ee ae se international NAL LA Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : C1A-RGRS RANE R001300210001-5 Final Report 30 September 1980 ELECTRONIC SYSTEM PERTURBATION TECHNIQUES (U) By: EDWIN C. MAY SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM BEVERLY S. HUMPHREY G. SCOTT HUBBARD FOR GRILL FLAME. RESTRICT DISSEMINATION TO ONLY INDIVIDUALS WITH VERIFIED ACCESS. 333 Ravenswood Avenue (415) 326-6200 CABLE: SRI INTL MNP TWX: 910-373-1246 oved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA- Menlo Park, California 94025 U.S.A. NOT RELEASABLE TO fh eRe i FOREIGN NATIONALS RDP96- 8R001300210001-5
[“Apprdved For Release 2000/08/07 : C 788R001300210001-5 Final Report 30 September 1980 Covering the Period 6 June 1979 to 2 August 1980 ELECTRONIC SYSTEM PERTURBATION TECHNIQUES (U) By: EDWIN C. MAY BEVERLY S. HUMPHREY G. SCOTT HUBBARD (Consultant) SRI Project 8585 SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM FOR GRILL FLAME. RESTRICT DISSEMINATION TO ONLY INDIVIDUALS WITH VERIFIED ACCESS. Approved by: ROBERT S. LEONARD, Director Radio Physics Laboratory Copy No. 4a veees DAVID D. ELLIOTT, Executive Director Systems Research and Analysis Division This document consists of 68 pages. GE-0O FY Shto=rt09 CLASSIFIED BY: Msg. HODA (DAMI-ISH) dated 7 July 1978 : REVIEW ON: 7 July 1998 NOT RELEASABLE TO SE6R-F FOREIGN NATIONALS 333 Ravenswood Avenue * Menlo Park, California - U.S.A. (415) 326-6200 - CABLE: SRI INTL MNP - TWX: 910-373-1246 SP) Intermattione e221 “7 i JN S™ international i. “Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 EC
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : p90 0078BROO S002 T0001: ILLUSTRATIONS (U) 1 Block Diagram of Computer-Based RNG System (U) 2 Pulse Processing Sequence (U). .. + + 6 s+ + © # © @ 3 Example of a 2-Tailed Sequential Sampling Plot (U)... 4 Possible Applications for the Remote Perturbation Phenomenon (S) ...- + « «© © © © © © © © © © © © © ee ee TABLES (U) 1 RNG Survey Summary (U) . 2. 6 6 6 eo ee ee ew ee ee 2 Timing Intervals (U) . 2. 2. 6 6 © 6 6 ee ee ee ee 3 Pilot Phase Results (U). .... «44. 4 Global Control Runs (U). . . 2. «© « © © © © © © ew ew oe Ow 5 Formal Phase Results (U) . . 1. + «© «© © © © © © ee A-1 RNG Study Survey (U) . 2. 6. 6 6 ee ee te ee v SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 5 11 13 16 38 20 28 30 31 44
Approved For Release 2000/02 Gipie P96-00788R001300210001-5 I OBJECTIVE (U) (S) The objective of this program is to determine the degree to which selected personnel are able to interact, by mental means alone, with sensi- tive electronic equipment, and to ascertain how this phenomenon might be utilized for Army-designated applications. 1 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release 2000/0 BRE RE BE96-00788R001300210001-5 II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (U) (U) In this report, we consider the possible production by individuals of physical effects, such as the perturbation of sensitive electronic equipment that appears to be well shielded against, or otherwise inacces- sible to, human influence, The precedent for considering whether sensitive electronic equipment can be influenced as a result of a remote perturbation (RP) phenomenon has been established in the open literature in 48 published papers 2748" These reports describe 214 separate experiments, 74 of which show statistical evidence for an anomalous perturbation--a factor of nearly seven times chance expectation. (U) A representative experiment of this type involves three basic elements: (1) A source of “true” random electronic output. (2) A statistical analysis technique. (3) An individual who attempts to cause, by mental means alone, a change in the random source's output. (U) Although the data base cited above appears to be quite impressive, a close examination of these studies reveals that they all can be con- sidered incomplete in one or more significant details. For example, 44% of the references report no control tests of any type, and the majority of the studies afford insufficient details about the experimental apparatus to permit assessment of possible environmental influences. (S) We believe that the serious implications of RP for science in general and for military applications in particular necessitated the SY (U) References are listed at the end of this report. 3 SEGRE Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release 2000/02/07.. ClA;RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 (S) design and execution of a random number generator (RNG) experiment, which attended to these important factors. A one-year, two-phase program was initiated to accomplish this objective. (U) During Phase I a computer-based binary RNG system was constructed from two isolated sources (noise diode and radioactive B-decay source), an LSI-11 microcomputer, and a video graphics display unit. Pulses from a given random source were used to construct binary sequences, Sequential analysis, a particularly sensitive method of determining whether a given sequence is "random," was applied to this binary output. Finally the results were stored for further analysis and displayed on the video