How to Make Real Lightsabers

Plasma contained in an electromagnetic field

Many manufacturers and science-fiction fans would pay anything to construct a real lightsaber, true to the "Star Wars" genre. Plastic toys and realistic acrylic blades have given the effect of a lightsaber. A real light sword, capable of cutting through most materials, is possible with current laser and plasma bottle technology. The power requirements would necessitate a thick power cable, as battery power is unable to provide the necessary current. It would take the average garage inventor several months to build this device.

Things You'll Need

• Fully stocked laboratory/garage (tools and electrical equipment)
• Extreme power-generation equipment (millions of volts)
• Long cylinder for main handle shaft
• Momentary switch
• Heavy-duty zero-gauge solid copper cable
• Solid iron disk between 5 and 10 inches wide and more than 1 inch thick with a hole drilled in the center
• Hand-held cutting laser (greater than 1 watt)

Instructions

Making a real lightsaber

1. Create the hilt. A long cylinder about a foot and a half long, and more than 3 inches wide will suffice. It can be made of any material but should be wrapped in rubber or plastic to prevent the current from grounding through the user.

2. 

   Design and create a "magnetic bottle." Since the 1950s, the ability to contain plasma and other high-energy particles has been done with electromagnetic containment fields, otherwise known as "bottles." Electrons and other atomic structures have difficulty crossing a magnetic field. By shaping the field, you can direct or contain them. The shape of the field varies, but for the lightsaber effect, the interior of the magnetic bottle will have to be about 3 feet long and 2 inches wide. This requires several focused, high-energy induction coils to be mounted to a heavy iron core disk. The disk also serves as a mount for the hilt.

3. 

   Build an open-ended magnetic bottle onto the end of the hilt shaft. Run the zero-gauge cable through the shaft and connect it to the magnetic bottle apparatus. Depending on the design, one or two wires may be necessary. The coils should focus the energy into a point 3 feet from the hilt and can be tested with a low-power laser beam.

4. Mount the high-power cutting laser into the hilt, with the beam pointing through the iron disk at its center hole. The hole should be as narrow as possible, and the laser beam should be collated with a lens. The laser energy is trapped into the magnetic bottle, where it cannot escape or cut through the iron disk. A small, reflective one-way mirror can be added to shield the laser output opening.

5. Raise the power of the laser driver and diode until the limit of the bottle is reached. The beam will be weaker than a concentrated laser, but if the wattage is raised sufficiently, it will cut through soft materials. The effects of the magnetic bottle that contain the laser will have no immediate effect on non-magnetic objects but may interfere with or destroy sensitive electronic devices.

Tips & Warnings

• Use extreme caution with cutting lasers and lightsabers. Use safety equipment when working with high voltage. Wear eye protection around laser equipment. Seven colors can be made with lasers, and they can be mixed to create unique blade colors.

• A lightsaber does not make the bearer a Jedi Knight. Do not use this highly dangerous weapon within 4 feet of other people.

References

• Magnetic Fusion, The Main Principles
• Ion and Electron Sources

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish