In the above picture, a TL bolt appears to take a specific
geometric shape. The front of the bolt has the appearance of a
cone. It quickly grows larger in diameter, until it reaches its
maximum. The diameter of the bolt then gradually decreases along
the length of the bolt, until it reaches a point close to the
end of the bolt. At this point, the bolt has its minimum
diameter. Then, the diameter of the bolt quickly increases
again. A possibility exists that the variations in diameter of
the bolt may represent variations in the actual intensity of the
bolt. The bolt itself may be only microscopic in diameter, and
the several-meters-wide areas only glare. The reason for such
variations in intensity is unclear. Perhaps these variations in
some way assists the bolt in penetrating enemy shields? Another
possibility is that the bolt has varying frequencies throughout
its length. This may explain the variations in observed "shape"
of the bolt. It may also explain the "damage before contact" of
some bolts (as seen in