Glossary of Psionics

Glossary of Psionics

Audience

Difficulty	Plain

Plain-language definitions of every term used across the Psionics cluster. For the mathematical/typographical symbol reference ($ \psi $, $ T_{\mu \nu } $, $ \Gamma _{\nu \rho }^{\mu } $, …) see Symbol_Glossary.

Terms are grouped by area and listed alphabetically inside each group. Cross-references are wikilinked.

Foundational concepts

Action (physics)

A single number computed from the entire history of a system. The path the system actually follows is the one that minimises (or extremises) the action. Every modern physical theory — including the 5D parent theory of psionics — is written by specifying an action.

Field (physics)

A quantity defined at every point of space and time. The air's temperature is a scalar field; a wind map is a vector field; the psi field is a scalar field; the electromagnetic field is a tensor field.

Lagrangian

The integrand of the action — the density (per spacetime volume) whose total integral is the action. Specifying the Lagrangian is the standard way to write down a theory.

Scalar field

A field that assigns a single real number to each point of spacetime. Examples: temperature, pressure, the Higgs field, the ψ field.

Spacetime

The combined 4-dimensional fabric of space (3 dimensions) and time (1 dimension). In 5D theories one additional spatial dimension is added, usually compactified.

Stress-energy tensor $ T_{\mu \nu } $

The complete bookkeeping of energy, momentum, momentum-flux, and stress carried by a field. $ T^{00} $ is energy density; $ T^{0i} $ is energy flux; $ T^{ij} $ is stress and pressure. In psionics $ T^{00}(\psi ) $ is the quantity practitioners feel directly as "energy".

Tensor

A multi-indexed generalisation of vectors and matrices that transforms in a well-defined way under change of coordinates. The metric $ g_{\mu \nu } $ and stress-energy $ T_{\mu \nu } $ are rank-2 tensors.

Wave equation

A partial differential equation of the form $ \Box \varphi ={\text{source}} $ whose solutions propagate at the speed of light (in the massless case) or slower (with mass). The ψ field obeys a wave equation.

ψ-specific concepts

ψ field (psi field)

The proposed real scalar field underlying psionic phenomena. Generated by coherent neural firing, focused attention, and tuned hardware; couples to electromagnetism and gravity. See Psi_Field.

$ \Psi $ (uppercase, energy density)

The energy density carried by the ψ field — formally $ T^{00} $ of the ψ stress-energy tensor. What practitioners feel directly. See Psi_Field §"Energy density Ψ".

Psionic charge $ p $

A coupling parameter that determines how strongly an object responds to ψ-field gradients. Ordinary matter has $ p\approx 0 $; biologically or technologically "tuned" matter can have non-zero $ p $. The fundamental force law is $ \mathbf {F} =-p\,\nabla \psi $.

Psionic coupling constant $ G_{\psi } $

The strength of the ψ field, analogous to Newton's $ G $ for gravity. Empirically open. See Symbol_Glossary.

Psionic current $ J_{\psi } $

The source term in the ψ wave equation. Concretely: coherent neural firing patterns, focused intent, or a tuned emitter — anything that pumps the ψ field.

Sanity-check limit

A regime of parameters where the full theory should reduce to a known, well-tested theory. The Sanity_Check_Limits page lists every required reduction (Newtonian gravity, Maxwell, Yukawa, Schrödinger, etc.).

Soliton

A localised, stable, non-spreading solution of a nonlinear wave equation. The $ \lambda \psi ^{4} $ self-interaction in the ψ Lagrangian admits soliton solutions — these are the rigorous basis for stable "thought-forms" and energy constructs. See Soliton_Solutions_of_Psi_Field.

Yukawa potential

The short-range potential $ \psi (r)=-G_{\psi }M\,e^{-mr}/r $ produced by a massive scalar field. The non-zero ψ-field mass $ m $ gives ψ effects a finite range — the rigorous basis for ψ-shielding being possible at all.

Math language

$ \nabla $ (nabla)

The spatial gradient operator. $ \nabla \psi $ is the vector pointing in the direction of fastest increase of ψ, with magnitude equal to the rate of increase.

$ \nabla ^{2} $ (Laplacian)

The sum of second spatial derivatives, $ \partial ^{2}/\partial x^{2}+\partial ^{2}/\partial y^{2}+\partial ^{2}/\partial z^{2} $. Measures how much a field deviates from the average of its neighbours.

$ \Box $ (d'Alembertian / box operator)

The spacetime generalisation of the Laplacian: $ \Box =-\partial ^{2}/\partial t^{2}+\nabla ^{2} $ (in $ c=1 $ units). $ \Box \varphi =0 $ is the wave equation.