graphics system, (U) The results of Phase I are described in detail in May and . Hubbard” , but are summarized briefly here, Both sources were investigated for their sensitivity to changes in physical environment, and those parameters that were found to influence them were either controlled by cut-off circuitry or monitored, The sources were shielded, electrically isolated, and coupled to the computer by optical transmission links, Both the sequential analysis program and the sources were modeled by Monte Carlo techniques and found to be well within expected limitations. The entire RNG system was tested by a series of standard fixed-length statistical tests and found to meet all standard criteria for randomness. In addition, the system was checked using the variable-length sequential analysis procedure, The binary sequences also satisfied the criteria set by that technique for randomness. (U) The requirements and protocol for Phase II are detailed in May et a1.5* During this phase we screened 17 volunteers and selected seven of them to participate in the formal portion of the experiment. - We set an a priori criterion that required Significant runs from two of the seven subjects to label the entire effort a success, It was also - 4 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 er EE
Approved For Release PPR ER a COTE LE Ey R00 1900210001-5 (U) predetermined that over a period of three months each subject would complete 100 trials. (U) A trial is defined as a variable-length sequence terminated by the a priori criteria set by sequential analysis. Only two results are possible from a single sequential analysis trial: the binary sequence is distorted (i.e., the probability of finding a one in a given bit position is either greater than 0.52 or less than 0.48), or the sequence is within chance expectation, These two decisions are made to within a confidence level of 95 percent. For a single subject to contribute a significant result to the overall series, he had to produce 16 or more distorted trials out of his set of 100, (U) Two types of control trials were taken during the formal portion of Phase II: (1) global trials that usually were generated in sets of 100 each at random times throughout the investigation, and (2) local trials that were taken immediately prior to each subject's period of effort. Both types of controls were generated without personnel in the experimental area, The global trials served as a time-independent check on the parent distribution from which the samples were drawn, The local control trials tested the momentary statistical fluctuations immediately before the formal session. (U) The results from the study met the preestablished, formal criteria for success: e Two out of the seven subjects produced significant runs. (The possibility that chance fluctuations alone could produce this result is p = 0,029, where p is the probability.) ® Neither type of control run exhibited significant overall deviations from chance expectation, 5 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release GREP! CIO FYE p70” 88001 300210001-5 III INTRODUCTION (U) (U) Occasionally reports appear of anomalous failures of electronic equipment that seem to be caused by the proximity of certain individuals. Of special interest is a class of phenomena involving perturbation of sensitive equipment isolated from human subjects by distance or shielding. In certain of these instances the generation of such effects appears to be under volitional control of the subjects involved. (U) Included among the above are experiments in which a subject attempts to perturb the output of an electronic RNG drived by electronic noise or radioactive decay. This kind of RP experiment has an investigative appeal because it involves no subjective interpretation, i.e., the results may be expressed in terms of well-understood statistical theory. (U) The first such experiment of this type was published in 1970 by Helmut Schmidt.? As of December 1979, there have been 47 other papers* 7" published, mostly in the literature on parapsychology. Almost all of these experiments have two points in common: e A truely random input device, ® An individual with motivation and intent to have the statistics of the random input device differ from chance expectation during designated periods. (U) A representative experiment might proceed as follows. A random input device, such as the noise associated with a solid state diode, is used to create a random binary sequence. The accumulated number of ones in the sequence is indicated to the subject by lights connected to the noise source. In a successful experiment the subject is able to enforce an excess number of ones. As in the case of biofeedback research, effects have been demonstrated even when little is known about the mechanism, 7 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 (U) We have examined the body of literature spanning the ten years from 1970 to 1979. In this survey, we have only considered the random generator experiments published in the three major U.S. parapsychological . journals: The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, Journal of