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Cited by 116Biofield Effects and BiophysicsNonlinear Dynamics and Pattern FormationStrong Light-Matter Interactions

Weak, strong, and coherent regimes of Frohlich condensation and their applications to terahertz medicine and quantum consciousness

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Reimers, Jeffrey R., McKemmish, Laura K., McKenzie, Ross H., Mark, Alan E., Hush, Noel S.·2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.0806273106PMC PMC2657444
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Abstract

In 1968, Fröhlich showed that a driven set of oscillators can condense with nearly all of the supplied energy activating the vibrational mode of lowest frequency. This is a remarkable property usually compared with Bose-Einstein condensation, superconductivity, lasing, and other unique phenomena involving macroscopic quantum coherence. However, despite intense research, no unambiguous example has been documented. We determine the most likely experimental signatures of Fröhlich condensation and show that they are significant features remote from the extraordinary properties normally envisaged. Fröhlich condensates are classified into 3 types: weak condensates in which profound effects on chemical kinetics are possible, strong condensates in which an extremely large amount of energy is channeled into 1 vibrational mode, and coherent condensates in which this energy is placed in a single quantum state. Coherent condensates are shown to involve extremely large energies, to not be produced by the Wu-Austin dynamical Hamiltonian that provides the simplest depiction of Fröhlich condensates formed using mechanically supplied energy, and to be extremely fragile. They are inaccessible in a biological environment. Hence the Penrose-Hameroff orchestrated objective-reduction model and related theories for cognitive function that embody coherent Fröhlich condensation as an essential element are untenable. Weak condensates, however, may have profound effects on chemical and enzyme kinetics, and may be produced from biochemical energy or from radio frequency, microwave, or terahertz radiation. Pokorný's observed 8.085-MHz microtubulin resonance is identified as a possible candidate, with microwave reactors (green chemistry) and terahertz medicine appearing as other feasible sources.

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  • Reimers et al. validated 8 MHz coherence measured in microtubules by Pokorný as weak Fröhlich condensation.

    “They validated 8 MHz coherence measured in microtubules by Pokorný [134,135] as weak condensation.”

    From Consciousness in the universe (2014) · cites this paper as [164]

    The Discussion reports Pokorný’s observed 8.085-MHz radiation enhancement in microtubules and says it is consistent with a weak Fröhlich condensate. But the paper calls it only a possible candidate, says no Fröhlich condensate has been unambiguously identified, and describes biologically feasible weak condensates as incoherent. It does not validate a measurement of coherence. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • A later analysis in terms of a nonequilibrium Frohlich-type model concluded the brain is too cold at body temperature to support functional quantum states.

    “Where Tegmark’s analysis concluded the brain is too hot to support stable quantum functions, a later analysis in terms of a nonequilibrium Frohlich-type model concluded the brain is too cold, at body temperature, to support functional quantum states (Reimers et al. 2009).”

    From A quantum microtubule substrate of consciousness is experimentally supported and solves the binding and epiphenomenalism problems (2025) · cites this paper as Reimers et al. 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [25]Abbott D, Zhang XC, eds (2007) Special issue: T -ray imaging, sensing, retection. Proc IEEE 95:1509-1513.
  2. [32]Penrose R (1989) The Emperor's New Mind (Oxford Univ Press, Oxford).

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Authors
Reimers, J. R., McKemmish, L. K., McKenzie, R. H., Mark, A. E., & Hush, N. S.
Affiliations
  • Schools of aChemistry and
  • School of Physical Sciences and
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2009-03-17
Volume
106
Issue
11
Pages
4219-4224
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.0806273106
PMC
PMC2657444
OpenAlex
W2162264890
Cited by
116
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 14
FWCI
9.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Strong Light-Matter Interactions
Keywords
macroscopic quantum coherence, quantum consciousness, enzyme kinetics, microwave reactor, green chemistry
MeSH terms
Energy Transfer, Enzymes, Kinetics, Models, Chemical, Quantum Theory, Tubulin, Vibration

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