Finally, the finite-length lightsabers of Star Wars are possible if equipped with

sufficient energy capacity and good materials

Chungpin Liao1,2
1
Department of Electro-Optic Engineering, National Formosa University (NFU), Yunlin, Huwei,
Taiwan 632
2
Advanced Research & Business Laboratory (ARBL), Taichung, Taiwan 407
Email: cpliao@alum.mit.edu

Abstract
Lightsabers are a genius idea: portable, lightweight, activated with the push of a button and oozing
cool in air. To create the saber’s shining blade of light, laser technology appears to be the obvious first
choice. However, three key issues almost killed the thought. One, a light beam cannot stop short after
about 2 meters unless a distant reflector is employed. Two, in combats, any opponent can easily reflect
the lightsaber back to the user by a mirror. Three, two light beams will simply pass through each other
when in battle, and there is no chance of clashing. Nevertheless, one remarkable idea still emerged
using laser beams. Another brilliant idea appeared in which the short blade issue was avoided by
employing the confined plasma column instead. This author presents yet another approach which
utilizes coupling of separate, phased electric and magnetic pulse distributions to achieve the short
plasma blade, and the flowing DC currents on shear-Alfven-wave-induced twisted plasma filaments to
accomplish the desired fencing function. Estimation of relevant physical quantities is given, and the
issue of protection from heat radiations is addressed. Finally, a simple crude conceptual design is
provided.

1
Background and motives
Ever since the Star Wars series of movies hit the screens around the globe, it was wondered by both
laymen and scientists whether one of the key elements -- lightsaber, or light sword – can be created in
real life. Along the time, most of them expressed their disbelief in the feasibility of such
movie-inspired fantasy of no physical basis. In particular, lightsabers are often said to be composed of
lasers. However, using lasers raises several issues [1]:
1) There’s necessity of something to reflect the end of the high-power light beam. Especially the push
button gradual extension of the blade is hard to achieve.
2) There’s need for a compact and powerful enough power source.
3) Lasers do not clash when their beams cross, i.e., they need to be “hard” when in contact.
4) Lasers are silent. There will be no sound effect (i.e., whoosh) when a beam of laser is wielded
through the air.

Concerning the above 3rd issue (i.e., about the light beam clashing), a side remark is now due here. In
2013 a team of MIT and Harvard scientists have discovered accidentally the “hard” property of two
joined photons. Namely, while photons have long been considered massless particles of light that don’t
interact, their behavior changed when they were timely fired through super-cooled rubidium atoms.
When the photons emerged from the other side of the cloud, they clumped together into a single hard
molecule [2]. This originally Star-Wars-unrelated great scientific discovery certainly also raised hopes
among Star Wars enthusiasts. Nonetheless, the effect is associated with environment of ultra-cold Ru
atoms, unlike that of the super-heated light swords. Besides, the photons used in these devices
presumably would repel each other so that an energy beam can be formed, but then two beams will still
be able to pass through one another, unlike the ones in Star Wars. Therefore, direct application of this
atomic effect on lightsabers would seem far-fetched at least as of now.

Some others argued that the light blades should instead be high-temperature, high-pressure plasma
torches, be they generated by lasers, electric discharges, or even high-energy particle bombardment.
However, this way of approach similarly confronts nontrivial barriers like:
1) There’s surely need for a compact and powerful enough power source.
2) Plasmas need to be confined properly in order to keep the shape of solid swords when wielded.
3) Though the sound effect may now be attributed to the ionization of ambient air during movement
of lightsabers, there still lacks the function for fencing action. Namely, plasma beams have to be
“hard” to clash each other, but they apparently don’t seem so.
4) When two plasma blades come into direct contact, it would almost certainly result in magnetic
reconnection, causing an explosive release of the plasma contained in both sabers.
5) There seems necessity to protect the handle (hilt), and hands grabbing it, from the plasma heat
waves.

