THE
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE STAR WARS LIGHTSABER
The lightsaber described on the previous page has several
shortcomings
that make it improbable for actual construction in today's world.
- The
crystals described in
the use of lightsabers are not know to exist within the current reach
of humanity. Nor are we able to construct them ourselves or find
crystals known to us that can be used in the same construction.
- The Force
(a concept from
the Star Wars Universe) is required for the efficiency of the saber.
While many individuals around the world have argued that several known
religions mirror The Force, there is no way for us to emulate the Force
and thus maintain the efficiency of the saber.
Image From:
http://www.exn.ca/starwars/lightsaber.cfm
Currently, the greatest problem facing the
actual
construction of lightsabers is that most ideas and experiments that
have been conducted so far attempt to generate the blade of the saber
through use of light or laser. (This is the result of a great deal of
prejudice in automatically assuming that the lightsaber emits light
because it is called a lightsaber.) While light may be useable in the
constuction and use of a lightsaber, the use of light has its own
shortcomings as well:
- While
light and laser emit
beams that run in parallel with one another, they cannot be focused to
a finite length in the way a plasma beam is in Star Wars. Also the
focused light or laser becomes weaker as the beam travels further from
the focal point or lens. Typical lasers and lights also create a point
of light at a particular distance and appear invisible along the
direction over which they travel.
- Most
individuals know that
if light is focused properly, it will create a very intense beam that
can burn through materials. However, the use of light in forming the
beam of a lightsaber would be improbably if the blade is to be used
against a reflective surface because the reflective surface wil reflect
and focus the beam of light at another point and cause unintended
damage to other materials or structures, etc.
- The power
consumption for a
light/laser beam to be focused and maintained in the form of a blade
such as a lightsaber blade is currently beyond our current abilities.
However, this issue is the most trivial of all facing the construction
and use of a lightsaber, because the efficiency of electronics as well
as our ability to miniturize devices and elements increases at an
amazingly rapid rate.
- Perhaps
the greatest problem
facing the construction of a lightsaber and its use in duels it the
fact that light and lasers do not repel one another. Two laser beams or
two lightbeams will pass through one another and through most things in
general and would be very ineffective as actual weapons.
Image From:
www.geocities.co.jp/ Playtown-Bishop/2171/
