastic segments, and you kind of flick it to get the blade to extend. By the way, it doesn't cut worth a damn. It seems that the "light" part of the lightsaber is just a flashlight bulb embedded in the handle and shining through the tube. Pretty disappointing really.
Now the sound effects on the other hand are pretty damn cool. Granted, they're a little tinny compared to the movies, but I figure that's just due to the way they mixed the audio in post-prod.
Some bring out the best in others, some the worst. Some bring out far more.
I've wondered before, what would happen if you dropped one?
Remember the rash of pulp stories in the earlier years of tethered micro black holes that were accidentally released and orbited around the inside of a planet whilst slowly gaining mass and eating more and more.
Would a lightsaber power itself from the mass it removes/cuts - would the "battery" die out. Unlike a micro blackhole it would not generate a gravitational field.
Really, its a slow day at work - I cannot even believe I am thinking about this...
Did anybody ever think of practical jokes you could play with a theoretical light saber...?
And why is it lightsaber not lightsabre...?
"I was sure the blade was made from the focused hate and disappointment of the last three movies."
Weak.
Am I the only one out there that thought a lightsaber would make chopping firewood a snap?
Silly posts like this seem custom made for Idle, where they can be safely ignored...
$_ = "wftedskaebjgdpjgidbsmnjgcdwatb"; tr/a-z/oh, turtleneck Phrase Jar!/; print
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber.htm/printable
Facts are useless, they can be used to prove anything.
Light sabers are boring...
I'd much rather have a variable sword from known space which consists of a ultra-thin wire in a stasis field:
http://www.freewebs.com/knownspace/uv.htm/#U
Or a flashlight laser, which can be an awesome flash light, or can be narrowed into a cutting beam:
http://www.freewebs.com/knownspace/f.htm/#F
Stop buying all the graflex flashguns! there are some of us out there who still use them for their intended purpose. douchenozzles.
That the parent poster probably meant "Expanded Universe" not "European Union".
But I guess it is a bit too late...
Someone already mentioned China stamping out plastic ones for 3 cents per unit.
In order to profit from the market demand for those EU and USA made lightsabers I guess.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
A lightsabre is a magic sword. How about an article on the science of the One Ring.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/03/13/
Alert me when some hacker at MIT builds one. That is all.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
You'd have to be a Jedi to use one of these things because any average Joe is likely to cut off his own foot. A light saber represents the awesome mutilating ability of power tools combined with a form factor that's even more prone to mischief. No weight in the blade, will cause major damage with fleeting contact. They're cool but you'll be losing fingers and limbs.
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
They are of course perfect for making toast, slice and cook together. Steaks are doable but they turn out a bit rare.
http://rareformnewmedia.com/
So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause.
George Lukas
How did the get on the fp?
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
All the articles about the "tech" of Star Wars, Star Trek, etc (up to an including the old Star Trek 'Engineering Manual' are nothing but mental masturbation for geeks. They are great when your in your teens, but...
Just enjoy the show/movie
-- 73 de KG2V For the Children - RKBA! "You are what you do when it counts" - the Masso
where's the lame tag
You make a good point, but there's actually a reason only Jedis *can* use them: the gyroscope required for stabilizing the beam makes the lightsaber impossible to handle for anyone without superhuman strength. Read that in the The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episodes IV, V, & VI: The Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Characters and Creatures.
You know it:
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/4/Lightsaber-for-Christmas-282297.html
If you want to read news for needs, stuff that matters.
Then try. Crowdnews.
> A lightsaber is a unique device, created by hand -- the controls will be slightly different on each individual lightsaber that you buy.
Buy? I was under the impression that each Jedi fashioned his own.
Geek mode off...
That said, I don't think the article works even as a parody.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
one would be able to detect the remnants of the vaporized corpse and do a DNA analysis on the "vapor"[aerosol] particles.
Han Solo used one one once to open up a Tan Tan. Luke was training with it before he had any force abilities at all. I don't habeeb it.