Several few unusual people, on the contrary, offered their reasoning or design concepts, and thought
that lightsabers would someday materialize in certain ways. Among them, to the best knowledge of
2
this author, two figures contributed their outstanding ideas that worth mentioning here. The first one is
Dick Grune [3] who proposed a construction wherein the blade is essentially facilitated by an assembly
of optic-fiber-like hollow filaments
(each about 3 meters long, properly
doped), with a perfect mirror at one
end and a slightly transparent mirror
at the other within the handle to
receive input power (see, Fig. 1). Prior
to activation, this blade construct
consists of several thousands of such
filament lasers, all coiled up in loops
of about 2.5 cm diameter. Half of
Fig. 1. Grune’s conceptual setup of a lightsaber using
them are wound clockwise, half of
guided high-power laser lights [3]
them counterclockwise, and they are
interwoven like the threads in a wick emerging out of the handle. Once the laser power is switched on,
it is claimed that the light pressure would straighten up these light-weight filament coils into a sword
shape which essentially plays the role of an intertwined multi-chamber laser resonator. While traveling
along these filament coils via the effect of total reflection, these high-power lights also sticks out
strong electric field to cause auras (or, plasmas) around the filaments, which are of very high heat
capacity such that they will simply cut (actually, heat-up/burn/melt) through just about any mass that
blocks them. However, whether the filament coils can stay in a relatively cool environment as claimed
and whether such design would properly address the fencing action when in fight are still somewhat
uncertain. Additionally, as pointed out by Grune himself, that the light blade can relatively easily be
compressed length-wise (i.e., axially) and thus risk the disaster of explosion due to excessive energy
density. For this reason, a monitoring and control mechanism is introduced [3].

The second remarkable proposal

came from theoretical physicist
Michio Kaku whose latest version
of a lightsaber is a beam of
super-hot plasma, and no lasers are
particularly involved [4]. In this way,
the issue of essentially infinite
length of a laser beam would not
arise. The handle would be a plasma
torch with the base of a titanium fan
that would shoot about one hundred
feet of cubic air per second into the
Fig. 2. Blueprint of Kaku’s design of lightsaber, extracted
hilt where it would be heated to
from video clips in [4].
twelve thousand degrees of plasma
3
which would be kept intact by an electro-magnetic coil. A telescopic ceramic rod would then exit (or,
extend out from) the hilt and contain the projected plasma beam while letting out some plasma (at
around 2000 degree temperature) through drilled holes on the surface of the ceramic rod. All required
energy is suggested to come from trillions of nano batteries stored within the hilt, which might be
mature for another 4-5 decades. Kaku argues such an energy beam/blade would also clash with its own
kind. He proposes ceramics as a useful container of heat energy which can withstand up to 4000
degrees of heat without being affected, also which is used by NASA to build spacecraft in order for
them to pass through planetary atmospheres without getting burned [1]. It seems to have successfully
harnessed the finite length issue of lightsabers, even though the clashing part appears to rely totally (or,
at least very much) on the telescopic ceramic rod material. To this end, much more advanced
non-brittle ceramics might be needed.

In the following, an alternative approach by this author will be presented. In it, a finite-length EM
wave beam will first be generated by a phased set of separate electric field and magnetic field pulse
distributions. Then, such finite EM wave beam ionizes the ambient air and results in a finite plasma
column. With this, favorable current paths will be introduced to flow in helical manner on the plasma
column to realize the clashing effect, via exciting low-frequency plasma normal modes, particularly
the shear Alfven waves. Subsequently, estimation of relevant physical quantities will be given and
discussed. Finally, a drawing illustrating the conceptual design will be offered.

Achievement of finite blade by using instead the ionizing EM wave with a phase between E and
H
In order to create a finite-length EM wave propagation, it is helpful to first look into the key physics
leading to the evolution of an
electromagnetic wave, namely the
interplay between the displacement current
⃑⃑
density (𝜕𝜀𝜕0𝑡𝐸) and the magnetic induction
⃑⃑⃑
(−𝜕𝜇𝜕0𝑡𝐻). Consider fields that evolve in
Cartesian coordinates from the initial
Gaussian distributions at time t = 0 [5] (see,
Fig. 3):
𝑧2
−
𝐸⃑ = 𝐸0 𝑥̂𝑒 2𝑎2 (1)
𝑧2
⃑ = √ 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝑦̂𝑒 −2𝑎2
𝐻 (2)
𝜇 0

Where 𝐸⃑ , 𝐻 ⃑ , 𝐸0 , 𝜀0 , 𝜇0 , and a are the

electric field vector, magnetic field
strength vector, the constant complex
amplitude of the electric field, vacuum
electric permittivity, vacuum magnetic
Fig. 3. Orthogonally-oriented stationery E and H
Gaussian pulse distributions (or a snapshot of
sinusoidal E and H of null relative phase lag)
leading to permanent EM wave pulse propagation
4
permeability, and the width of field pulse along the propagation direction 𝑧̂ , respectively. Note that the
pulse width is not wavelength, and can be arbitrarily chosen in value. Additionally, since ∇ ∙ 𝐸⃑ = 0,
∇∙𝐻⃑ = 0, they are both solenoidal, and Gauss’ law makes it clear that the physical situation we
consider involves neither a charge density (ρ) nor a current density (𝐽 = 𝜌𝑣 = 0, with 𝑣 being the
velocity of a test charged particle put into this field construction).

