Lightsaber

A lightsaber (or lightsabre) is a fictional weapon that plays a large role in the movies, games and novels that constitute the Star Wars fictional universe. Lightsabers are science fiction versions of their namesake, the saber, the curved metal blade replaced by a solid, glowing bar of light that resembles a tubular fluorescent light bulb, so as to create a flashier version of traditional swordfighting in the Star Wars films. Though they often behave like regular swords, they have been depicted as able to penetrate and cut through most solid materials with little or no resistance, and to deflect shots from blasters.

The lightsaber first appeared in the film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977). At first, the effect was created by having the actors hold rods covered with highly reflective tape and pointing high-intensity light in their direction. The outcome was not satisfying, so in post-production the effect was augmented through rotoscoping the rods. For episodes V and VI the use of reflective tape was abandoned and the effect was achieved by rotoscoping carbon stunt rods. For the prequel trilogy, the effect was created using computer animation. Within the fiction of Star Wars, the lightsaber "blade" is made by a very tight loop of highly focused energy.

To carry a lightsaber is an example of incredible skill and confidence, dexterity and attunement to the Force. Although use of the lightsaber is not strictly reserved to the Jedi, the only others capable of handling the difficult weapon are the Sith: Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Darth Sidious etc... When deactivated, a lightsaber appears as a polished metallic handle, about 30 centimeters long with an ignition button. At the press of a button, the device forms a shaft of pure energy about a meter long. The saber hums with a distinct sound. Its shimmering blade is capable of cutting through almost anything, save for the blade of another lightsaber, cortosis ore, Sith swords, the electrical staffs of MagnaGuards, and nearly any form of concentrated energy (a force field, for example.) The blades are also capable of deflecting blaster bolts and some force abilities, like force lightning.

A lightsaber can be used to cut through solid objects or enemies, and using The Force, a Jedi can predict and deflect incoming blaster bolts, or reflect them back at the firer. After the extermination of the Jedi ranks, lightsabers became rare relics and knowledge of their construction was lost. Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi, built his own lightsaber as the culmination of his training.

In the Star Wars galaxy

A lightsaber emits a blade of pure energy at a certain length (in Star Wars encyclopedias, they say that there's a knob that controls power and length; in some cartoons, the lightsaber is powered by batteries). Lightsabers only expend energy when actually cutting something (This explanation of lightsaber operation is similar to that of a Gundam beam saber).It is possible for a lightsaber to run out of power. Some Force Adepts are capable of charging ordinary melee weapons with the Force, which enables the weapon to withstand a few lightsaber strikes even when made from simple wood or another substance normally vulnerable to a lightsaber's blade.

The first lightsabers were developed as siege weapons, these required a separate power pack, which was often worn on the back, and later, a belt worn power source. The power sources and components were eventually miniaturized to fit inside the hilt and create a simple weapon used in later eras, which was adopted by the recently-formed Jedi Order in the early days of the Old Republic.

When explaining the traditional Jedi preference for lightsabers (i.e. short-range mêlée weapons) over long-range blasters to Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi states that "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age" ^[1]. Also, Mace Windu mentions in his personal log that the reason of the primary Jedi weapon being a mêlée one is to make the Jedi see the eyes of those whose lives he or she takes with it ^[2].

Colors

In the original film trilogy, lightsaber blades were blue, green, and red.

The various Expanded Universe (EU) sources, action figures and the prequel films opened up the spectrum of blade colors to many variations of the aforementioned colors, as well as yellow, purple, orange, turquoise, pink, bronze, viridian, brown, silver, and gold, among others; the full variety and extent of focusing gems, and consequently, of colors, is unknown. According to the Expanded Universe, these gems merely determine the blade color. However, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, different gems may alter the intensity or damage type of the blade (making the blade more accurate, or more effective against droids, for example), in addition to altering its color. It might be worthwhile to note that in these games, separate crystals are used to perform different functions, and only one type of crystal is used to change the blade's color.

Red and bronze colors are usually associated with the Sith. Purple, turquoise, yellow, blue, and green colors are usually associated with the Jedi. Orange, silver, pink, white, gold, and viridian typically do not represent either side. However, the Expanded Universe establishes no direct relationship between a lightsaber's blade's color and its user's affiliation. For example, the Dark Jedi Sariss used a blue lightsaber while her erstwhile ally Yun used a yellow blade. Both are from the computer game Jedi Knight. Leia Organa Solo (a Jedi) uses a red blade, dispelling any notions that the colours dictate alignment.

The color of a lightsaber blade depends on the crystals used to focus it. Blue-bladed lightsabers are amost often associated with Jedi Guardians; green-bladed lightsabers are generally associated with Jedi Consulars; yellow-bladed lightsabers are usually associated with Jedi Sentinels; and red-bladed lightsabers are almost always associated with the Sith and dark Jedi. Note however, that the color of the lightsaber does not necessarily indicate the nature of the Jedi. Mace Windu's purple-colored lightsaber in the movie was colored differently because Samuel L. Jackson asked for it to be so. In the expanded universe, purple, being a mix of red and blue, shows the mastery of a lightsaber form known as Vaapad or form VII and the light side of the Force which allows Windu to use his fighting style and Force powers dangerously close to the Dark Side without being tainted. It is also said that a purple crystal is a choice only the most skilled masters in lightsaber combat can make, which might also explain his unusual blade color. Usually the lightsaber crystal will call out to its chosen master during the trials to become a Jedi when the padawan travels to Ilum or Adega. This in part is why some sources claim that Jedi traditionally use Adegan crystals.

