American Scientists "Accidentally" Invent Lightsabers

[Taleweaver]

Ahem...

Inexplicably, reports suggest that physicists have not yet begun the process of using the technology to build actual lightsaber-style weapons, nor have they perfected the THHHHHHWWWWOM! sound traditionally manifested when duelling Jedis do battle.

So basically, they have only..."discovered a way to bind photons together in order to form a new molecule which behaves almost exactly like George Lucas's deadly devices".


Personally, I don't see the advantage of a lightsaber. It's impossible to sneak with, noisy and probably uses a ton of energy (in real life, the thing would most likely run out of battery power at exactly the wrong time...wait...skip that: it WILL run out of power at the wrong time because that is when you actually NEED IT). The only advantage over something like a katana blade (which already exists) is that it's easier to carry.

 

[KingVamp]

Also, since no light actually reaches your eyes you wouldn't really be able to see the beam EXCEPT a bright flash when you first try to cut something with it and all that light crashes into your "victim", bouncing, lost, our of control into your surroundings as light normally does.

Looks pretty cool.




Bind enough photons together and you will have the ultimate tool.

 

[Walker D]

Wow ! ..That's insane :o

Photons acting like they have mass ...and building molecules-like structures? ...damn ...the world is getting even crazier

 

[WhiteMaze]

This is incredible.

If there's one thing I never thought it would happen in our life time, is early light controlling technology.

What's next? Portable black holes? Oh wait....I already have one of those in my wallet.

 

[duffmmann]

Y'know lasers? Really highly concentrated light energy that we direct at things to cut or blind them. This is basically a solid laser beam that can hit things. The edges will be epic-level hot and will slice you up like butter.

Source? Not all lasers have this behavior, many lasers are next to harmless to touch (example a laser pen), so I am genuinely curious if this would be painful or not, just cuz you say that doesn't make believe that to be so at all.

 

[Jamstruth]

Source? Not all lasers have this behavior, many lasers are next to harmless to touch (example a laser pen), so I am genuinely curious if this would be painful or not, just cuz you say that doesn't make believe that to be so at all.

I talk only from my own understanding of Physics and the article's description.

The reason a Laser can get to such high power levels is due to the density and focus of the beam as well as the energy in each photon. More Photons=More Energy=More Heat. Now imagine if those photons were condensed from a beam into a solid. The most dense form of matter. It seems to me it's like the difference between dumping a bucket of water on your head and dropping a slab of ice.

Light IS energy. The more condensed it is, the more powerful it is (as shown by lasers). You can vary that energy level by the power of the original beam as well as it's focus. It's been a while since I did Standard Grade Physics so my knowledge of how lasers work is rusty.

 

[Rockhoundhigh]

So now I can win a beam katana off of an internet auction?

 

[DJ91990]

This is beyond cool! Now if only I could have an awesome light-pocketknife with customize-able colors!

 

[RedCoreZero]

I accidentally shut down the government!