Under such initial conditions, Faraday’s law and Ampere’s law (of Maxwell’s equations) are
⃑ and 𝐸⃑ [5]:
conveniently written in forms relating the time rate of change of 𝐻
⃑ 𝑧2
𝜕𝐻 𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝑑 −
𝜇0 = −∇ × 𝐸⃑ = −𝑦̂ = −𝑦̂𝐸0 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎2 (3)
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑧
𝑧2
𝜕𝐸⃑
𝜀0 𝜕𝑡 ⃑ = −𝑥̂√ 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝑑 𝑒 −2𝑎2
=∇×𝐻 (4)
𝜇 𝑑𝑧 0

It follows from Equ.’s (3) (4) that when t = ∆t (i.e., 𝑡0 = 0), we have, with c = 1⁄√𝜀0 𝜇0 being the
light speed in vacuum:
⃑
⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ 𝜕𝐻 |𝑡
⃑ =𝐻
𝐻 𝜕𝑡 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ (− 1 ∇ × 𝐸⃑ ) |𝑡 = √ 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝑦̂𝑒 −2𝑎2 + ∆𝑡 ∙ (−𝑦̂ 1 𝐸0 𝑑 𝑒 −2𝑎2 )
=𝐻 𝜇 0 0 𝜇 𝜇 𝑑𝑧
0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
𝜀 − 2 𝑑 − 2
= 𝑦̂√𝜇0 𝐸0 (𝑒 2𝑎 − 𝑐∆𝑡 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎 ) (5)
0

𝜕𝐸 ⃑
𝐸⃑ = 𝐸⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ 𝜕𝑡 |𝑡 0
𝑧2 𝑧2
1
⃑ ) |𝑡 = 𝐸0 𝑥̂𝑒 −2𝑎2 + ∆𝑡 ∙ (−𝑥̂ 1 √ 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝑑 𝑒 −2𝑎2 )
= 𝐸⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ (𝜀 ∇ × 𝐻
0 0 𝜀 𝜇 𝑑𝑧 0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
− 2 𝑑 − 2
= 𝑥̂𝐸0 (𝑒 2𝑎 − 𝑐∆𝑡 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎 ) (6)

When t = Δt, the E and H fields are equal to the original Gaussian distribution minus cΔt times the
spatial derivatives of these Gaussians. But
these represent the original Gaussians shifted
by cΔt = z in the +z direction. Indeed, let’s
witness the relation applicable to any
function f(z):
𝑑𝑓
f(𝑧 − ∆𝑧) = 𝑓(𝑧) − ∆𝑧 ∙ 𝑑𝑧 (7)

On the left, f(z − Δz) is the function f(z)

shifted by Δz (see, Fig. 4), which is of the
same form as Equ.’s (5) and (6). Thus,
within Δt, the E and H field distributions
Fig. 4. Illustration of a pulse propagation
have shifted by cΔt = z in the +z direction.
formulation
Iteration of this process shows that the field
5
distributions shown in Fig. 3 travel in the +z direction without change of shape at the speed c. Namely,
the E and H pulses will propagate along the +z direction indefinitely, through continuously interacting
with each other. In other words, they couple perfectly.

Now, suppose we modify the initial H pulse distribution (Equ. (2)) a bit, so that it is M times its
original size, i.e.,
𝑧2
⃑⃑⃑⃑ 𝜀 −
𝐻′ = 𝑀√𝜇0 𝐸0 𝑦̂𝑒 2𝑎2 (8)
0

Then, the now incremented H at t = t becomes:

⃑
⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ 𝜕𝐻 |𝑡 → 𝑀𝐻
⃑′=𝐻
𝐻 ⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ (− 1 ∇ × 𝐸⃑ ) |𝑡
𝜕𝑡 0 𝜇 0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
𝜀 − 1 𝑑 −
= 𝑀√𝜇0 𝐸0 𝑦̂𝑒 2𝑎2 + ∆𝑡 ∙ (−𝑦̂ 𝜇 𝐸0 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎2 ), which now equals:
0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
𝜀 − 1 𝑑 −
= 𝑦̂𝑀√𝜇0 𝐸0 (𝑒 2𝑎2 − 𝑀 𝑐∆𝑡 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎2 ) (9)
0

While the situation on the E pulse will be:

