Beam Saber Technology - 09/02/2003

This is something I wrote over a year ago now and it needs a major update & revamp. However for the moment I have put it up in its original form so apologies if you actually read this and find it lacking. Beam Sabers Sources: The initial text is all canon (official) and the primary source is from Gundam Project by Mark Simmons. The text after “Author’s notes” are my observations and theories from the Gundam animations. Some of it is canon to an extent and some of it is my explanation of events witnessed on screen but not confirmed fact. Whereas ballistic beam weaponry works with mega particles, the noble beam saber instead emits high-energy Minovsky particles which are formed into a blade shaped I-Field. This I-Field is then filled with superheated plasma to complete the powerful blade. The particles are stored in the saber hilt inside an E-Cap (basically the same, but on a smaller scale, as those used in the magazines for post One Year War beam rifles). The E-Cap is usually recharged from the Mobile Suit’s reactor either when it is placed in its holster/compartment (on the backpack, arm, shoulder or elsewhere) or via a constant feed of some kind from the reactor (such as a line or via connectors on the Suit’s hand). Because of the E-Cap the saber can remain active and powered separate from the Suit itself and can therefore be thrown as a weapon or discarded as a decoy, for example. The I-Field container that holds the plasma actually repels it, therefore keeping both the contents in and other blades’ contents out. This results in sabers being able to block each other unless the I-Field is collapsed (which would result in the collapse of the whole saber anyway). A beam saber can be used to both defend and attack in melee combat. The I-Field can be configured into any number of variations in shape and size, as witnessed through the many varied weapons of Mobile Suits throughout the ages and universes. The tridents and scythes of Gundam Wing, and the multi-configuration of the Sazabi’s main beam melee weapon are all just variations on the beam saber. More notable variations include the small beam saber underneath the barrel of the RX-78GP01’s rifle (in the style of bayonets underneath rifles in past and modern warfare) which enables the pilot to block sudden melee attacks until one of the Suit’s sabers can be drawn. Notable more for its eccentricity than any major practical value, the beam flag of the Crossbone Vanguard (of the Gundam F91 movie) is a large symbol to mark a unit or military grouping of some kind. One can presume the density of particles and plasma is at an absolute minimum so that the flag is visible and structurally stable but so as not to drain the Mobile Suit unnecessarily. Authors Notes: Beam sabers seem to be configured to have varying levels of heat generated, which must mean the density of plasma within the blade can be altered. In 08th MS Team this required modification of settings in the body of the RX-79[G] itself rather than actual cockpit controls so one assumes the setting is regulated by maintenance crews and kept appropriate before entering potential combat situations. The hyper beam sabers of the ZZ Gundam (and other suits in different forms) are larger and more powerful beam sabers than standard. I am no physicist but I theorise that to increase the power of a beam saber the energy level of the Minovsky particles must be increased (possibly the creating a stronger I-Field – meaning it would cut into objects with increasing ease and also potentially overcome less strong I-Fields in a saber fight, perhaps. My thoughts at least but certainly the hyper beam sabers are stronger in some form or another. Several ballistic beam weapons can be used as beam sabers and vice versa. Examples that spring to mind are the hyper mega launcher of the Z Gundam and the aforementioned hyper beam sabers of the ZZ Gundam. I presume that any beam file could easily be constructed with the ability to reconfigure the Minovsky particles into an I-Field. Then it would merely need a reservoir or superheated plasma with which to fill it. The use of sabers as rifles is obviously slightly more tricky, requiring additional mechanisms which is why they are always mounted on some third device, such as the body of the G-Fortress. Whilst normal armour, no matter how dense, would obviously not halt the cut of a beam saber, I presume that the density of the material may affect quite how much resistance the blade meets. Meaning that yes, a blade will always cut conventional materials but denser matter may take longer. Obviously shields and the like offer very little resistance to beam sabers. Last updated to Radiohead - Creep