Prior to the Battle of Ruusan, Jedi used lightsabers in a vast array of colors. Afterwards, Jedi relied on more common Ilum crystals such as blue and green. During his Knight Trials, Mace Windu braved the rock-encrusted world of Hurikane on the orders of his Jedi Master to obtain his lightsaber crystal. He encountered the planet's natives and, in a moment of panic, accidentally threw them over a cliff. Realizing his mistake, the young Padawan saved the natives. It was from this mission that Mace Windu was given the rare crystals as a gift. In the New Jedi Order era, Jedi had a wide array of colors such as orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and light blue.

The synthetic red crystals favored by the Sith can create a somewhat more powerful blade than blue or green crystals but are generally not as pure because of their artificial nature and can thus be undesirable as the focus of a lightsaber. The Sith apparently had a large supply of red crystals and also favored red as a symbol for passion. It was not uncommon for the Sith masters to supply their learners with the synthesized red crystals. However, Darth Vader, at the beginning of his Sith period, wielded a blue lightsaber, as shown in Revenge of the Sith. Likewise, Exar Kun used a blue double-bladed lightsaber in the Sith War.

Sith lightsaber crystals tend to be red because of Sith alchemy. When making their own lightsaber crystals, the materials they use and the way they make them almost always turn out crimson. Though most Sith wield a red lightsaber, the color does not affect their decision to use the lightsaber. For example, if the blade turned yellow when first ignited, it would make no difference to the user.

Luke Skywalker constructed his lightsaber using instructions hidden in Obi-Wan Kenobi's abandoned hut on Tatooine. Instead of using natural crystals however, he synthetically created the focusing gems within a compact molecular furnace, also found inside Kenobi's home. While the intense heat of the kiln molded the base materials that Luke had placed inside, he channeled his Force energies through them, which in turn shaped and modified their internal properties. With this process, a completely functional lightsaber crystal can be created. Darth Maul was known to have created his double-bladed lightsaber in much the same way, but with one major difference. During the forming of the crystals within the furnace, the Sith focused all of his blinding rage, aggression, and malice into the gems. This leads to the belief that it may be possible to mold the alignment of the completed crystal itself through this process.

During the initial editing of Return of the Jedi, Luke's lightsaber was colored blue in a trailer. However against the desert blue sky environment, the decision was made to change it to green for a better visual effect, hence the birth of the green lightsaber. It has later been retconned to be the color of a "Jedi Consular", a Jedi who focuses on mastery of the Force rather than lightsaber combat.

Types

Dual-phase

The uncommon dual-phase lightsaber is any lightsaber constructed to operate at two different blade lengths. Historically, these complex blades were constructed mostly by ancient Jedi and Sith in their many heated wars; the surprise advantage of a blade which could shoot forth several feet or inches was worth the additional difficulty of constructing a lightsaber with several focusing gems and outweighed the fact that a lengthy blade was often inferior from a pure fencing perspective. Darth Vader's lightsaber is an example of this, as he has buttons on his hilt allowing him to change the blade length at will. In Dark Apprentice, with the help of the spirit of Exar Kun, Gantoris created such a lightsaber. Similarly, in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Luke Skywalker adjusts the controls of his saber to produce a short, pencil-thin blade, which he uses to cut through the bolt of a door lock. Corran Horn, the Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order, also used one of these; however he tended to keep the shorter blade ignited and the weapon seemed to only have two settings—standard and extended with no fine control over the lengths of either.

This type of lightsaber can be achieved by any lightsaber with two or more actively used crystals in the energy loop, or it can be a property granted by a special functioning of the power cell. Its most basic manifestation within the weapon is the ability to alter the length of the beam or cutting section. Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber is dual-phase capable, for example. Corran Horn's is a special case, in that the crystal is mechanically swapped for another, which yielded a longer blade.

Short

There are also variant lightsabers with shorter handles and blades (known as short lightsabers or lightdaggers) that can be wielded as offhand (weaker hand) secondary weapons. These are for Jedi who fight with two lightsabers for the dual-bladed lightsaber combat style Jar'Kai, which is used by Ancient Jedi Master Kavar and fallen Jedi Sora Bulq or as the primary lightsaber of a small Jedi like Yoda, Yaddle or (presumably) Even Piell. This technique was possibly inspired by the Japanese art of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu or European sword and dagger fencing. It was said by Master Maruk in the book Yoda: Dark Rendezvous that those who practice dual sword wield have a tendency to rely too deeply in their swords.