⃑⃑⃑ 𝜕𝐸⃑ 1
𝐸′ = 𝐸⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ 𝜕𝑡 |𝑡 0 = 𝐸⃑ (𝑡0 ) + ∆𝑡 ∙ (𝜀 ∇ × 𝑀𝐻
⃑ ) |𝑡
0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
− 2 1 𝜀0 𝑑 −
= 𝐸0 𝑥̂𝑒 2𝑎 + ∆𝑡 ∙ (−𝑥̂ 𝜀 √𝜇 𝑀𝐸0 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎2 )
0 0

𝑧2 𝑧2
− 𝑑 −
= 𝑥̂𝐸0 (𝑒 2𝑎2 − 𝑀𝑐∆𝑡 𝑑𝑧 𝑒 2𝑎2 ) (10)

It is seen that if the H pulse amplitude is M times larger (M can be greater or less than unity), the
propagating speeds of H and E pulses will become 𝑀𝑐 and Mc, respectively. Obviously, even a slight
deviation from unity for M would mean quick separation of the E and H pulses, and therefore stoppage
of mutual coupling of the two pulses. In other words, this combined EM wave pulse can only
propagate down for a distance, no longer indefinitely. We could have started to modify the E pulse
instead and still arrived at the same result. At any rate, M = 1 is strictly required for ordinary
indefinitely traveling EM waves or lights, if both dispersion and dissipation are not of concern here.

The above classical elaboration of EM wave propagation mechanism simply points out the important
effect of nonzero phase difference among AC (sinusoidal) E and H fields. Ordinary laser light and
antenna microwaves that we are so used to, for example, are all manifestations of EM waves of zero
phase lag among E and H fields. Frankly, it is even hard to have nonzero phase (among E and H) for
laser lights due to the way they are created via quantum mechanical means. Now, if such phase lag can
be introduced and manipulated classically, it might not be too difficult to achieve the finiteness of a
lightsaber blade.

With the electric field E above the air breakdown threshold, the generated finite-length EM wave beam
can now form a finite beam of plasma that is already capable of cutting ordinary materials by its high
6
temperature. Further input of energy, e.g., through flowing currents on top of the plasma blade to
render more joule heating, should in principle enhance its cutting/melting capability. However, when in
fight, two such plasma blades will simply pass through each other without clashing. Thus, the fencing
function is needed and is addressed below.

Realization of “solid” sword body for fencing capability by exciting a Shear Alfven type of wave
and flowing current on top of it
Rather than looking for solutions among atomic or quantum mechanical sciences, this proposal will go
after the macroscopic electromagnetism. It is well-known that two current-carrying wires in parallel
will attract each other if they flow in the same direction, but will repel each other when in opposite
directions. Thus, it will be celebrated if gigantic currents can be managed to flow on the plasma blades
in ways such that two clashing lightsabers, at whatever angles, will repel each other in a great deal. In
other words, since the plasma beams are not solid materials, one feasible way to make fencing possible
is through classical EM force. However, such desired function will not be available if the currents can
only flow straightly along the plasma beams, viz., in that case, attraction, rather than repelling, will be
the most likely outcome.

If, however, the externally-supplied

current (e.g., DC) can flow forward in
a spiral fashion (see, Fig. 5a) along the
plasma beam prior to its return through
the inner central axis (which is the path
presumably of the lowest resistivity
within plasma due to the fact that such
plasma beam is created by an EM wave
along the central axis), then the desired
(a) (b)
clashing can be achieved (see, Fig. 5b).
Fig. 5. (a) Conceptual spiral fencing current flowing
From the top view of two clashing
over the plasma sword, (b) Top view of the repelling
lightsabers, the spiral currents (if all
clashing between two such blades.
counter-clockwise), will always repel
each other. If the current intensity is considerable, then the repelling force between two lightsabers will
be tremendous and thus exerts rebound to the degree the users would be convinced that it is a real
“solid” clash. Of course, there has to be a rule among all fighters that makes sure either clockwise or
counter-clockwise spiral current flow pattern be adopted only. Also notice that the flowing angle of
such current (with respect to the axis) should be large enough such that its parallel attracting
component will be minimized.

