Can a lightsaber cut through adamantium??

[spwatkins]

I write software for Ultrasound systems and based on what I've learned, I think that a light sword might be a feasible technology. An ultrasound probe could easily described as a "sound sword". An array of transducer elements generate little chirps of sound waves which are carefully delayed so that over a narrow "sword-shaped" range the waveforms augment each other while in other places the waves are uncorrelated and cancel out. It's not too big a stretch to imagine that a similar thing might be done with light waves. In that case, it's not that the photons travel for a distance and stop, it's that the separate bursts of protons keep going but are uncorrelated.

 

[omega 616]

This question has bugged me ever since I heard it on the RoosterTeeth Drunk Tank Podcast (for those of you who don't know what that is, go download it for free from iTunes). In truth, I believe it absolutely could do it, it would just be a long time to do it, like the adamantium would be fighting with the lightsaber.

What do you think happens?

While I have seen a theorised lightsabre made out of plasma (they can't use light 'cos the beam would go on forever, like out into the universe style), they used magnets to control the plasma. It was quite interesting programme to watch.

Since I am not a wolverine fanboy I have no idea how heat resistant the metal is, but I have seen that Xmen were the woman gets injected with it, so it seems easy to make into a liquid.

I would say it would cut it with ease 'cos plasma is silly hot.

 

[EHKOS]

Well, I remember someone cutting through a door with one and that took a bit so no. Not to mention the weave thingy.

 

[shootthebandit]

This question has bugged me ever since I heard it on the RoosterTeeth Drunk Tank Podcast (for those of you who don't know what that is, go download it for free from iTunes). In truth, I believe it absolutely could do it, it would just be a long time to do it, like the adamantium would be fighting with the lightsaber.

What do you think happens?

i think we are missing a very valid point, if theoretically a lightsaber could cut through wolverines adamantium, wouldnt his "human" skeletal/body structure just repair the damage done by the lightsaber. what im saying is his human skelton would simply rapidly heal and replace the damaged adamantium with bone. the adamantium could then be repaired at a later date

 

[BiscuitWheels]

Hell, Luke's lightsaber bounced off Vader's shoulder with just a few sparks in Empire. It's just a fancy laser sword.

 

[tologna]

No, it would just heat it until it is the same temperature as the beam. Adamantium doesn't melt, therefore a lightsaber can't cut it.

However, it's not as though the lightsabre can only cut through things that melt. It's cut through many things that didn't melt, like solid bone.

*sigh* Lightsabers "cut" things by rapidly melting them. Like a plasma-torch, there is no actual blade... Phisics Fail.

Bones don't melt... and light / plasma beams do not stop each-other in their tracks... There is *something* else at work if two lightsabers can block each-other...

I think it would eventually destroy the adamantium, that high energy would probably screw with the metal at an atomic level.

The only reason bones don't melt is because they disintagrate<sp first. Which is how a lightsaber "cuts" them, and plants, and other not-meltable-but-still-burnable substances. To our best knowledge, "addy" isn't burnable either.

 

[Brandon237]

No, it would just heat it until it is the same temperature as the beam. Adamantium doesn't melt, therefore a lightsaber can't cut it.

However, it's not as though the lightsabre can only cut through things that melt. It's cut through many things that didn't melt, like solid bone.

*sigh* Lightsabers "cut" things by rapidly melting them. Like a plasma-torch, there is no actual blade... Phisics Fail.

Bones don't melt... and light / plasma beams do not stop each-other in their tracks... There is *something* else at work if two lightsabers can block each-other...

I think it would eventually destroy the adamantium, that high energy would probably screw with the metal at an atomic level.

The only reason bones don't melt is because they disintagrate<sp first. Which is how a lightsaber "cuts" them, and plants, and other not-meltable-but-still-burnable substances. To our best knowledge, "addy" isn't burnable either.

If a lightsaber is hot enough to almost instantaneously turn bone into mist, it is more than likely hot enough to, however slowly, melt the adamantium. Although there is of course only one way to truly settle the argument... GEORGE!

