Shield Generators

Vessels in Star Wars maintain both particle shields (to resist kinetic impacts) and ray or energy shields (to absorb strikes from energy weapons). These shields have two vital elements: the radiating element, and the 'sink' element. The energy from an impact is stored within the so-called 'sink,' where it waits to be released as neutrinos via the radiating element. The re-radiating speed is quite impressive: old military assault transports from the Clone War can re-radiate up to 16 teratons per second, and larger Imperial vessels are substantially more powerful. To overwhelm this capacity, one must fill the 'sink:' imagine an actual sink, with an open drain. As water (energy) enters the sink, it drains away at a given rate (just as the energy is re-radiated from the shield). In order to fill the sink (or breach the shield), one must overcome the rate of drain, and by doing so eventually cause the sink to overflow (or collapse the shields). It is believed that a rapid influx of energy can bring down shields in a relatively brief span of time.

Virtually all vessels in SW carry shielding, and it is a vital aspect of their combat technology. Additionally, there are personal shields and shields for ground vehicles (both of which are rather rare), theater shields to cover cities or military bases, and planetary shields to protect entire worlds (both being fairly commonplace). Shields can also be projected around objects in space from the ground, as was done to the second Death Star during its construction.

Record 801 - technology - Last update 28 Mar 2007, 23:09:40

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