"Therefore you know that a lightsaber is an amazing prop and optical effect that is able to cut through diddley squat in a matter of milliseconds."
There... broke that for you! :)
"Slow down, Cowboy! It has been 3 years, 7 months and 26 days since you last successfully posted a comment."
You'd have to be a Jedi to use one of these things because any average Joe is likely to cut off his own foot.
Average Joes have been able to use swords for thousands of years.
From TFA: "A lightsaber is like a sword on steroids".
OMG! Will people please stop using 'on steroids' this way?! I recently found that references to actual steroid use are becoming tertiary results when Googleing the term (among other things).
I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
Actually, I don't know if you realize it, but super-heated plasma is actually opaque to light.
The photons emited in the nuclear fusion in the sun's centre, are absorbed and re-emitted and take millions of years to reach the surface. The sun is actually very close to a black body, except, of course, it radiates so much energy of its own that you can't shine a beam at it and notice that it's actually absorbed.
A nuclear bomb's fireball, for the first couple of moments is actually opaque too, which actually helps with converting more of that energy into temperature of the fireball, thus into more rapid expansion of that air, and thus into a bigger shockwave. That's how about 50% of the energy goes into the shockwave. If it weren't for that, i.e., if that super-heated air actually let radiation pass right through, the bomb would just scorch the ground and fry anyone close enough and standing in the open, but wouldn't cause the kind of shockwave that levels concrete buildings.
So could a lightsaber cast a shadow? Well, in much as the same way as a fluorescent tube can cast one. If it's in the way of a beam of light that's brighter than the sword's own shine, it would most definitely cast a shadow. (But, ok, in some poorly lit rooms like in the movies that doesn't seem to be nearly the case.)
Now that road is another minefield for other reasons, so I'm not going to claim that lightsabers are "realistic" or "possible." But just saying that technically, yes, a blade of super-heated plasma could technically be opaque.
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
Coming up next on slashdot technology, "The Physics of Santa Claus".
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
I prefer the possibility sword from China Miéville's The Scar. Imagine the Heart of Gold powering a sword so that every swing you make projects all the other swings you could have made. The more likely the swing, the more damaging the cut. The book is worth a read just for that IMO.
-=Bang Bang=-
Sure, back in the day lightsabers were the crude tools you describe, but that was a long, LONG time ago. These days, lightsabers don't arm unless they recognize the biometric signature of the person weilding them. Additionally, the factory default setting is "practice mode," and you have to do quite a bit of hacking to actually unleash their destructive potential. (No pun intended.) In "practice mode," the saber performs nearly instantaneous mass spectrometry on anything it comes in contact with, and reduces power output to "singe" mode in the event of contact with human biological material. (Yes, technically that means you can shield things by covering them with.. well.. let's just say my Real Do.. er, girlfriend is quite safe.)
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
Have you ever wondered how these remarkable weapons work?
Being somewhat connected to reality, I'd have to say no.
So Gears of War is an accurate intermediate step for future weaponry design... guns with saws!
When I read the subject, I thought we'd at least get an intelligent discussion on how a Lightsaber could actually work...not this old crap with the guy lighting a cigarette again.
I at least see the lightsaber as a variation of the Variable Sword from Larry Niven's Known Space universe, where the stasis field actually emits photons of a certain frequency, causing the colored light effect.
rm
Sci-Fi Storm
Here's how it really works. . .
You take a wooden stick, right? Or a piece of bamboo, I suppose will do. All things resonate with the force, right? Obi Wan said so. So in mundane terms, the stick has an auric signature. 'Kay. Now you record that living energetic signature into the crystal. --And yeah, sure they can do that. Everybody knows that crystals have woo-woo power.
So now you have the auric Force signature of a wooden stick recorded in the crystal. Then through the wonders of Space Technology From A Galaxy FFA, you run power through the crystal so that the auric signature of the stick is multiplied to the point not just where the average space muggle can see it, but where it sizzles and pops and is like, you know, a lightsaber.