Christoffel symbol $ \Gamma _{\nu \rho }^{\mu } $

A combination of derivatives of the metric that encodes the "connection" needed to compare vectors at different points of a curved space. Appears in the geodesic equation and in covariant derivatives.

Metric tensor $ g_{\mu \nu } $

Encodes the geometry of spacetime — distances and angles. In flat spacetime it is the Minkowski metric $ \operatorname {diag} (-1,+1,+1,+1) $.

Covariant derivative $ \nabla _{\mu } $

The derivative that is consistent with the curvature of the space; reduces to $ \partial _{\mu } $ in flat space.

Klein–Gordon equation

The relativistic wave equation for a free scalar field: $ \Box \varphi -m^{2}\varphi =0 $. The ψ field reduces to a Klein–Gordon field in the limit $ \lambda \to 0,\ J_{\psi }\to 0 $.

Sigmoid function

A smooth S-shaped function (e.g. $ f(u)=1/(1+e^{-u}) $) used in neural-network and Wilson–Cowan models to represent neuronal firing-rate saturation.

Bifurcation

A qualitative change in the behaviour of a dynamical system as a parameter crosses a critical value — e.g. a stable fixed point becoming unstable, or a new oscillation appearing. Kundalini transitions are modelled as bifurcations of the brain–ψ coupled system; see Wilson-Cowan_Coupled_to_Psi.

Fixed point

A configuration where the dynamical equations give zero rate of change — a steady state. Resting neural baseline activity is a stable fixed point of the Wilson–Cowan equations.

Compactified dimension

A spatial dimension whose extent is small and wrapped around (topologically a circle, sphere, or torus) so that ordinary 4D physics is not noticeably affected. The fifth dimension of Kaluza–Klein theory is compactified.

Kaluza–Klein decomposition

The standard procedure for getting 4D physics out of a 5D theory: expand fields in modes of the compactified extra dimension and integrate it out. See 5D_Action_Principle.

Dilaton $ \phi $

A scalar field that appears in Kaluza–Klein theory describing the size of the compactified extra dimension. Distinct from the ψ field, though both are scalars.

Lorenz gauge

A specific choice of EM gauge condition ($ \partial ^{\mu }A_{\mu }=0 $) that simplifies the wave equation for the EM 4-potential.

Decoherence

The process by which a quantum superposition loses its phase coherence and behaves classically. The standard objection to brain-quantum theories is that decoherence is too fast; the Hagan rebuttal addresses this.

Coherence

Stable phase relationships across a quantum or classical wave system. Coherent biophoton emission, coherent microtubule oscillation, and coherent ion-lattice rotation are the three main coherence mechanisms invoked in the framework.

Poynting vector

The energy-flux vector of the electromagnetic field, $ \mathbf {S} =\mathbf {E} \times \mathbf {B} $ (Gaussian units) or $ (1/\mu _{0})\,\mathbf {E} \times \mathbf {B} $ (SI). The ψ analogue is $ \mathbf {S} _{\psi }=-(\partial _{t}\psi )\,\nabla \psi $.

Plasma frequency $ \omega _{p} $

The natural collective-oscillation frequency of a free-electron gas — sets the cutoff between transparent and reflective behaviour for EM waves.

Biology and neuroscience

Action potential

The propagating voltage spike that carries information along a neuron's axon. Microsecond rise time, millivolt amplitude, kilohertz repetition rate during firing.

Biophoton

An ultraweak ($ \lesssim 10^{3} $ photons/$ \mathrm {cm} ^{2}\!\cdot \!\mathrm {s} $) photon emitted by living tissue, mainly from mitochondrial ROS reactions, with a broad spectrum from UV to near-IR. See Biophotons.

Microtubule

Hollow cylindrical polymer of tubulin protein inside cells; in neurons forms cytoskeletal networks proposed by Hameroff and Penrose to support quantum coherence. See Microtubule.

Tubulin

The protein subunit that polymerises into microtubules. Comes in $ \alpha $ and $ \beta $ forms; the $ \alpha /\beta $ dimer is the basic unit.

Ganzfeld procedure

A laboratory protocol in which a "receiver" is placed in uniform sensory environment (red light, white noise) while a "sender" attempts to transmit one of four images by intent. See Ganzfeld_Procedure.

Remote viewing

The protocol developed at SRI under the Star Gate programme in which a "viewer" describes a distant target using only the target coordinates or a sealed envelope.

EEG (electroencephalography)

Scalp-electrode measurement of brain electrical activity, microvolt scale, frequencies $ 0.5\ \mathrm {Hz} $ – $ {\sim }200\ \mathrm {Hz} $.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

SQUID or OPM measurement of the magnetic field produced by neural currents — typical scale $ \sim 100\ \mathrm {fT} $.

