The sword of light can become the most dangerous weapon

Although the theory proves that it is possible to create a light sword, it has the ability to become the most dangerous weapon ever created, both for users and victims.

In the Star Wars franchise, the light sword is the ancient weapon of the Jedi, using plasma energy . Plasma is considered the fourth state of matter on Earth alongside liquids, solids and gases. It is also the most common state of all visible matter in the universe (except for dark matter and dark energy), according to the International Business Times.

The characteristic that makes plasma different from the rest is that it consists of charged molecules - free electrons (negatively charged) and the nucleus loses electrons (positively charged). The motion charge inside the plasma beam can produce a magnetic field, which can be controlled by magnetic fields or electric fields.

The magnetic field plays an important role in keeping the plasma inside the sword, resisting the pressure generated by the hot plasma seeking to expand around. This is one of the methods developed to control energy from nuclear fusion, when nuclei (atoms without electrons) collide to create new neuclei and release large amounts of energy.

A soldier holding a light sword in the movie Star Wars.(Photo: Lucas Film).

Plasma can emit light in two ways. The first is due to high temperatures. For example, the Sun is a hot plasma sphere with heat coming from a nuclear reaction inside its core. Every hot object emits electromagnetic radiation with a special wavelength. Their color depends on temperature, from red to low temperature to blue with high temperature. To make the light sword really dangerous, it needs to be blue.

Another way to glow plasma is similar to how fluorescent lamps work. Thanks to electric current flowing through the plasma source, electrons can collide with positively charged atoms (called ions) and increase energy. The ions react by releasing excess energy in the form of light, causing the sword to glow. This light has a specific color according to the plasma composition.

Although the light sword is feasible from a physical point of view, the energy needed to create the plasma is extremely large, especially to contain it in the small sword grip. Researchers need to achieve many technological achievements to be able to turn the light sword into reality. In it, the biggest problem they need to overcome is the process of re-linking from , according to the study of Martin Archer, plasma physicist at Queen Mary University in London, England.

Magnetic re-linking is a fundamental process in the field of plasma physics, which occurs when plasma with different magnetic fields collides. As each plasma's magnetic field approaches each other, all the atomic lines will change and rearrange into a new magnetic field configuration and release enormous energy. When two light swords collide, the re-linking process will occur, resulting in the destructive force corresponding to a large explosion emanating from the plasma inside. As a result, both opponents in the duel will be difficult to preserve life.