And this is why it takes a Jedi to make one; you need to be able to see and manipulate the Force, otherwise you're just a regular Joe with a stick and a crystal looking foolish.
But for the purist. . . Lucas actually got his scripts wrong. The Lightsaber, before the scripts got re-written, (or perhaps before Lucas first thought of it; it's hard to say), could only be operated by a Jedi; the blade was an extension of his/her own energy. (To be fair, this is actually how I thought of lightsabers when I was a kid, and I was mightily upset when Han used Luke's to cut open that Tonton (TawnTawn?)
Of course, in the same way, I believed that Batman could fly because he had a cape. (Though, I was only like four when I thought that. Still, that kind of logic might be a good thing to listen to if you're directing movies for kids.)
Anyway. . , it should be noted that these two ideas are way cooler than any nonsense about mechanical extending bits in lightsabers, or any other idea as to how the blade doesn't shoot off into infinity. I notice the article delicately danced around actually answering this, the ONLY question which really matters to any geek of any worth when it comes to lightsaber science.
Shame on you, "How Stuff Works" people. Stick to dump trucks and CD players where you don't need any imagination.
-FL
Phasors are okay, and light sabers are cool, but a disruptor is where it's really at. There's just something about shooting the target and watching it glow for a couple of seconds before vaporizing into a cloud of neutrinos that's hard to beat.
When they remake Dirty Harry in 200 years, he'll be using the most powerful disruptor out there. "Being this is a UCG-9002, the most powerful disruptor in the universe, and it will vaporize your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question..."
I never understood why they were the chosen weapon of the Jedi. You can have your lightsaber. Just give me a H&K MP5. I'll collect your lightsaber from your bullet-riddled corpse.
Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
He needs to understand what news and matters mean...
"Go forth, and be excellent to each other" --Bill & Ted
... often in circumstances where some "bad guys" get to pick over the remains. And there were quite a few Jedi in the past.
It's well established in the StarWars universe that there is a big-time market in surplus/junk tech - especially items that were stolen or otherwise have chancy ownership history.
So it seems reasonable that, along with other material picked off the losers on battlefields that isn't regulation for the winners, there would be quite a number of them for sale on various "military surplus" markets.
Also Jedi weapons get handed down in families and the offspring don't necessarily become Jedi, so they may get lost in attics, sold (by mistake or otherwise) at housecleanings or estate sales, ... Additional (or used/borrowed) weapons are used for training before the "young Padawan" makes his own. So if the trainee is using a hand-me-down he'll retire it when he makes his own.
Having learned to make them and making at least one for himself, why would a Jedi stop? Might be a good idea to have a spare, in case of trouble or burnout. Tinker up a variant design for better power/battery life/balance/handling characteristics. We've seen single-ended ones used in saber styles and a double-ended one used in a style like a quarterstaff. But there are two-sword styles in both Europe and Japan. Why shouldn't a Jedi adopt such a style? All these would make for more lightsabers lying about to end up on the market.
(And that's assuming the Jedi don't make 'em for fundraisers. B-) )
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
FYI:
The sound was done by the Foley man going through the same motions as each actor, holding a directional microphone, in a room with a loudspeaker in the position corresponding to the camera. The speaker played a continuous drone with a lot of harmonics.
Result: The microphone picked up a sound corresponding to what would be heard at the camera position if the lightsaber emitted such a buzz with the higher frequency components directed progressively more tipward.
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
It's worth the picture alone.
Truth, Just Us, And Hatred For All Mankind!
I've always figured a light saber would be a high energy plasma generated from within the hilt and contained in a magnetic bottle. The tricky part is getting the bottle to take the long cylindrical shape - hence the skill of a Jedi being needed to construct one. But that explains cutting through things quickly, and why (magnetic) shields can block them. Or why they can deflect blaster bolts (ie charged blasts of dense plasma, imo).