OPM (optically pumped magnetometer)

A new generation of magnetometer using atomic vapour cells; sensitive to $ \sim 10\ \mathrm {fT} /{\sqrt {\mathrm {Hz} }} $ and wearable without cryogenics.

Neural coherence

Synchronised oscillation across populations of neurons, measurable as a phase-locked peak in EEG/MEG. Gamma-band coherence ($ 30{\text{--}}80\ \mathrm {Hz} $) is the most-studied substrate of perception and binding.

LTP (long-term potentiation)

The strengthening of a synapse in response to repeated firing — the canonical cellular substrate of learning and memory.

Wilson–Cowan equation

A coarse-grained equation for the firing rate of populations of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Augmented with a $ \beta \,\psi $ coupling term it becomes the canonical brain↔ψ feedback equation.

Quantum and information theory

Wave function collapse

The transition in standard quantum mechanics from a superposition to a single definite outcome on measurement.

Born rule

$ |\psi (\mathbf {x} )|^{2} $ is the probability density of finding the particle at $ \mathbf {x} $ — the foundational postulate connecting quantum theory to measurement.

Bohm implicate order

Bohm's 1980 proposal that the manifest "explicate" world unfolds from a deeper "implicate" order — a holographic, non-local substrate. Sometimes connected to the Pribram holonomic model and to the ψ-field cosmological background.

Hidden variables

Variables postulated below the level of the quantum wavefunction that determine measurement outcomes deterministically. The Bell inequality forbids local hidden variables, but allows non-local ones — Bohmian mechanics is the canonical example.

Engineering and experiment

Q factor

Quality factor of a resonator — ratio of stored energy to energy lost per cycle. High Q means a narrow, sharp resonance.

SAR (specific absorption rate)

Rate at which EM energy is absorbed by tissue, in $ \mathrm {W/kg} $. The ICNIRP and FCC limits are $ 1.6\ \mathrm {W/kg} $ over 1 g (US) or $ 2\ \mathrm {W/kg} $ over 10 g (EU/IEEE). See SAR_Calculation_for_Psionic_Devices.

Faraday cage

A conductive enclosure that excludes external EM fields. Used to isolate experiments from RFI; used as control in some psi experiments to test the EM hypothesis.

PMT (photomultiplier tube)

A photon detector with single-photon sensitivity. Standard tool for biophoton measurement.

TCSPC (time-correlated single-photon counting)

A timing technique that records the arrival time of each detected photon to picosecond precision. Used in advanced biophoton work.

Schumann resonance

The Earth–ionosphere cavity resonance at $ 7.83\ \mathrm {Hz} $ and harmonics. A natural global EM background that has been correlated with brain alpha rhythm and with geomagnetic effects on psi performance.

Casimir effect

The attractive force between two close-spaced conducting plates due to the modification of the EM vacuum modes. The dynamical Casimir effect is the time-varying generalisation. Both are direct evidence that vacuum energy is real — relevant to the Zero-Point_Energy backdrop of psionics.

Stochastic resonance

The phenomenon where adding noise to a nonlinear detector improves detection of a weak signal. A possible explanation for some weak-signal psi detection at the neural level.

Traditions and protocols

Aura

A practitioner term for the human ψ field, especially its radial profile around the body. The Psi_Field page identifies this with the spatial distribution of $ \Psi \equiv T^{00}(\psi ) $.

Chakra

A practitioner term for a local maximum of body-localised $ \Psi $ with toroidal $ \nabla \Psi $ structure. See Chakras_as_Resonant_Modes.

Prana / Qi / Mana / Pneuma / Od / Orgone

Tradition-specific names for what this wiki identifies as the ψ field and its energy density $ \Psi $. See Map_of_Traditions for the full mapping.

Energy ball / construct

A practitioner-engineered, self-bound region of high $ \Psi $. Mathematically a soliton solution of the ψ field equation sustained by ongoing $ J_{\psi } $.

Shield / ward

A practitioner-engineered shell with strong inward $ \nabla \Psi $, mathematically a Yukawa-screened region around the practitioner.

Grounding

A practitioner technique that rapidly increases the outward ψ energy-flux $ \mathbf {S} _{\psi } $ to prevent local $ \Psi $ overload.

Manifestation

Long-term elevation of regional $ \Psi $ correlated with reported alteration of probabilistic outcomes. Exotic but mathematically permitted via the ψ–EM coupling term and the quantised-ψ probability amplitude framework.

Ganzfeld

See above (Ganzfeld procedure).

See Also

• Symbol_Glossary (technical symbols)
• Psionics_Primer
• Psionics_FAQ
• Practice_to_Theory_Translation_Table
• Map_of_Traditions