Double-bladed

The double-bladed lightsaber, saberstaff, battlestaff, staff saber or lightstaff, is a unique variant in which the handle is about three times the length of a standard lightsaber and has two beam emitters; one at each end. The beams can be activated and deactivated independently, allowing for much versatility. This variant was invented by the Dark Lord of the Sith Exar Kun nearly four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Kun was able to carefully adjust both its length, from half a meter to one and a half meters (1.5 to 5 ft), as well as its intensity, allowing the blades' power to vary from that of a deadly blade to an intangible, harmless beam of light.

Although in later years the double-bladed lightsaber is associated with the Sith, this is not always the case and Jedi who wield this variant are not more susceptible to the dark side.

Despite the strength of the double-bladed lightsaber, the long size of the handle itself seems to be a weakness in battle against another lightsaber-wielding foe—it was cut in half when Darth Maul used it in the duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. One was also cut in half in the Dark Horse comic book Star Wars: Resurrection, when the resurrected Lord Maul dueled Darth Vader for the apprenticeship of Darth Sidious.

Over time, use of double-bladed lightsabers as primary weapons has diminished due to their aggressive Sith-like nature and usage.

Besides Exar Kun, notable wielders of this weapon include Zez-Kai Ell, Jorak Uln, Uthar Wynn, Darth Bandon, Bastila Shan, Darth Maul, Azrakel the Dark Warrior, and possibly Jaden Korr.

Electrum

The electrum lightsaber is simply a lightsaber with a hilt forged from electrum. Mace Windu's lightsaber in Episode II and III is an example; Sidious's lightsaber is also similar. In the Jedi Order, only council members are allowed to have an electrum-covered lightsaber.

Linksaber

Linksabers apparently have a bond between them, which allows for use similar to nunchaku. This weapon exists in a low budget fan film and as Asajj Ventress' weapon in the patch for the Xbox version of Star Wars: Battlefront II.

Defense against lightsabers

Cortosis ore was used to make shields and swords that could withstand the attack of a lightsaber. In the expanded universe, it is explained in the books and comics that when a lightsaber blade comes in contact with cortosis ore, the blade malfunctions and it must be reset to be used properly. In the games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, there are swords with cortosis ore woven into the blades to allow them to be used in combat with lightsabers. This is not contradictory to the previous explanation of cortosis ore, even though the lightsabers in the games never had to be reset after being used in a fight against a sword that had cortosis ore woven into it. Pure or nearly pure cortosis creates a feedback loop that deactivates a lightsaber blade, however, as a small part of an alloy it merely resists being cut. Cortosis is usually only used in alloy form since pure cortosis is extremely brittle and easily broken by conventional weapons. In Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn fights a new type of stormtrooper, called the shadowtrooper. They have cortosis armor, and—similar to Knights of the Old Republic—a lightsaber can make contact without having to be reset.

In the Expanded Universe material it was established that the first Sith Lords used alchemically altered Sith swords, since lightsaber technology had not been developed before the original Dark Jedi were exiled. Sith swords are able to block a lightsaber blade.

In the EU novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover, beings on Haruun Kal used an unknown superconducting metal to make vibrating shields called "vibroshields". This metal cannot be cut by lightsabers but will melt if held in contact with them long enough. Mace Windu speculates that the metal was starship armor from an old crashed ship, built back when the metal was sufficient to resist low-rate turbolasers of that time.

Phrik alloy can withstand lightsabers to some degree and was used to create the weapons used by General Grevious's Magnaguards in Revenge of the Sith, as well as by the Dark Troopers featured in Dark Forces.

The Yuuzhan Vong in the New Jedi Order books use biological technology, some of which can resist a lightsaber.

In the Jedi Apprentice novel "The Captive Temple," as well as Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology it is stated that lightsabers coming into contact with water in any amount greater than rain will deactivate them until they are reset. The novelization of The Phantom Menace also supports this, but in the television show Star Wars: Clone Wars lightsabers are seen underwater with no adverse effects. Also, in the Young Jedi Knight book Crisis At Crystal Reef, the Mon Calamari Jedi Cilghal tells the other jedi that their lightsabers should work underwater "if they were constructed correctly", seemingly contradicting other sources in the EU. In the novel adaption of Episode 1 Qui Gon Jinn chides his Padawan Obi-Wan for forgetting to turn off his sabre before going under water, apparently to prevent it from shorting out.

It was suggested that Kit Fisto and other water born species specially modify their lightsabers to permit use underwater.

Hilt styles

As well as there being a variety of lightsaber blade colors, there are also many different styles for the hilt. A Jedi must fashion his own saber, so there is no uniform look to the hilt. Many apprentices will model their lightsabers in a style similar to their master's as a sign of respect. Training sabers are usually of one or two different hilt styles, as evidenced in Attack of the Clones. Some Jedi, when replacing their old lightsaber hilt due to loss, damage, or destruction (i.e. Obi-Wan lost his first lightsaber in his duel with Darth Maul, Anakin's first lightsaber was destroyed by accident while attempting to free himself from the Droid Foundary on Geonosis), will create an identical one (like Obi-Wan's second saber in Ep.II.). Others have many more unique and interesting styles of lightsaber, such as Darth Sidious' lightsaber hilt. Many Jedi will make their own hilt out of various machined or found parts, such as the case of Corran Horn building a lightsaber out of a wrecked speeder bike throttle assembly in I, Jedi. Or in the Young Jedi Knights, a female padawan friend of the Solo children built hers out of a Rancor tooth. Some Jedi and Sith build their lightsabers to resemble a past experience, eg. Darth Vader built his lightsaber similar to that which he used as a Jedi in Attack of the Clones.

