Thermoluminescence in ultra-high dilution research.

OBJECTIVE Thermoluminescence of homeopathically prepared ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride in deuterium oxide (D2O) (10 (-30) g cm (-3); C15 LiCl in D2O) and similarly prepared D2O (C15 D2O) was compared in three experiments varying (1) time between preparation of substance and time of experimentation, and (2) time between irradiation and thermoluminescence recording. Data were also compared with a normal solution 0.1 M LiCl in D2O and with pure D2O. METHODS To record thermoluminescence, the solutions were frozen in liquid nitrogen (77 K, -196 degrees C), irradiated with 1 kGy, and after a succession of definite storage periods, were progressively rewarmed to 238 K (-35 degrees C). RESULTS Thermoluminescence patterns of C15 LiCl in D2O, C15 D2O, and D2O were similar. The average thermoluminescence intensity of C15 LiCl in D2O tended to be less than C15 D2O when tests were performed shortly after preparation of the substances and with short storage time between irradiation and recording of thermoluminescence. Thermoluminescence of D2O was significantly lower than from C15 D2O, particularly when the time between irradiation and recording was increased. CONCLUSION The nature of the phenomena here described still remains unexplained. Nevertheless, data suggest that thermoluminescence might be developed into a promising tool to study homeopathically prepared ultra- high dilutions.