Now a new question naturally arises. That is, how can the fencing current be flown in the desired spiral
fashion upon a conducting plasma column? It is well-known that an externally imposed 0th-order
current will not necessarily flow along any propagating waves excited upon the plasma, nor would it
7
complies with the electric fields associated with such waves or other oscillations, only the perturbed
1st-order currents associated with the waves or oscillations will. In fact, what the imposed current will
actually pursue after is the
conductive body of the plasma
itself. This would seem that the
imposed current will only
undesirably, after all, flow axially
as aforementioned. However, when
with a background magnetic flux
⃑⃑⃑⃑0) imposed along the (a)
density (𝐵
plasma column, one can recall that
low-frequency (below ion cyclotron
frequency) MHD
(magneto-hydro-dynamics) or
kinetic waves, in particular the
shear Alfven waves (SAWs, or
called torsional Alfven waves), are (b)
frozen-in with the plasma body (see, Fig. 6. (a) Relation among the oscillating quantities in a shear
Fig. 6). Namely, the plasma fluid Alfven wave and the exaggerated distortion of the lines of
follows together with the magnetic force, (b) Geometry of a torsional (or shear) Alfven wave in a
fields of these low-frequency wave cylindrical plasma column. [Courtesy of [6]].
modes [6]. In the following, SAW
will be used to represent all these
low-frequency plasma waves for
simplicity. The dispersion relation
of a SAW is:
𝜔
= 𝑣𝐴 cos 𝜃 (11)
𝑘

𝐵0
Where 𝑣𝐴 = is the Alfven
√ 𝜇0 𝜌

speed,  is angle between SAW

wave vector 𝑘 ⃑ and the ambient
magnetic field ⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝐵0, and ρ = 𝑛0 𝑀 is Fig. 7. Isosurfaces of total plasma current, experimentally
the fluid’s mass density, with 𝑛0 mapped by UCLA Large Plasma Device group for the excited
being the unperturbed ambient ion shear Alfven wave via a phased orthogonal two-loop (or, RMF
or electron number density (here the (rotating magnetic field)) antenna (at z = 0) for their under
plasma approximation 𝑛𝑒 ≈ 𝑛𝑖 ≈ atmospheric He plasma [Courtesy of [7]]
𝑛0 is adopted), assuming 100%
ionization and 𝑀 being the ion mass.

8
Thus, if a SAW can be excited such that it propagates
⃑ at an angle  with the
with its wave vector 𝑘
background 0th-order magnetic field ⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝐵0, the
magnetized plasma will follow and essentially twist
itself into the favorable wound-up coil shape as
roughly perceived in Fig. 5. Note that even though
SAW is a left-hand circularly polarized wave (see, Fig.
6b), the eventual twisting sense of the resultant
isosurfaces of total plasma currents, as well as their
morphologies, are dependent on the polarization sense
Fig. 8. A crude sketch of the desired DC
of the SAW-exciting devices [7] (see, e.g., Fig. 7).
current filament flowing path on the
Note that in Fig. 7, both the forward current and the
SAW-modified plasma column (i.e., blade)
return current are shown.

The proposed DC current path flowing upon the above isosurfaces of plasma will be like what’s
depicted in Fig. 8, after the SAW is excited on the cylindrical plasma blade and the eternal current is
supplied. The SAW of interest will be those with propagation angle  with respect to the ambient
⃑⃑⃑⃑0 greater than about 45. In this proposal, 60 is adopted for physical estimations,
magnetic field 𝐵
which in turn can be controlled by using, e.g., the rotating magnetic field device [7].

Estimation of physical quantities associated with the proposed approach

After outlining the proposed approach and mechanisms for the possible realization of a lightsaber, it is
now in due course to offer some estimates for relevant physical quantities.

A. Finite length EM wave beam and subsequent generation of the plasma column under one
atmosphere
As aforementioned, a phase difference () among the separate and independent E and H fields is
necessary for the two fields to eventually decouple and hence terminate the resultant EM wave
propagation. The estimation of such phase difference leading to the decouple distance of interest is as
follows. Suppose the above resultant wave is a TEM monochromatic plane wave of the complex
dependence: 𝑒 −𝑖𝜔𝑡+𝑖𝑘⃑∙𝑟 = 𝑒 𝑖𝜑 , then they actually vary with cos 𝜑 and cos(𝜑 + 𝛿), respectively, in
the real world. If we are looking at the movement of the phase plane φ = 0, then the time lapse (∆t)
where E and H pulses decouple with each other will satisfy (recall that a is Gaussian distribution width
in Equ.’s (1) and (2)):
(1 − cos 𝛿) ∙ 𝑐 ∙ ∆𝑡 = 𝑎, or
𝑎
∆t = (1−cos 𝛿)𝑐 (12)

Since the desired finite distance this ionizing EM wave would propagate is about 2 m (blade length 𝐿),
we have:
𝐿 = c ∙ ∆t (13)
9
Hence, for 𝑎 ≈ 5 cm (or 0.05m), we get  = 0.2241, or 12.84, not hard to reach by contemporary
technology.