Use and construction

Forms of lightsaber combat

Lightsaber forms are characteristic styles of lightsaber use in battle. Unlike real-world martial arts forms, which are primarily training routines, lightsaber forms are more akin to different theories and methods of fencing. There are seven named forms described so far:

• Form I Shii-Cho - The basic and most simplistic form, first form taught to younglings. Known users are Stass Allie and Kit Fisto.
• Form II Makashi - Most advantageous in lightsaber against lightsaber dueling. Elegant, effective and deadly. Few Jedi use it because of the relative rarity of this type of combat. Known users are: Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus, Ki Adi Mundi and Shaak Ti.
• Form III Soresu - Form which strongly emphasizes on defense and blaster fire deflection. Used by Jedi beset by multiple blaster-wielding opponents to defend themselves from incoming fire. Known users are: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episodes II, III, and IV), Barriss Offee, and Luminara Unduli.
• Form IV Ataru - Acrobatic form, emphasizing agility. Relatively aggressive and tends to open defense. Known users are: Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Aayla Secura and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode I).
• Form V Shien / Djem So- Takes some of the defensive powers from Form III and channels them to offensive powers. Form V users can use the lightsaber to deflect blaster bolts back at attackers. Known users are: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Mace Windu, Kyle Katarn, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar, and possibly Cin Drallig.
• Form VI Niman - Diplomatic form, used by many Jedi in the period when Chancellor Palpatine was in power. Very well rounded, but does not excel anywhere. Note that all Jedi who practiced Niman in the Battle of Geonosis were killed. Often used as a basis for dual lightsaber styles. Known user is Coleman Trebor.
• Form VII Juyo / Vaapad - Named after the multi tailed, lightning fast Vaapad of Sarapin. It is the hardest to learn and most dangerous form, overwhelming, and unpredictable. Associated with the dark side because the user employs passion and anger to put power into the fast strikes. Mace Windu is commonly thought to be the inventor of this very advanced form, though it existed as early as the Great Hyperspace Wars and the First Mandalorian Wars, in which Darth Revan used it, combined with a stance of his own invention. Windu is however, the only true modern master. Known users are: Darth Revan, Darth Traya, Darth Sion, Jedi Master Vandar, Mace Windu, Depa Billaba, Sora Bulq, Darth Maul, Quinlan Vos (incomplete training), Darth Sidious and General Grievous (not pure Vaapad, but an approximation borne of adjustment to Mace Windu).
• Form VIII Sansacu - More of a technique than a Form, most Jedi Masters denied its existance. However, Darth Revan, before beginning his crusade against the Jedi, had perfected a form of his own invention. This form draws heavily on the raw power of the Dark Side, and thus, only Darth Revan was able to master his style. This style's ready position appears to be very exposed, as Revan would stand, blade extended from his right shoulder, hands facing opposite directions. He presented a large target to his foes to lull them into a false sense of security. He was, however, able to strike reversals, shunts, saber bumps, slices, cuts, jabs, thrusts, and spins with deadly speed and frighteningly devastating accuracy. Outside of the fiction, the Form is still in question. Known User: Darth Revan (before his capture). It is highly possible Tulak Hord knew this technique (or something similar), being one of the best lightsaber combatants in recorded Star Wars history.

The seven forms are introduced by Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary and Star Wars Insider #62. The names of these forms are from the computer/video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, and was further developed through Expanded Universe comic books and novels.

According to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, there are 11 forms but a Jedi/Sith can only learn 7 of them. This is likely referring to the "Force forms" that you can learn in the game as well.

History

Lightsabers are the principal weapon of the Jedi but are also used by the Sith. Their use is usually restricted to the Jedi. The reasons are it is too dangerous for an unskilled user; for non-Jedi, blasters are more effective; and lightsabers cannot be constructed by someone who is not Force sensitive. However, lightsabers remain prized by some collectors, and some black market sales do occur.

It is said that corrupted and Dark Jedi brought the technology of the lightsaber to the Sith, who were a race dedicated to magical amulets and such objects^.

Lightsaber technology was developed over thousands of years. The first lightsaber models, used thousands of years BBY, had to be connected to an external power source since a power source small enough to fit in a saber's hilt had not yet been discovered. Power sources often consisted of a power pack worn on the back and connected to the lightsaber's hilt by a power cord. The technology was vastly improved as smaller lighter power sources were discovered and implemented.