On a side note, the metal with the highest melting point is tungsten, which melts at less than 4000 degrees Celsius, and the plasma in the sun is at 6000 degrees celsius, and it is relatively safe to assume that: lightsabers are at least hot enough to turn nitrogen (main stable component in a life-supporting atmosphere) into plasma, and that nitrogen does not turn into plasma all that easily. In fact most solids boil well below 6000 degrees... I don't think Wolvy is gonna win this one...

 

[tologna]

No, it would just heat it until it is the same temperature as the beam. Adamantium doesn't melt, therefore a lightsaber can't cut it.

However, it's not as though the lightsabre can only cut through things that melt. It's cut through many things that didn't melt, like solid bone.

*sigh* Lightsabers "cut" things by rapidly melting them. Like a plasma-torch, there is no actual blade... Phisics Fail.

Bones don't melt... and light / plasma beams do not stop each-other in their tracks... There is *something* else at work if two lightsabers can block each-other...

I think it would eventually destroy the adamantium, that high energy would probably screw with the metal at an atomic level.

The only reason bones don't melt is because they disintagrate<sp first. Which is how a lightsaber "cuts" them, and plants, and other not-meltable-but-still-burnable substances. To our best knowledge, "addy" isn't burnable either.

If a lightsaber is hot enough to almost instantaneously turn bone into mist, it is more than likely hot enough to, however slowly, melt the adamantium. Although there is of course only one way to truly settle the argument... GEORGE!

On a side note, the metal with the highest melting point is tungsten, which melts at less than 4000 degrees Celsius, and the plasma in the sun is at 6000 degrees celsius, and it is relatively safe to assume that: lightsabers are at least hot enough to turn nitrogen (main stable component in a life-supporting atmosphere) into plasma, and that nitrogen does not turn into plasma all that easily. In fact most solids boil well below 6000 degrees... I don't think Wolvy is gonna win this one...

If this were taking-place in reality, I would agree... Addy is a fictional material, which is really the only thing that allows it to be so durable in the first place. So, it's really ONLY a matter of cannon v.s. cannon in this case.

 

[Brandon237]

No, it would just heat it until it is the same temperature as the beam. Adamantium doesn't melt, therefore a lightsaber can't cut it.

However, it's not as though the lightsabre can only cut through things that melt. It's cut through many things that didn't melt, like solid bone.

*sigh* Lightsabers "cut" things by rapidly melting them. Like a plasma-torch, there is no actual blade... Phisics Fail.

Bones don't melt... and light / plasma beams do not stop each-other in their tracks... There is *something* else at work if two lightsabers can block each-other...

I think it would eventually destroy the adamantium, that high energy would probably screw with the metal at an atomic level.

The only reason bones don't melt is because they disintagrate<sp first. Which is how a lightsaber "cuts" them, and plants, and other not-meltable-but-still-burnable substances. To our best knowledge, "addy" isn't burnable either.

If a lightsaber is hot enough to almost instantaneously turn bone into mist, it is more than likely hot enough to, however slowly, melt the adamantium. Although there is of course only one way to truly settle the argument... GEORGE!

On a side note, the metal with the highest melting point is tungsten, which melts at less than 4000 degrees Celsius, and the plasma in the sun is at 6000 degrees celsius, and it is relatively safe to assume that: lightsabers are at least hot enough to turn nitrogen (main stable component in a life-supporting atmosphere) into plasma, and that nitrogen does not turn into plasma all that easily. In fact most solids boil well below 6000 degrees... I don't think Wolvy is gonna win this one...

If this were taking-place in reality, I would agree... Addy is a fictional material, which is really the only thing that allows it to be so durable in the first place. So, it's really ONLY a matter of cannon v.s. cannon in this case.

Very true... in which case... [HEADING=2]GEORGE![/HEADING]

You've got some serious 'splainin' to do.

 

[Redingold]

Also, neither lightsaber nor adamantium can break through diamond, the strongest metal known to man.

