Giz Asks: Are Lightsabers Possible After All?

What color do you want?

Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, most of you are familiar with the lightsaber, and have probably even played with a toy that resembles a lightsaber. And while brandishing such a toy lightsaber, everyone thinks once, "If this was a real thing...!"

If a real lightsaber were developed, it could be a big boom, putting aside the concerns that it could be used for crime. But seriously, is a lightsaber scientifically feasible?

So, I asked some scientists who specialize in plasma about the pros and cons of lightsabers.

Interesting, but unfortunately unreal

Dennis K. Killinger, Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of South Florida

Isn't it made of laser light? Then the problem is how to stop the photons in the air

Mark Csele (Professor of Optical Communication, Niagara College)

The lightsaber is made of plasma. And the problem is how to use a magnetic field to contain the plasma

Lorin Matthews (Professor of Physics, Baylor University)

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