Typically, Jedi are given (training) lightsabers on the first day of training. Jedi Masters emphasize that the lightsaber is a measure of progress for an apprentice because lightsaber techniques take great skill and concentration. It is considered a final test for a Jedi padawan to be able to construct his own lightsaber.The construction traditionally takes place in a cave on Illum, though other circumstances may prevent this, and lightsabers can be crafted anywhere as long as the proper tools and components are present. Some Jedi claim to fall into a meditative trance, where their vision helps determine what the results of their construction are. Others simply follow a more ceremonial approach that fully emphasizes the individual's completeness. Corran Horn described several changes within himself as he crafted his lightsaber, coming to terms with his past, his present, and his future. Luminara Unduli:

The crystal is the heart of the blade.

The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.

The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.

The Force is the blade of the heart.

All are intertwined:

The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.

You are one.

When younglings begin their training at the Jedi Temple, they are issued lightsabers set on a low power setting so as to prevent unnecessary injury or fatality due to awkwardness when first learning how to wield the dangerous weapon. After an initiate has been accepted to train under a master, he or she must construct his or her first lightsaber. Padawans usually base their lightsaber designs on their masters' lightsabers; Obi-Wan Kenobi constructed his lightsaber from The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones with similarities to that of Qui-Gon Jinn and his friend Quinlan Vos. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back was the same lightsaber his father used in Revenge of the Sith. It was taken away from Anakin Skywalker, after his near fatal battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and given to Luke, while Luke's lightsaber from Return of the Jedi closely resembles that of Obi-Wan Kenobi's final lightsaber. Jedi will use this design to construct their lightsabers until they are given the rank of Master, when they will construct their own unique lightsaber. Other Padawans, not through disrespect for their Master, but rather through personal preference, would use a different style of lightsaber, as evidenced by Jedi Padawan Ulen Varren, who wielded a double-bladed lightsaber, while his Master, Ei'lan S'orn, used a single hilt of unique and unknown origin and wielded the weapon in one hand. These Jedi exist in the extensively EU-inspired Star Wars Galaxies MMORPG, and are evidence of the diversity of Jedi, especially between Master and Apprentice.

Blade characteristics

The standard blade for a human or human-sized wielder appears to be one meter (3 ft) long or slightly longer, with a diameter of approximately 20-25 millimeters (3/4 in). However, these numbers may vary depending on the wielder's own size and preferences.

The blade is rounded with a pointed tip, and capable of instantly burning human flesh into a carbonized mass and melting high density alloys within seconds. The weapon is noted for instantly cauterizing wounds, thus eliminating bleeding after a lightsaber wound; however in some cases in the Expanded Universe, a limited amount of blood flow does occur. The only other exception is in Episode IV: A New Hope, when Obi-Wan Kenobi slices off the arm of a thug at a Cantina on Tatooine. As the Camera views in on the arm, a pool of blood can be seen beneath it. Also, in Episode I: Phantom Menace, when Obi-Wan Kenobi cuts Darth Maul in half, some people hold that a spray of Blood is seen. This is red smoke, caused by the ink in Darth Maul's tatoos as they vaporize along with his flesh upon coming in contact with the superheated blade. The blade does not radiate any heat and only loses energy when it cuts through something. A lightsaber that is active but touching only air loses none of its energy, as the power core recharges itself with 100% efficiency, but constant use occasionally requires a recharge or replacement of the power core.

Lightsabers work in the rain but let off steam when doing so, as seen by Obi-Wan Kenobi's use of his lightsaber in the rain on Kamino in Attack of the Clones.

The cutting area of a lightsaber is supposedly only a few micrometres wide, with all of the rest supposedly being coronal discharge, as is illustrated in "Dark Force Rising", when Grand Admiral Thrawn tells his crew to examine some of their casualties for microscopic, cauterized cuts.

Construction details

The lightsaber is made up of a short polished metallic cylindrical tube that emits an energy beam that acts as a sword blade. All lightsabers contain some common basic components:

• A handgrip
• An activation stud plate, button, switch, or internal Force-activated mechanism
• A safety or dead man's switch
• An emitter matrix
• A primary focusing crystal (which gives the blade its hue, Adegan/Ilum crystals are most commonly used)
• Up to two secondary crystals which produce different effects
• A lens assembly (focusing crystals)
• A blade-length adjuster (only on dual-phase lightsabers with at least two crystals)
• A miniature power cell (for the most part, unlimited in power; requires little recharging)
• An energy gate
• A power conduit
• A recharge socket (recharges the power cell when the lightsaber is off)
• Cycling field energizers
• A belt clip (optional)

Lightsabers are powered from the control studs by a circuits channel and focusing crystal found only in nature on the planet Ilum. Before 1,000 BBY, the Jedi also used crystals from the planet Ruusan. This appears to be a matter of tradition rather than necessity since there are many examples of crystals from elsewhere in the galaxy being used effectively in lightsabers, particularly with the revival of Jedi Order after the downfall of the Empire. Since the Jedi control the supply of suitable crystals, the Sith use synthetic crystals that generate a red blade. Some of the early Sith had other blade colors, but as fallen Jedi they may have re-used the crystals of their old lightsabers. Shadows of the Empire has Luke Skywalker using a synthetic crystal in his lightsaber construction. Violet blades can be created from corusca gems from the gaseous planet of Yavin (Failed student Gantoris used a corusca gem for his lightsaber) or any violet-hued crystal capable of withstanding the strains of having so much power flow through them. This is true of other hues, as well. Natural crystals are usually preferred to synthetic, since there have been instances of synthetic crystals failing at unfortunate times, as happened to Corran Horn in I, Jedi.