In order to generate plasma at any practical frequencies, the E field strength is conservatively set at the
atmospheric air breakdown threshold 3 × 106 V/m. Then, using TEM wave in estimating the
⃑ | = 𝐸 ∙ 𝐵 = 𝐸 ∙ 𝐸 = 2.4 × 1010 W/m2.
associated Poynting vector power (P), we need 𝑃 = |𝐸⃑ × 𝐻 𝜇 0 𝜇 𝑐 0

For a cylindrical plasma blade of about 5 cm diameter (or, 0.025 m radius), the total ionization power
would be 2.4 × 1010 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ (2.5 × 10−2 )2 ≈ 47 × 106 W, or 47 MW. Following the ionization
discharge, a continuous power of this level will be required to maintain the plasma.

The separate and independent Ex and Hy (or, By) field pulses may be generated as follows. The former
is more straightforward and can be achieved by using tailored AC electric field distribution (as in Fig.
3). The latter, a magnetic flux density of about 0.01 T (or, 100 Gauss) may be realized by using
properly shaped wound coils running an AC current at the desired frequency. The phase difference
among the two should be properly tuned and maintained.

B. The fencing physics

If the externally introduced DC current flowing on the plasma isosurfaces (rendered by the emergence
of shear Alfven wave (SAW)) is 𝐼, then each lightsaber produces a surrounding azimuthal magnetic
flux density (𝐵𝑓𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 ) of the magnitude 𝐼 ⁄[2𝜋𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 ] when two lightsabers clash, where 𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 ≈
2.5 𝑐𝑚 is the radius of the cylindrical blade. If the clashing contact spans about the same length
𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 , then the repelling force is approximately 𝐹𝑓𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 ≈ 𝐼𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 × 𝐼 ⁄[2𝜋𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 ] = 0.16𝐼 2 N. For a
current of 100 A from a constant current source, the fencing force will be 1600 N, about the weight of
160 kg. For a current of 200 A, the fencing effect will then reach 640 kg, presumably enough for a hard
clash.

The joule heat generation as a result of the presence of the above fencing current appears to be
minimal on such fully ionized atmospheric plasma. According to Fokker-Planck type of transport
theory [8], the magnetic field-parallel thermal conductivity is (in Gaussian CGS unit, in particular,
e = 4.8 × 10−10 𝑒𝑠𝑢, Boltzmann constant 𝑘 = 1.60 × 10−12 𝑒𝑟𝑔/𝑒𝑉):
𝑛𝑒 2 𝜏𝑒 1
𝜎|| = 2.0𝜎⊥ = 2.0 (Ω−cm) (14)
𝑚𝑒

Where the electron collisional time

3√𝑚𝑒 (𝑘𝑇𝑒 )3/2 𝑇 (𝑒𝑉)3/2
𝜏𝑒 = = 3.44 × 105 𝑛(𝑐𝑚
𝑒
−3 )Λ 𝑠𝑒𝑐
(15)
4√2𝜋 𝑛Λ𝑒 4

Putting in 𝑇𝑒 ≈ 0.43 𝑒𝑉 (i.e., 5000 K), 𝑛 ≈ 2.4 × 1019 𝑐𝑚−3, Coulomb logarithm Λ ≈ 10, we
obtain 𝜎|| ≈ 5 × 1012 (Ω − cm)−1 , and thus the resistivity η|| ≡ 𝜎|| −1 = 2 × 10−13 Ω − cm or
2 × 10−15 Ω − m. So, the plasma resistance (R) can be roughly estimated. With the effective current

10
flow length of 𝑙 ≈ 2 ⁄cos 60° = 4 m, and cross-sectional area of about A ≈ π𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 2 = 𝜋(0.025)2 ,

𝑙
we have 𝑅 = η|| 𝐴 = 4 × 10−12 Ω. If I = 200 A, then the joule heating power will be merely

1.6 × 10−7 𝑊, negligible as expected. Thus, the heating power of a lightsaber mainly comes from
maintaining the high-temperature plasma blade itself, not joule heating due to the fencing current.

