Lightsabers have enchanted audiences since their appearance in the very first Star Wars film in 1977. Unfortunately, George Lucas hasn’t shared the technology in the years since then with the broader public, so we’re left to subsist on pale imitations. This is just such a build.
The closest human analog to Jedi technology is the laser, and this build uses 8 of them in combination with two LEDs. They’re aimed to coincide at a fixed distance above the hilt. A CO2 bicycle inflater is then used to blow through an e-cigarette to create a fog. This makes the red lasers readily visible to the human eye.
This ersatz lightsaber does have its limitations – fast motion tends to scatter the fog, making it once again invisible, and it’s really at its best held in a vertical orientation. There’s also some divergence beyond the focused point. With that said, it does look somewhat impressive when held still, smouldering away.
Until we gain a better mastery of plasma physics, perhaps you can make do with this fire-based build? Video after the break.
[Thanks to qrp-gaijin for the tip!]
It is truly remarkable how much potential laser tech possesses,i wonder how it will evolve in the coming years
Pretty clever. Seems like an easier, and in some ways more “realistic” build than what’s normally seen with led strips and such.
Excellent lightsaber photon lightsaber prototype.
No! no more starwars, dr who, nerd type projects. Find something else to worship! Stop propagating nerd stereotypes!
If everyone likes ice cream, does that make them stereotypical?