When the activator is pushed, internal power cells create photoelectric energy and the blade is focused from the crystal. A tight beam of anti-protons appears on command, which is focused through one, two, or three multi-faceted crystals. The activation button energizes the weapon forming a positively charged shaft of coherent packets of anti-proton energy about a meter (3 ft) long. The anti-protons are attracted back to the saber hilt by a negatively charged, high-energy flux aperture. The anti-proton packets are recycled to create the glowing blade by a power cell superconductor. The saber hums and scintillates with a distinct sound and has a shimmering blade. The entire functioning processes are completely contained and self-regenerative. Lightsabers lose little power when they come in contact with other objects, and thus can last almost indefinitely.

The typical design of the hilt is generally a straight tube. Count Dooku however, preferred a curved hilt, better suited for his Makashi dueling style (similar to fencing).

According to the novel I, Jedi, there were myths at one point that the lightsaber was powered by the Jedi's connection to the Force. However, records preserved by Corran Horn's grandfather Rostek Horn indicate that the Force is only used at the end of construction. Once all the pieces are assembled, the Jedi uses the Force to meld them on a molecular or lower level, permitting extreme energy efficiency. This efficiency is what allows the blades to remain lit and active for long periods of time.

Sometimes certain events necessitate a change in a Jedi's preferred weapon. A Jedi would modify the lightsaber or construct a new one to suit the demands of the situation at hand. As seen in Knights of the Old Republic, the sabers can be improved with the installation of certain crystals, lens, emitters and power cells and sometimes a Krayt Dragon Pearl

In the New Jedi Order series, Anakin Solo rebuilds his lightsaber using a Yuuzhan Vong crystalline lifeform known as a lambent that he personally attuned, meaning, he tuned it to respond to conscious will. With the lambent emplaced as the primary focusing medium of the lightsaber, Anakin was finally able to marginally detect the presence of the otherwise Force-dead Vong. Though not as effective as true Force-sense, this "Vongsense" was still sufficient to do combat with the Vong who, until then, were able to meet Jedi on a level playing field since they were "absent" from the Force.

Concordance of Fealty

"Master Eeth Koth, I have something to return to you. It is a product of your own hands, which you once entrusted to mine. In returning this lightsaber, I return your trust." — Mace Windu

The Jedi tradition of entrusting one's lightsaber to a fellow member of the order is called the Concordance of Fealty. This exchange represents a bond between companions of the Force and imparts a sense of support in battle. A Jedi is graced by such a gesture from a respected friend.

The real-world explanation for this development was to solve a problem. For Episode I, publicity information and images showed Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu with a different lightsaber than the one he had in the film itself. As Star Wars fans are notorious about spotting discrepancies like this, a back-story, or retcon, was created.

Windu's real lightsaber has the initials "BMF" indented in the hilt as a reference to the film Pulp Fiction, where Jackson's character Jules Winnfield has the words "Bad Mother Fucker" stitched on his wallet. This was removed in all replicas, however, since it was just for the actor's benefit and was only included in his personal prop.

Towards the end of the Battle of Naboo in Phantom Menace, after Qui-Gon Jinn's death, Obi-Wan is holding on to a port on the interior of a melting pit, his lightsaber having fallen down it. In order to defeat the almost-victorious Darth Maul above, he jumps up and pulls Qui-Gon's lightsaber (which he had noticed lying on the floor) to him using the Force and used it to slay Darth Maul. It is unknown about the rules concerning the Concordance of Fealty with deceased Jedi.

It is possible, however, that the Jedi are willing to share their blades should they be used to save another's life. An example is during Episode II, when Anakin and Obi-Wan are handed lightsabers to defend themselves in the Battle of Geonosis. Again in Episode II when Anakin is battling Count Dooku, Obi-Wan tosses his lightsaber to Anakin for him to use.

Other users

Although the lightsaber was used primarily by the Jedi and Sith Force users, several non-Force users were known to have used a lightsaber:

• In the Star Wars: Droids animated series, Thall Joben once used a green lightsaber, as he explained to his droid C-3PO that he once did some work for someone who owned a speeder but they left the speeder with him and never reclaimed it; the lightsaber was one of the things left in the speeder by the person. It is unknown if this customer of Thall's was actually a Jedi or was simply someone who discovered a deceased Jedi or a Sith and took the lightsaber from them. Most likely, it was the latter since most Jedi and Sith do not simply forget their lightsabers. (One can safely assume this customer would not have killed a Jedi/Sith because detection would have likely precluded such an event).