C. Excitation of the shear Alfven wave (SAW) and thus the isosurfaces for current flow path
The excitation of SAW requires the imposition of an ambient magnetic field (𝐵0). If the adopted value
is on the order of 100 G (or, 0.01 T), then it can be facilitated, e.g., by 10 turns of coils of 2.5 cm
diameter, each carrying about 125 A of current. With the background magnetic flux density in place,
𝐵0
the Alfven speed can be evaluated as: 𝑣𝐴 = ≈ 12 m/s, assuming fully-ionized plasma and
√ 𝜇0 𝜌

𝑛0 ≈ 𝑛𝑒 ≈ 𝑛𝑖 = 2.4 × 1025 𝑚−3 (i.e., plasma approximation at low frequencies). Consequently, the
𝜔
SAW speed is secured as (see, Equ. (11)): = 𝑣𝐴 cos 𝜃 ≈ 6 m/s, if the excited SAW propagation
𝑘

angle  (with respect to 𝐵0) is 60. This angle should be close to the twist angle of isosurfaces caused
by SAW. If the SAW is going to propagate around the now roughly oblique blade circumference by
2𝜋𝑅𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚⁄
multiple wavelengths (), i.e., cos 30° ≈ 𝑛𝜆, with 𝑛 being an integer, then 𝑛𝜆 ≈ 36 cm.

If it is desired that n = 10, then  = 3.6 cm, or the corresponding wave number 𝑘 = 2𝜋⁄𝜆 =

174.5 𝑚−1, and so ω ≈ k ∙ 𝑣𝐴 cos 𝜃 = 1.05 × 103 rad/s, implying the driving frequency may be set
at 106 Hz.

D. The issue of protecting hilt/hand(s) from plasma heat waves

A plasma blade carrying several thousand degree temperature would appear likely to heat up the
handle through two routes: 1) thermal conduction, and 2) thermal radiation. For the former, the
titanium fan sucking in cool air at the hilt bottom at the level suggested in [4] should be sufficient to
overcome the problem if low thermal conductivity ceramic handle is adopted.

For the latter, note that the heat waves are essentially R- or L- EM waves (i.e., right or left-hand
polarized rotating waves) of wavelengths ranging from about 1 m to 1 mm, in a magnetized (𝐵0 ≠ 0)
plasma. Fig. 9 shows that normal-mode waves can pass along the ambient magnetic field either by
having 𝑣𝜑 2 ⁄𝑐 2 < 1 𝑜𝑟 > 1, where 𝑣𝜑 is the phase velocity of a specific wave. High-frequency
waves with 𝑣𝜑 2 ⁄𝑐 2 > 1 (i.e., denoted at top of the drawing with the index-of-refraction N < 1) do not
carry energy for subsequent heating and lots of them cannot cross the cutoffs at 𝜔𝐿 and 𝜔𝑅 (both are
roughly equal to 𝜔𝑝 ≈ 2.8 × 1014 rad/s (or, 4.4 × 1013 Hz) within this high-density, low magnetic
field plasma), while those of frequencies less than the above cutoffs (i.e., 𝜔𝑐 < 𝜔 < 𝜔𝑝 ≈ 𝜔𝑅 ≈ 𝜔𝐿 )
fall in the stop-band (see, Fig. 9, i.e., right merging 𝜔𝐿 to 𝜔𝑅 to become 𝜔𝑝 , which is much larger
11
than 𝜔𝑐 ≈ 1.76 × 109 rad/s or 280 MHz). The most fearful high-frequency (wavelength ≤ 6 m)
infrared light waves actually belong to this category.

As a result, only
those heat waves
with 𝑣𝜑 2 ⁄𝑐 2 < 1
and propagating at
frequencies below
the electron
cyclotron frequency
(𝜔𝑐 , or 280 MHz,
under 𝐵0 = 0.01 T)
(i.e., 0 < ω < 𝜔𝑐 ,
and with wavelength Fig. 9. Dispersion relation diagram of R- and L- plasma waves along an
> 6 m) might be of ambient magnetic field B0. Note that the ordinate is actually (1/N)2, where
some concern here N is index of refraction. Solid line is R-wave, dashed line is L-wave. [Courtesy
(they are mostly of [6]]
whistler waves 𝑒𝐵0
𝜔𝑐 = (electron cyclotron frequency in rad/s)
(belonging to the 𝑚𝑒

R-wave branch) and 𝑛 𝑒2

1/2

a bit SAW 𝜔𝑝 = (𝜀 𝑒𝑚 ) (electron plasma frequency in rad/s)

0 𝑒

(belonging to the
L-wave branch)). (The crossed-out regions are non-propagating zones with 𝑣𝜑 being purely
imaginary. However, though not clearly shown, there is a very short section of the lowest frequency
L-wave branch (itself mostly crossed-out) which is propagating below the ion cyclotron frequency
(Ω𝑐 ≡ 𝑒𝐵0 ⁄𝑀, or 11 kHz under 𝐵0 = 0.01 T), viz., the SAW as mentioned in the above).

