Kirlian photography - Research, Explanations, In popular culture

A technique in which a very high voltage (30 000–50 000 volts) creates a high intensity electric field which can be recorded on a photographic plate as a form of electrical interference. The phenomenon was discovered by Russian engineer Semyon Kirlian and his wife Valentina during the 1950s. Materials which are good conductors give an image of the surface of the object; poor conductors show detail of their inner structure. Dead objects have a constant image, whereas living objects show a constantly changing pattern, which in human beings is said to correspond to the aura and to reflect the physical and psychological state of the subject. There is now research interest into the electrical interference patterns associated with normal and diseased tissue, including cancer cells. Computer evaluation of these patterns may, in the future, form the basis of a new system of tissue diagnosis.

Kirlian photography refers to a form of contact print photography, theoretically associated with high-voltage. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.

Kirlian's work, from 1939 onward, involved an independent rediscovery of a phenomenon and technique variously called "electrography," "electrophotography," and "corona discharge photography."

In controversial metaphysical contexts, Kirlian photography, Kirlian energy, and so on, are sometimes referred to as just "Kirlian." Kirlian made controversial claims that his method showed proof of supernatural auras, said to resemble a rough outline of the object like a colorful halo.

Research

Kirlian proposed and promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings.

Researchers at Drexel University, however, have claimed that they were unable to reproduce the effect when the glass used to capture the original leaf was replaced with new glass before the freshly cut leaf was photographed, leading them to conclude that the "cut leaf" phenomenon was caused by microscopic etching in the surface of the glass which occurred during preparing the images of the uncut leaf.

In addition to living material, inanimate objects such as coins will also produce images on the film in a Kirlian photograph setup.

In the United states, Dr. Thelma Moss of UCLA devoted much time and energy to the study of Kirlian photography when she led the parapsychology laboratory at UCLA in the 1970s.

Explanations

The accepted explanation amongst scientists is that the images produced are those typically caused by a high voltage corona effect, similar to those seen from other high voltage sources such as the Van de Graaff generator or Tesla coil.

Skeptics of the paranormal have long disputed the claims made concerning auras and Kirlian photography.

In popular culture

One famous use of Kirlian photography in popular culture is a picture resembling a hand print in the title sequence of the U.S. science fiction TV series The X-Files.

In the movie Omen IV, Delia's babysitter, Jo, takes Delia to a psychic carnival where she and Delia had their picture taken with a Kirlian camera.

The musical artist Benn Jordan's eighth album is titled Kirlian Selections, in reference to his electric-influenced music style.

In the comic book The Authority, team member Apollo is said to have a "Kirlian aura."

Kirlia, a species of psychic-type Pokémon, is named after Semyon Kirlian.