• In Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Leia Organa used Luke Skywalker's lightsaber in a nearly fatal attept to hold off Darth Vader. This was before she had any training in use of the Force or lightsabers, and it showed. Only the sacrifice of the Yuzzim Hin and Vader's own overconfidence prevented her untimely demise.

• In The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo used Luke Skywalker's (formerly Anakin Skywalker's) lightsaber after he rescued Luke from a snowstorm on Hoth, making him the only untrained user of the device in any of the original three movies. Solo used the lightsaber to slice open the body of a dead Tauntaun, whose insides he then used to keep Luke warm while he constructed a proper shelter for both of them.

• Mara Jade's lightsaber was also used by Han to chop down Killiks shortly before the Swarm War. When he briefly lost it, Tarfang, an Ewok smuggler, viciously wielded the lightsaber to dice up Killiks to great effect.

• Anja Gallandro, daughter of the deceased bounty hunter Gallandro, wielded an acid-yellow lightsaber of particularly ancient make in service to the Black Sun figure known as Czethros.

• Darca Nyl, an ex-mercenary, used the green lightsaber of a dead Jedi during his pursuit of Lycan. Though he rarely used it in battle, it often gave him the advantage of being able to pass for a true Jedi. It was destroyed along with Lycan in a trap laid by Darca in a Force-sensitive cave on Molavar.

• Suvam Tan the eccentric Rodian inventor was such a mechanical genius that he managed to construct his own lightsaber from scratch despite not having any Force sensitivity. It is unknown whether Suvam was actually able to use his lightsaber.

• General Grievous is probably the most famous non-Force-sensitive user of lightsabers. He used lightsabers during the Clone Wars, all of which were taken from Jedi he had either killed or defeated in battle, except for Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas' lightsaber, which was a gift from Count Dooku.

• Boba Fett has been shown wielding a lightsaber in the Expanded Universe.

• Jaden Korr was able to construct a lightsaber without prior instruction in the Force, though it is never said how.

• In the Tapani Sector of the Galaxy, a subculture of saber rakes developed who fought duels with a lightsaber-like weapon called a lightfoil.

Lightsaber effects in the films

The original film prop hilts were constructed from old camera-flash battery packs. The 'switched-on' sword props were designed with the intention of creating an 'in-camera' glowing effect. The 'blade' was three-sided and coated with a retroreflector array—the same sort used for highway signs. A lamp was positioned to the side of the taking camera and reflected towards the subject through 45-degree angled glass so that the sword would appear to glow from the camera's point-of-view. A motor in the hilt caused the blade to spin so that a reflective surface was always presented directly to the camera. This also created the familiar 'flickering' effect. Ultimately, this process yielded unsatisfactory results and animation was employed to enhance the brightness of the sabers. At this point, the artistic decision was made to assign different colors to the blades.

For The Empire Strikes Back, the lightsaber-blade props were simple white rods, and the glow effect was achieved entirely through a special kind of animation called rotoscoping, in which animation is drawn over live footage to maintain precision. In Empire of Dreams on the 2004 DVD release, Mark Hamill originally thought that the sabers would simply be post-production "cartoon" blades, but a real rod was necessary to have something to hit against in knowing where to stop a swinging sword.

For Return of the Jedi and the later movies, the hilts were machined from aluminum. In place of the glowing blade, carbon rods were used as blade reference during fight scenes. In the first two prequel films, they upgraded to resin "stunt" handles and aluminum tubes. For the final film of the Star Wars saga, Revenge of the Sith, the aluminum was replaced by a carbon-fiber blend specifically manufactured for the production. These props had to be reinforced because during the early stages of these props' use, they would often snap from the impact when the actors used them to film combat sequences. The filming of one lightsaber sequence, such as the final Obi-wan/Anakin duel on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, could take several months because each actor had to memorize a complex sequence of 1000+ moves and execute them perfectly.

In the prequel movies, the blades were created digitally. Many have commented that the lightsabers in the DVD release look worse than the original—blaming the advanced remastering algorithm used to prepare the films for a digital release. Luke Skywalker's lightsaber on board the Millennium Falcon in A New Hope was for most of the scene not colored at all and remained white; however, in a true special effects gaffe, in a short shot where it was colored it was green rather than the bluish color it had earlier in the movie.

It is interesting to note that there is poor lighting throughout the Star Wars saga in regard to the light the sabers themselves cast. Light is typically cast across the face of a digital character, such as Yoda in Episodes II and III. When a saber passes by a human figure, there is very little glow cast across the figure or face. An exception is that during the Dooku/Skywalker fight in Attack of the Clones, the actors shot close-ups while holding, essentially, neon tubes colored appropriately for their blades. This was not done to contradict anything previously stated but purely dramatic effect.

Creators of fan films have used various techniques for creating the coveted "lightsaber effect," most of which involve programs such as EffectsLab (formerly AlamDV), Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, MainVision, The GIMP, LSmaker, crimsonfx (for Mac), or Blender.