Diamond.

Metal.

Chemistry: You're doing it wrong.

 

[spiritslayr]

More importantly, would the fact that adamantium can survive contact with a lightsabre (which is apparently actually a blade of plasma held in place by a force containment field: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightsaber) prevent it from becoming incredibly hot? How well does adamantium conduct heat? I'm just wondering because it might help Wolverine much that his claws can clash with a lightsabre when it causes his skeleton to heat up a few hundred degress? He can of cause heal, but it wouldn't be pleasant for him.

Even more importantly, how does Death's (from Discworld) scythe/sword fit into this? Can that cut through adamantium or a lightsabre?

Death's equipment would cut through anything as long it was cutting something in the discworld universe as it's powered by belief. After all it is said to have infinite sharpness.

 

[Knusper]

In KoToR, aren't their vibroblades made of a 'cortosis weave' that can parry and block lightsabers?

 

[nomad240]

Well, since a Lightsaber is more related to light (Duh), yeah, I don't think any physical substance could really block/hinder it even slightly, considering that it's just pure energy, rather than it having a physical form.

Look up the swords in KOTOR. lightsabers can't cut through them.

yes but good sir you fail to notivce that it is a game and when any old body gets a lightsaber that does what's originally described nothing would stay standing it was those moments of hacking up transdoshin thugs with savage metal blades and yet we had a fairly decent duel I was liek what the crap so I don't believe KotOR should qualify in this debate

Oh? so where does George Lucas say its non-canon?

the part of it providing balanced game mechanics and the fact that's it's never been verified as cannon from the get go... seriously there's the movie universe one that everyone knows, the game universes and then the book series none of them actually tied in together the books at best can be described as an alternate history for that poor galaxy far far away.

 

[nomad240]

one upped he was reduced to a single drop of blood and came back

That happened to Wolverine?

If that's the case, one could wonder if that included the adamantium skeleton as well. I mean the adamantium coating of his bones and the blades and all that aren't a natural part of his biological body after all, but something that got implanted.

A drop of blood doesn't contain any bones, so it shouldn't be able to regenerate an unnatural metal skeleton. But then again, if we're talking Marvel comics, then we're talking Marvel comics...

lol pretty much as previously stated wolverines regeneration is as strong as his popularity...

 

[nomad240]

And yet the Hulk HAS ripped wolverine clear in two and hurled wolvy's legs across to california? * source Ultimate universe Wolverine Vs. the hulk in a beautiful two page display of wolverine's guts going everywhere.

Key word being Ultimate, we have no idea if the properties of adamantium are different in alternate universes (things like Galactus and the Cosmic cube are, so why not the more mundane stuff?)

But even so, Hulk could rip wolverine in two without breaking any of the admantium bones, he'd just need to rip the tendons and muscles clean through and pop the bones from their sockets. Your bones aren't fused together.
quote]

but isnt all of wolverine's bones coated in adamantium? wouldn't that fuse them together making him stiff as a board? and perfectly useless in any fight? source of his bone covering X-men origins Wolverine the digital skeleton being covered in adamantium as Wovlerine screams his flesh melting heart out. as well as X2 I beleive.. it's been a while since i've seen that one.

 

[nomad240]

And yet the Hulk HAS ripped wolverine clear in two and hurled wolvy's legs across to california? * source Ultimate universe Wolverine Vs. the hulk in a beautiful two page display of wolverine's guts going everywhere.

Key word being Ultimate, we have no idea if the properties of adamantium are different in alternate universes (things like Galactus and the Cosmic cube are, so why not the more mundane stuff?)

But even so, Hulk could rip wolverine in two without breaking any of the admantium bones, he'd just need to rip the tendons and muscles clean through and pop the bones from their sockets. Your bones aren't fused together.

