Entertainment
 

Ray shield

From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.

Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Palpatine trapped by ray shields aboard Invisible Hand in Hallway 328.
"The shaft is ray shielded, so you'll have to use proton torpedoes."
―Jan Dodonna[src]

An Energy shield-also called a Deflector shield-is a protective force field. There are two basic types of energy shields: Ray shields, which absorb radiation and blaster bolts, and Particle shields, which repulse solid objects. Although energy shields can be used to defend planetary bases, they are more commonly associated with protecting starships from Stellar radiation, micrometeriorites, and enemy fire.

[edit] History and usage

"That shield is certainly putting a crimp in my day."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Battle of Christophsis — (audio)Listen (file info)[src]
A fambaa with a Gungan shield generator projector.

The Gungans in the Battle of Grassy Plains used energy shields for personal defense against the Trade Federation.

In 19 BBY, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the recently-rescued Palpatine walked into a ray shield trap, set by Grievous. Lacking a "plan B," they were captured and taken to the bridge where Grievous had been waiting for them.

Many starships contained ray shields as a defense against laser weapons. They absorbed lasers like a sponge, and sometimes they even managed to deflect some. When the ship had taken too many lasers the shields simply burned out, and needed to be re-charged.

The Death Star's thermal exhaust port was protected by a ray shield; however, Alliance proton torpedoes could penetrate it, and it was pivotal in the destruction of the battle station.

Ray shields vary in size according to the target they are protecting. Large capital ships such as an Imperial Star Destroyer had multiple arrays and some wealthy systems even had planetary shields. Well known Jedi Kyle Katarn used a personal shield to protect him during most of his battles. Han Solo and Chewbacca also used personal ray shields as gladiators in the Big Game.

[edit] Appearances

A ray shield at work.

[edit] Sources

Retrieved from "http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ray_shield"