Piezoluminescence is a form of

luminescence Luminescence is a spontaneous emission of radiation from an electronically or vibrationally excited species not in thermal equilibrium with its environment. A luminescent object emits ''cold light'' in contrast to incandescence, where an obje ...

created by pressure upon certain solids. This phenomenon is characterized by recombination processes involving electrons, holes and impurity ion centres. Some

piezoelectric Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied stress (mechanics), mechanical s ...

crystals give off a certain amount of piezoluminescence when under pressure. Irradiated salts, such as NaCl, KCl, KBr and polycrystalline chips of LiF (TLD-100), have been found to exhibit piezoluminescent properties. It has also been discovered that ferroelectric polymers exhibit piezoluminescence upon the application of stress. In the folk-literature surrounding psychedelic production,

DMT Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as ''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (''N'',''N''-DMT), is a serotonergic hallucinogen and investigational drug of the tryptamine family that occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including humans. D ...

5-MeO-DMT 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine), also known as ''O''-methylbufotenin or mebufotenin (), is a naturally occurring psychedelic of the tryptamine family. It is found in a wide variety of plant species, and is also secreted by ...

, and

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD (from German ; often referred to as acid or lucy), is a semisynthetic, hallucinogenic compound derived from ergot, known for its powerful psychological effects and serotonergic activity. I ...

have been reported to exhibit piezoluminescence. As specifically noted in the book '' Acid Dreams'', it is stated that Augustus Owsley Stanley III, one of the most prolific producers of

in the 1960s, observed piezoluminescence in the compound's purest form, an observation confirmed by Alexander Shulgin: "A totally pure salt, when dry and when shaken in the dark, will emit small flashes of white light."TiHKAL.

Alexander Shulgin Alexander Theodore "Sasha" Shulgin (June 17, 1925 – June 2, 2014) was an American biochemist, broad researcher of synthetic psychoactive compounds, and author of works regarding these, who independently explored the organic chemistry and ph ...

and

Ann Shulgin Laura Ann Shulgin ( Gotlieb; March 22, 1931 – July 9, 2022) was an American author and the wife of chemist Alexander Shulgin, with whom she wrote ''PiHKAL'' and '' TiHKAL''. Life and career Laura Ann Gotlieb Detailed biography of Ann Shulgin ...

. http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal26.shtml

References

{{reflist Luminescence

See also

References