Testing the ion cyclotron resonance theory of electromagnetic field interaction with odd and even harmonic tuning for cations

Abstract

Seeds of Raphanus sativus, var. Cherry Belle were exposed to combined parallel static and sinusoidal 60 Hz, 40 μT peak-peak ac fields turned to the fundamental, 2nd and 3rd cyclotron resonance harmonics for calcium and potassium ions. Other seeds were exposed to similar fields tuned to the fundamental and 5th harmonic for magnesium. Concurrent controls consisted of seeds exposed to the ac field only, and to ambient geomagnetic and stray 60 Hz ac fields. After 21 d, plant height, aboveground weight, root weight, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width and length/width aspect ratio were measured and compared to in-group controls. Calcium slowed germination, potassium speeded it, and magnesium left it unaffected. Calcium and magnesium tunings were generally stimulatory to growth, while potassium tuning was inhibitory, except for root weight. Controls (ac only) were unchanged from the ambient field controls. Fields at the 2nd harmonic were ineffective, except for potassium 2N, which appears similar to a weak calcium effect. The data support the ICR theory, but not the Paramagnetic Resonance theory of Lednev, or its expansion by Blackman and Blanchard as the Ion Paramagnetic Resonance theory.