The characteristic sound is added later by the sound effects team, but Ewan McGregor mouthed his own lightsaber noises before being asked to "leave it to the professionals" when filming The Phantom Menace. Liam Neeson and Hayden Christensen did the same. The characteristic lightsaber sound is a combination of a film projector's light and interference caused by a television on an unshielded audio cable.

When the prequel trilogy began filming, George Lucas said that all Jedi would have blue, green, or similarly-colored lightsaber blades, not only to differentiate themselves from the Sith, but also to give them their own visual identity. Whenever there were flashes of blaster fire or explosions around, the color of a Jedi's lightsaber would shine through.

Arguably one of the most lusted-after props in film history, various toy replicas have been released, ranging from essentially a flashlight with a plastic tube attached, to accurate copies of the original film props, complete with motion-sensitive sound effects and colored blade. Toy lightsabers are consistently the best-selling of all Star Wars related merchandise. However, it appears the beam of pure energy boasted by the original lightsabers will remain fiction for some time to come.

Theories on possible inspirations for the idea

The strongest inspiration for the lightsaber may be the "force-blade" from the Lucky Starr series of science fiction novels for young adults, originally published 1952-1958 by Isaac Asimov under the pen name "Paul French." The force-blade is described as: "The most vicious weapon in the Galaxy. Outwardly, it was merely a short shaft of stainless steel that was a little thicker than the haft of a knife but which could still be held nicely in the palm. Within it was a tiny motor that could generate an invisible nine-inch-long, razor-thin force-field that could cut through anything composed of ordinary matter. Armor was of no use against it, and since it could slice through bone as easily as through flesh, its stab was almost invariably fatal."

In the documentary "Empire of Dreams", George Lucas stated that the origin of the lightsaber stemmed from his desire to place swordfights similar to those in The Adventures of Robin Hood in the Star Wars films. The laser property was inspired simply by the need to make it futuristic (metal swords would feel out of place in futuristic setting that relied on lasers for its firearms).

Additional stories which may have inspired the lightsaber include: Kaldar, Planet of Antares (1933) by Edmond Hamilton, Gather, Darkness! (1943) by Fritz Leiber, Nightwings (1968), by Robert Silverberg, an episode of Far Out Space Nuts (1975-1976), and The Lord of the Rings (1954, 1955) by JRR Tolkien. Asimov's force-blade expands on his earlier invention of "a penknife with a force-field blade," first used in his Foundation novel (1951).

Lightsaber-like devices in other contexts

The word lightsaber has become a type of Genericized trademark for any energy-bladed sword or similar weapons, even if they are not identified as such in other universes.

As well, a laser-eye surgery device tried using the name, but was countered by a lawsuit from Lucas.

In reality

Lightsabers, made of immaterial beams of light, collide when they should pass right through one another without a sound. Moreover, laser beams propagate in a straight line as long as they do not meet an obstacle, therefore scientifically correct lightsaber blades would cut through a starship hull. This would mean that dueling with lightsabers would be like dueling with flashlights because the blades would pass through each other and continue to travel until they hit an object, not reflecting back onto themselves.

Instead of a laser-based device, the most believable design for a lightsaber-like device would use plasma confined by a magnetic field. Plasma is a super-heated gas and is also the fourth state of matter, the color and luminosity of which varies depending on the temperature and composition. Plasma could be ionized by a particle beam from a compact particle accelerator; at relativistic energies, the beam would produce its own blue glow along its axis from Cherenkov radiation.

Keeping a gas in the plasma-state requires considerable energy: 40 kW are necessary for a 10 centimeter (4 in) saber at 10,000°C (18,000°F). It would be difficult to fit the required generator into the saber's hilt. To control and increase the length of the blade, the plasma would need to be confined within a magnetic field. Although this design would behave like a lightsaber from the Star Wars movies, it is considered foolhardy to confine plasma magnetically. A handful of magnets would disrupt the confinement field, and plasma would spill onto the saber's wielder. Furthermore, the magnetic field would prevent the plasma from performing any cutting action because it would always be shielded from whatever the blade struck by the magnetic field.

To make a semi-solid beam of energy which could interact with both matter and energy would require containing a quasar and quantum singularity inside the hilt. The gravitational field would pull all the quasar's expelled plasma back moments after the quasar releases them. The speed of the returning plasma would form a chainsaw effect allowing it to cut through the matter with ease, while still being stopped by an opposing beam. A modulated gravity field would bounce, allowing for the reflection of energy beams. So far, no known substance exists which is able to contain a quantum singularity or to contain and/or focus a gravitational field.

A lightsaber in reality would be difficult to wield, since its center of gravity would be in the hilt next to the hand. A real sword has its center of gravity further from the hand, which allows the user more control and power in the swings and thrusts. With a lightsaber, a user would need to have much more control and wrist strength in order to accurately use a lightsaber with strength and power. However, because the blade is supposed to be made of light, it would have no weight at all. In that instance, the blade would move easily while the hilt moved slowly. According to commentaries on the prequel trilogy DVDs, the lightsaber props were indeed built so that their center of gravity was centered in the hilt, as if there was no blade at all.

References

1. ^ Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
2. ^ Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover