Hard light

Hard light, also spelled hard-light, is the Forerunner technology that allows light to be transformed into a solid state to bear weight and perform a variety of tasks. This involves an as-yet unexplained interplay between coherent, high energy light and gas particles, such as air.

Background
Hard light was commonly used in the construction and composition of Forerunner structures and ships, and as a covering for mechanical and technological mechanisms, such as on the arms of a war sphinx. In addition, the technology is used in energy bridges as well as to lock Forerunner doors. Hard light was also used in the firing mechanisms of the Halo installations, as well as to stabilize and protect the rings against tidal and gravitational forces from other objects.

Many Forerunner ships use hard light technology to form its internal divisions and compartments. This allows a Forerunner ship to easily reconfigure its layout, furnishings or decoration at will.

Most Forerunner structures project a hard light decorative shell over the structural support elements of the building. Almost all Forerunner buildings seen on the Halo installations or the Ark lack this covering; the Forerunners did not install hard-light generators on Halo's structures, as they were meant to be purely functional. Additionally, any structures that possessed hard light decor only activated in the presence of Forerunners, although the decoration in the Menachite Forerunner complex activated when a group of reclaimers entered.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Wars
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Wages of Sin
 * Halo: Cryptum
 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * Breaking Quarantine
 * Halo: Blood Line