On the interaction of magnetic fields with coherent (bio)chemical reactions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the interaction of magnetic fields with coherent (bio)chemical reactions. There is a worldwide interest in the biological effects of extreme-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (1 to 1000 Hz). Surprisingly, it has been argued that the so far missing explanation for any bioeffect must be found outside conventional physics, because the associated interaction energy at the cell level is small compared to the thermal noise. Coherent traveling waves appearing in chemistry and in biology obey the same laws—that is, whatever appears with the pure chemical reactions (which are much easier to handle), the biochemical ones should behave similarly. Pure chemical reactions are used in Petri dishes as well as single cells on agar surfaces, where the fascinating oscillatory coherent spiral waves appear spontaneously. The impact of a static electric field of only a few V/cm on chemical waves is described in the chapter. Primarily, the purpose of this work is the study of the possible impact of a static magnetic field on biological matter.