Handheld energy weapons

[Rynn]

Luke's images are presumably weapons from the Interplanetary Era or the technologically equivalent part of the Early First Federation. Later weapons could take advantage of much larger power densities, but they would probably look quite different (they'd probably need large cooling fins for a start).

As an alternative to fins: compressed air cooling. Upon firing a canister in the weapon sprays cold air over the components and out side vents. When not being fired the gun draws energy and steadily sucks in air to replenish itself. In really heavy fire-fights you could eject the empty coolant canister and replace it with a fresh one. Such a weapon might look like a cross between a video camera and a paintball gun.

Another option; I can't find a good video/giff at the moment but in the Halo video game series the Covenant energy weapons overheat when used to much. When this happens their casing opens up and high powered fans roar to life. When the temperature drops down they fold up again.