Recently there is a lot of discussion about a mysterious technology called “Ghost Murmur”. It is said that organizations like Central Intelligence Agency have used it to locate a person hiding somewhere far away only through the magnetic signal of his heartbeat. This sounds very fascinating, as if it is a scene from a science fiction film. But when we examine this claim from the viewpoint of science, the reality appears a little different.
When the human heart beats, it produces small electrical signals. These signals can be measured by electrocardiography. Due to this electrical current, a very small magnetic field is also created, which can be identified by Magnetocardiography. But the most important thing here is that this magnetic signal is very weak. So strong that it almost disappears against the Earth’s magnetic field.
advanced tools to find signals
Scientists have developed advanced instruments to detect such weak signals, such as quantum magnetometers. This technology is based on Quantum Mechanics and can detect very small magnetic changes. But there is a limit here. This measurement is possible only in controlled conditions like a laboratory and at very close distances. Detecting such signals at distances as far as kilometers becomes almost impossible.
There is an important rule to understand this which is called Inverse Cube Law. According to this rule the magnetic signal decreases rapidly with increasing distance. That is, after a few meters the signal becomes so weak that it becomes difficult to measure it, so it is not possible for today’s science to detect it from a distance of kilometers.
Here we also talk about Artificial Intelligence. AI is actually very powerful and can find patterns in large amounts of data. But a fundamental truth is that AI can only discover things that actually exist. According to the laws of physics, if the signal has disappeared then AI cannot bring it back.
After understanding all this, it seems that “Ghost Murmur” may be an exaggeration or misinformation. In fact, tools like satellite, radio signals, drones and human intelligence are usually used for such rescue missions. That means this technology is still more in the world of imagination than science.
What is a magnetic signal and where does it come from?
Now during this discussion an interesting question arises that what is the magnetic signal and where does it come from. Here we enter a small but very important quantum world, where the spin of the electron plays an important role.
The spin of the electron is a fundamental property of quantum physics. Hearing the word “Spin” it seems that the electron would be rotating in a circle, but in reality it is not so. Spin is an innate quantum property that we cannot explain with classical physics.
Each electron has a small magnetic field. That means it behaves like a small magnet. The reason for this magnetic property is its spin. Electrons can be in only two states, which we call spin up and spin down. In mathematics it is expressed as +½ and −½. This shows that in the quantum world everything is not continuous but has specific values.
To explain this, a famous experiment was conducted which is called Stern–Gerlach experiment. In this experiment, scientists observed that the particles are distributed in only two directions, which proves that spin can be in only two states.
Pauli Exclusion Principle
Two electrons can exist together in an atom, but with an important condition, which is called Pauli Exclusion Principle. According to this rule, the spins of both the electrons should be opposite. That means one is above and the other below. Because of this their magnetic effects cancel each other.
This small quantum property has a huge impact on our lives. Medical technology such as MRI, quantum computers and magnetic materials are all based on the spin of electrons. That is, the small quantum compass becomes the basis of the entire technological world.
The gist of this entire discussion is that fantasies like “Ghost Murmur” fascinate us, but science shows us the right direction. And in this direction, only facts like electron spin and quantum physics give us true understanding. No matter how much technology advances, the laws of physics will always remain the ultimate truth.
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