Note that, as 𝜔𝑐 ≈ 1.76 × 109 rad/s under 𝐵0 = 0.01 T (or 280 MHz), even for heat waves
propagating near this resonance frequency, the average photon in them will carry much less energy
than that of a near-infrared photon, by a factor of about 1013 (Hz )⁄106 (Hz ) = 107 . Now, even if all
plasma discharge power (~50 MW) eventually goes to heat waves in this category, at most 50 MW ×
10−7 = 5 W will travel into the hilt. Namely, the blade plasma simply does not provide route to the
handle-incident heat waves.

Lastly, though already not as crucial now, it may still worth some words for the role of optical total
reflection below. Since only low frequency heat waves of 𝑣𝜑 2 ⁄𝑐 2 < 1 (i.e., N >1), within 0 < ω <
𝜔𝑐 , are of concern here, the EM/optic law of refraction will further relieve us from the concern of heat
radiation. That is, for these heat waves to propagate along the magnetic field with Nplasma >1 into the
handle air chamber where Nair = 1 (kept by the fan cooling), their incident angles have to be smaller
than the critical angle of total reflection (𝜃𝑐 = sin−1 1⁄𝑁𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑚𝑎 ), otherwise they will be reflected. Here,
12
𝜃𝑐 ranges from nearly 0 (for SAW and low-frequency MHD waves) to about 45 (for whistler waves
of frequencies near 𝜔𝑐 ⁄2). A slight tilt (away from the ambient 𝐵0 axis) of the above independent E
and H field construct implies more suppression of hilt-heading EM waves.

Summary and conclusions

Motivated by the remarkable independent concepts and designs of Grune [3] and Kaku [4],
respectively, an alternative approach is provided for the possible realization of lightsabers. It is first
shown that through a classical viewpoint, two separate and phased E and H field pulse distributions
can couple to start and propagate an EM wave (at the speed of light) until the coupling between the
traveling E and H pulses is lost due to speed mismatch among them and thus an EM wave of finite
length is achieved. Then, owing to the air breakdown rendered by this finite-length high-power EM
wave, a plasma blade of about 2 meters length can be secured. Favorable oscillation frequency of E
and H field pulses can be chosen at will for the optimum air ionization efficiency and system
considerations.

The much desired fencing capability then takes shape by exciting on the generated plasma column a
low-frequency shear Alfven wave which leads to the emergence of twisting plasma wires (or filaments
of isosurfaces). Subsequently, a large DC current of about 100-200 A is independently supplied by a
constant current source to flow along the above SAW-induced isosurfaces and to return axially. If all
such current wires are excited to wind in the same sense for all lightsabers, e.g., right-hand winding by
a common rule, the azimuthal current flows of two clashing light blades will make large repelling force
assimilating the clash between two solid metal swords. Of course, there should be very good electrical
insulation between the positive and negative electrodes within the hilt in order to deploy the above
current path on the saber blades.

Estimation of relevant physical parameters is then launched and results are provided. Based on this
calculation, the issue of protecting handle/hand from heat waves of plasma is addressed. As it turns out
that due to the limitation on normal wave modes in the magnetized atmospheric plasma, such concern
does not appear to materialize.

13
Finally, a simple and crude description of key mechanisms within the proposed lightsaber hilt is
attempted in Fig. 10.

Fig. 10. A simple illustration of needed mechanisms within the

lightsaber hilt (not systematically optimized)

14
References
[1] Physics and Star Wars – Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_and_Star_Wars)

[2] Melissa Locker, SCIENCE: Scientists Finally Invent Real, Working Lightsabers | Time.com
(http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/01/someone-finally-invented-real-working-lightsabers/)

[3] Dick Grune, How a Light Saber Works.

(https://dickgrune.com/Cult/LightSaber/How_a_Light_Saber_Works.html)

[4] Michio Kaku, How to Build a Light Saber 1/3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSNubaa7n9o),

How to Build a Light Saber 2/3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_Hq1f8-0E), and How to
Build a Light Saber 3/3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLcEYbAdyxk)

[5] Hermann A. Haus and James R. Melcher, Electromagnetic Fields and Energy, Chapter 3, Example
3.1.1, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1989).

[6] Chen Francis F., Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 1: Plasma Physics, 2nd
Edition, Chapter 4, Springer, New York (2006).

[7] W. Gekelman, S. Vincena, B. Van Compernolle, G. J. Morales, J. E. Maggs,

P. Pribyl, and T. A. Carter, “The many faces of shear Alfven waves,” Physics of Plasmas, 18, 055501
2011.

[8] NRL Plasma Formulary, p. 37, Naval Research Laboratory (1987).

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