RESEARCH METHODOLOGY POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 5:45-6:30 PM
Creath K, Schwartz GE.
Methodological parameters for imaging and measurement
of biophoton emission from the hands of energy healers.
University of Arizona kcreath@ieee.org
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine
methodological parameters for the imaging of biophoton emission from
hands of energy healers and from plant leaves used as detectors of subtle
radiation.
METHODS: This emission (metabolically-related
biological chemiluminescence) can be imaged using a high-performance,
low-noise (nearly photon-limited), cooled, imaging CCD array similar
to those developed for long-exposure astronomical images. The developed
system also includes modular imaging optics with various magnifications,
staging, a light-tight dark box and software for time series analysis
of images. The quantitative data obtained enables the monitoring of
location and amount of biophoton emission across biological objects
and tissues enabling the determination of function states of living
systems as a function of time. Figure (A) is a white light image of
human hands while (B) is a biophoton emission image (10 minute exposure)
of the same hands in total darkness. Beginning with plant leaves (Fig.
C) as objects this study varied imaging parameters of camera operating
temperature, combining (binning) of pixels in hardware to increase the
camera's collective power, exposure time, and utilized bandpass filters
to determine visible and near infrared emission bands. Parameters for
imaging of human hands were then varied to optimize image quality.
RESULTS: The background noise of this nearly
background limited detector is minimized when operating the sensor is
cooled to at least Ð80¡C. Above -80¡C the background noise increases
exponentially. The signal-to-noise ratio can be significantly enhanced
using hardware binning (Fig. (D)). Most of the emission detected is
the wavelength region from 600-1000 nm.
CONCLUSION: Biophoton emission can consistently
be measured and levels compared within controlled operating parameters
as a function of time to determine relative changes in emission. Signals
from human hands are about one-tenth that of plant leaves. Emission
can be measured quantitatively and tracked with time using 10-minute
exposures and binning levels of 20x20 pixels.
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