From: weaverd@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Dana M. Weaver)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Subject: Re: Star Wars vs. Star Trek, tech & tactics, etc.
Date: 24 Jul 92 21:35:38 GMT
Organization: University of Cincinnati

In article <1992Jul24.173630.29144@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> gfm@gnu.ai.mit.edu.UUCP (George Francis McBay) writes:
>In article <BrwD6H.2Dz@watserv1.waterloo.edu> rlbell@babbage.waterloo.edu (Richard Bell) writes:
>>anti-matter bombs.  Besides, it was a FULLY OPERATIONAL Death Star [emphasis
>>mine], and the Millenium Falcon still penetrated its useless shields.   
>			
>	I hate to get in this ST vs SW fight, even indirectly..However...
me too buuuuut... :)

>This is about the third post I've seen talking about the SHIELDS on the 
>original Death Star...My question is..can anyone prove they exist? I don't
>remember anyone mentioning these at all during the first movie (But I also
>did not read the novelization, so...)  I was under the impression that the
>first death star was just incredibly-well armored, which is why they had to
>shoot into an exhaust port to do any real damage AFTER they came through the
>shield everyone else seems to think was there. I got the impression that
>the shield on DSII was there only because the superstructure wasn't finished,
>and that a shield that size NEEDED to be external, or they would have put
>an interal one in much sooner (At least before they made the weapons 
>operational)
>
>Anyways..
ok... first, If I recal correctly (quick someone go check thier copy!) Gold
leader comented to the various squads to put full power to the DEFLECTOR
SCREENS (this is all in caps for refference latter :).  This was due to the
shields around the death star, when the X/Y-wings approached they suffered
a good bit of electical storm kind of interference (ie. flashing lights, 
thunder, etc...).  I assume that this is the shield being mentioned.  also,
from what I gather, it was some kind of 'particle' shield (made of particles,
or to defend against particles, I dunno...)  so the mesh idea mentioned earlier
is a good analogy.  it was designed to keep starships a good distance away.
Infact it is mentioned in the film that the Empire wouldn't expect
snub-fighters to attack, so it didn't have any real defenses against them.  
(aside from Tie Fighters).  Anyway, enough about that...

back to the all caps word above...  If one term is used consistantly throughout
the film it is 'deflector' screens (or deflector shields:) but deflector is
the important part.  They are constantly being shifted around the MF, X-wings,
etc... "Put full power to the forward deflector shields" and such.  Now, my
theory (mark that as an IMHO) is that they are some sort of magneticaly induced
shielding designed not to absorb damage (a shield) but to rather to redirect it
(hence the name deflector).  Look at some of the still shots of the MF being
shot at in the various movies.  notice that when the blaster shot makes contact
with one of the screens at a right angle the MF take a solid hit.  BUT, when
the shot is a smaller angle it is DEFLECTED! (not stoped)

How are shots deflected?  well, remember the long past argument that determined
that 'blaster' actualy refered to a particle accelerator type weapon rather
than a 'laser' (as such).  Mainly because of the recoil and the need to lead
a target (and the fact that it isn't a steady stream shot).  Weeeeellll...
if it is infact a particle beam, them a strong (albeit, well organized) 
magnetic force should be able to change its course.  (except, as I said, when
the shot was straight on...)  The shields would go down only if the generator
it's self was destroyed (Star Destroyer, ROTJ) or by loseing power (all the
time on the MF :).  How does this apply to the ST vs. SW thing?  I dunno,
but I'm sure it'll make things more fun :) (after all aren't Phasers just 
phased array particles? )

BTW deflectors would have nearly no effect on an object as large as a fighter.
(unless they were ungodly powerfull :)

PS. this is almost but not quite all hypothisised by me (with Cannon put in
where posible).  Rip apart the Physics, but not me :) I'm just putting forward
my understandings... etc... etc... disclaimer, datclaimer...

-- 
*****************************************************************************
* weaverd@ucunix.san.uc.edu  *        "Look!  An invisible barrier!"        *
* bg250@cleveland.freenet.edu*            "ore wa neko ja nai!"             *
* dana.weaver@bbs.oit.unc.edu*"Whats Marvel Frozen? Aura Battler Ice cream?"*