What is the specific energy density of a lightsaber?

---

Clarification of Question by dbabbitt-ga on 09 Nov 2005 04:56 PST

In other words, what is the specific energy density of a hand-held 30
centimeter long device (about the size and weight of a large
flashlight) that can melt a three-foot-thick blast door.

Not enough information.

   What are the thermodynamic properties of the blast door? What is
its melting point, and its specific heat? What are the dimensions of
the saber blade? For how much time can a light saber run before
exhausting its stored energy? What are the dimension of the saber's
energy storage cell?

   From this one might possibly be able to determine the minimum
temperature & instantaneuous heat content of the blade, and the
wattage required to sustain it. Given the wattage, and the lifetime of
a fully charged cell, the minimum density of potential energy in the
cell can be determined.

   But even given this much, there's still the question of the percent
efficiency of the saber for converting the stored energy into a blade,
which when factored in would yield the actual energy content of the
cell. For this, one would need to actually know the mechanism for
generating the blade.

   Also, if one wants to analyse such a mythical device in realistic
terms, then it's consistent to ask why Jedis don't get their faces
burnt off each time they use their sabers.

It's also a major issue whether the saber is actually merely a
thermal-energy weapon, or if there's some high-level physics going on
there. I think the second must be the case; if it was just heat, how
could it stop a blaster bolt? I'd say we're more likely looking at
some sort of geometric distortion of spacetime, which means the light
probably comes from Cerenkov radiation or something like it. Could
also be some sort of screwing around with the internal structure of
matter at the quantum level. Either way it's a pretty cool toy...

Here is one theory.  Pretty entertaining, from a guy with an
overactive imagination. =)

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber4.htm