And X-Men? What are X-Men? Why they are mutants of course! What does the Imperium of Man do with mutants? >

This is a silly match up. A bunch of superheroes versus a vast empire of billions. Even so I'm loathe to accept that the Imperium would ever defeat the x-men, even if you pulled a completely brilliant surprise attack off, one X-man or woman would manage to travel back in time and warn the teams. It's just how it happens with them.

There's the fact that some X-men have had the power of gods able to devour planets like Dark Phoenix or wield telekinesis strong enough to put space and time in Nate Grey. Or that attacking them involves all earth's heroes, including beings of phenomenal power like Dr Strange or Scarlet Witch. Or that they've got intergalactic allies like Gladiator and Silver Surfer (who could unleash Galactus on their planets).

quote]
tee hee what is another piddly little planet thats worth no more than the tiny amount of dirt that can be farmed or factoried? The Vast imperium would simply exterminatus the planet... unless it was the marvel crew writing then you predicted rather spot on good sir... if it's the good fells at GW then there will be a landing force followed by a parade from the anti-mutants side of things next is all out war.. you prediction and then.... boom.
Signed a Writer for all things of the greater good. XD

 

[WolfThomas]

tee hee what is another piddly little planet thats worth no more than the tiny amount of dirt that can be farmed or factoried? The Vast imperium would simply exterminatus the planet... unless it was the marvel crew writing then you predicted rather spot on good sir... if it's the good fells at GW then there will be a landing force followed by a parade from the anti-mutants side of things next is all out war.. you prediction and then.... boom.
Signed a Writer for all things of the greater good. XD

What is a fleet of not so piddly ships made of metal that can be smashed together millions of miles before reaching earth? What is an empire which can be dissolved by a single genetic freak bending time and space to shoot a pregnant woman in Ancient anatolia 12,000 years ago (X-men time)?

It's a silly match. This is one of those arguments that goes on for ever simply because we can both twist our respective universe's rules to accomodate our arguments like 12years olds arguring about force-field and force-field-breakers.

but isnt all of wolverine's bones coated in adamantium? wouldn't that fuse them together making him stiff as a board? and perfectly useless in any fight? source of his bone covering X-men origins Wolverine the digital skeleton being covered in adamantium as Wovlerine screams his flesh melting heart out. as well as X2 I beleive.. it's been a while since i've seen that one.

Sorry my statement was a little ambigious, when I said your bones aren't fused together, I meant everyones including Wolverine's. I can see how it could be misunderstood.

No Wolverine's bone are not fused together which is precisely why you could pull him in half without breaking the adamantium. Take for examble his arm. You put enough force pulling it and him in other directions and his muscles will tear, his skin with rip, his tendons will snap, arteries and veins will shear and the head of his humerous will pop right out of it's socket. He will no longer have an arm (until it perhaps grows back with out the metal).

But throughout all that the adamantium will remain intact.

That happened to Wolverine?

If that's the case, one could wonder if that included the adamantium skeleton as well. I mean the adamantium coating of his bones and the blades and all that aren't a natural part of his biological body after all, but something that got implanted.

A drop of blood doesn't contain any bones, so it shouldn't be able to regenerate an unnatural metal skeleton. But then again, if we're talking Marvel comics, then we're talking Marvel comics...

It's not that straightforward. He came back from a drop of blood that fell onto and formed around his metal skeleton remains. There was a magical macguffin that supercharged the villains abilities and Wolverine was holding it when he died. So it was basically a magical one-off we don't like to talk about. Just like the time he survived a nuke (some sort of baloney deal with Death had taken place).

 

[incal11]

If there was a "nerdiest topic" competition on the escapist, this one would be a contender.
Funny reading.

 

[alithanar8]

A lightsaber is concentrated plasma coalesced and shaped into the form of a blade, as far as I know nothing can stop plasma not even adamantium. And according to George Lucas the only thing that can deflect a Lightsaber is another Lightsaber, so take that for what its worth

 

[Twilight_guy]

I know for a fact that lightsabers can't cut everything (it bounces off some stuff) and Adamantium is always described as nearly unbreakable and tough so I'm guessing no lightsabers just bounce off it.