The article doesn't explain how *anything* about this "arc wave energy field" works or how it is shaped into a long cylinder or how it is kept to a certain length. At least with a magnetic bubble containing plasma, it's a little more explainable (except how to keep it a cylinder, not a round bubble...haven't quite figured out how that would work).
Ha! Focused hate. +2 funny.
The real source of power is the same source of power worshipped by George Lucas. The one that sucked away his soul and creativity over the last 30 years. I think they call it "ego."
I might know what I'm talkin' about, but then again, this is Slashdot...
This stuff is more for the fantasy (like girls in your life) and science fiction (like girls in your life).
My son is into the Star Wars stuff so I have plenty of experience with this stuff. However I work in the DoD DARPA when I was in the Air Force and they have some interesting ideas and some "toys" out there but to make something like this real will take awhile at the current pace of technology.
This device is like a open ended magnetically contained plasma device. However we haven't gotten good hold of fusion physics (if we have we, won't in this energy crisis now) so until they do and then make a super power portable energy source to drive this then you will have an "lightsaber".
Geeks will make it all happen :-). Such is the power of SF to inspire people that some way will be found.
Seriously... this site is a joke. Lightsabers? Fuck me.
You fools. The reason the beam is contained and extended is because the Jedi utilizes the force the manipulate the size of the beam.
You don't need technology to do what the Force can.
We are one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. Back to you with the weather, Bob!
...than you give him credit for.
We're able to give fairly unexceptional 16 year olds sticks which weigh about 12 ounces, fit in the palm of your hand, have exactly one button on them, and have the rule "anything extending in a ray from this hole to the horizon when the button is depressed dies". The overwhelming majority of them understand the safety precautions -- there are only four.
1) Never point the stick at anything you do not intend to kill
2) The stick has two states. In one, the ray coming out when the button is pressed is lethal. In the other, no ray will come out. Always assume the stick is in the lethal state.
3) Anyone capable of pressing a button is capable of operating the stick. Accordingly, never let anyone who you don't trust to not kill someone touch your stick.
4) You should receive additional instruction to use your stick in an effective manner.
And we didn't need a High Holy Cult of Gun Safety to accomplish that, now did we?
Although it might be kind of fun. You look like you have the makings of a great marksman, young one. For your first lesson, I'm going to hand you a lethal weapon and blindfold you, then put you within arm's reach of six people. You're going to learn to use that lethal weapon safely and effectively. Did I mention that you're under attack by a practice drone? *zap* Well, what are you waiting for, shoot him already. We can talk about the basic properties of your lethal weapon later, for now, either you'll have the right instincts or we'll all die horribly.
Help poke pirates in the eyepatch, arr.
items leads to bad places, see: medicloreans
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
"...could only be operated by a Jedi"
That was never true. Luke wasn't a Jedi when he turned on his fathers blade.
You core point is correct, don't explain you magical technology.
The Force. Lightsaber, anti-gravity, hair buns. Just enjoy it.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
That was never true. Luke wasn't a Jedi when he turned on his fathers blade.
True. Like Batman being able to fly when I was four, however, to my then seven year-old brain, this distinction was confusing. Lightsabers worked for Luke in the same way Wart could pull that sword out of the stone. He was already magical, he just didn't know it yet. And that, right there, is many more times the rationalism I ever used as a kid. I just assumed it. In any case, as we all know, the most pure of the Star Wars purists are all suffering from (enjoying?) arrested development.
You core point is correct, don't explain you magical technology.
The Force. Lightsaber, anti-gravity, hair buns. Just enjoy it.
That wasn't my core point at all, though it is one I do agree with sometimes. For the most part, one of the best ways to enjoy things in fact IS to think and ponder and puzzle. Of course, if you happen to be writing story worlds, one needs to make sure the flavor/mood of problem solving doesn't clash with the established environment. I think it is universally agreed that the Force was much happier without a bio-medical explanation. Though, if it had been a Star Trek film. . .
-FL
for the light saber to work you have a quartz crystal in the centre and then shine a powerful laser through the crystal. The knobs on the side control the strength of the laser.