What is the beam on the Death Star called?

The beam fired by the Death Star in Star Wars is called the superlaser. This superlaser is the most destructive weapon on the Death Star, capable of obliterating entire planets with a single shot.

Key Features of the Death Star's Superlaser:

1. Planetary Destruction: The superlaser is powerful enough to destroy an entire planet, as seen when it destroyed Alderaan in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.
2. Power Source: The superlaser is powered by Kyber crystals, which are large crystals with immense energy potential. These crystals are used to focus and amplify the weapon's destructive power.
3. Superlaser Focus: The superlaser beam is fired from a large dish on the Death Star’s surface. The dish collects and focuses the energy from the Kyber crystals into a concentrated beam that can destroy a planet.
4. Precision: The superlaser can be calibrated for different levels of intensity. It can be used for precision targeting (such as destroying a city or military installation) or fired at full strength to destroy a planet.
5. Second Death Star: In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, the Second Death Star also uses a superlaser, though its construction was incomplete at the time it was destroyed. It was still capable of firing and was intended to be even more powerful than the first.

The Death Star's superlaser is a symbol of ultimate power, representing the Empire's goal of maintaining control through fear and destruction. The weapon became a central plot element in the original trilogy, representing the destructive potential of the Empire’s technology.