Parapsychology, and Research in Parapsychology, This survey, which represents the vast majority of the published RNG studies, is detailed in the Appendix and summarized in Table 1. Forty-eight papers reported a total of 214 individual experiments, 74 of which claimed statistically significant results.” The chance likelihood of such an -41 outcome is approximately 2 X 10 . (U) This impressive statistic must, however, be evaluated with respect to experimental equipment and protocols, All the studies surveyed could be considered incomplete in at least one of the following four areas: (1) No control tests were reported in more than 44 percent of the references, Of those that did, most did not check for temporal stability of the random sources during the course of the experiment, (2) There were insufficient details about the physics and constructed parameters of the experimental apparatus to assess the possibility of environmental influences. (3) The raw data was not saved for later and independent analysis in virtually any of the experiments, (4) None of the experiments reported controlled and limited access to the experimental apparatus, (S) We believe that the serious implications of RP for military applications and for science necessitated the design and execution of an RNG experiment that was more complete with respect to the four points enumerated above, > (U) A two-phase program was initiated to accomplish the objective stated at the outset. Phase I aimed to develop a reliable computer-based, * (U) p = 0.05 for any individual experiment. 8 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 eer IE
LA Approved For Release INCL : €' - -00788R001300210001-5 UN STHIED Table 1 (U) RNG SURVEY SUMMARY Number of Numbers of Number of Significant Experiments References Experiments (p = 0,05) (WU) noise-driven RNG system and to certify that the binary bit streams produced by the generator met a number of statistical criteria for randomness, This report recapitulates the detailed Phase-I discussion contained in May and Hubbard*” and summarizes the experimental modifications that address the | above mentioned four areas. (U) During Phase II, seventeen personnel were screened to select the seven individuals who participated in the formal portion of this Phase. The testing procedure and the results are described in detail below. 9 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release UNCLASSINIED en onto -5 IV RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR SYSTEM (U) (U) To achieve the objective of this program, we developed a computer- based random number generator. Special efforts were made in two specific areas: First, extensive testing of the true random sources was carried out to study their response to environmental factors, Second, a variety of statistical tests were applied to the complete system to ensure that the output was truly random under experimental conditions, A, Hardware (U) (U) Figure 1 shows the overall hardware configuration, which consisted of three basic elements: (1) an isolated source of random electronic signals, (2) an analysis and control section, and (3) a graphics display unit. Following the techniques of learning theory, we used the graphics display unit to provide visual feedback of information about the current RANDOM PLA SOURCES ANALYSIS + CONTROL DISPLAY COLOR GRAPHICS GRAPHICS TABLET 16-BIT LSI-11 COMPUTER UNCLASSIFIED FIGURE 1 (U) BLOCK DIAGRAM OF COMPUTER-BASED RNG SYSTEM 11 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release NCEA Sey PP fy00788R001 300210001-5 (U) status of the binary sampling. We hypothesized that in this fashion the subject might learn to influence the sequence more readily. 1, Random Sources (U) (U) The random source elements consisted of a commercially available noise diode and a radioactive source with an appropriate radia- tion detector. (U) A Texas Instruments MD-20 planar silicon noise diode was chosen for its large noise output (500 pV//Hz) and its well-described functional characteristics 5° 9? 147 147 P (U) Promethium ( Pm) was selected as a radioactive source because it is nearly a 100-percent @ emitter with essentially no competing decay modes. Detection of the electron continuum was accomplished using a well-understood and reliable ORTEC silicon surface-barrier detector. (U) Figure 2 shows the process by which a random number was generated from the noise diode source, Random-amplitude 1-MHz sawtooth voltage pulses from the diode, Figure 2(a), were filtered by a bandpass filter, Figure 2(b). At each positive-going zero crossing of the filtered signal a TTL pulse was generated, giving a random digital signal, Figure 2(c), Finally, a divide-by-two circuit changed state at the rising edge of each TTL pulse, yielding a binary bit stream, Figure 2(d) with probability of being in the logical one state of one-half. This bit stream was sampled and shifted into an 8-bit shift register at a 1-kHz rate, so that a random 8-bit number might be selected at intervals greater than 8 ms. <A completely analogous process occurred with the ®-decay source, The major distinction was that electrons of random energy arrived at a detector where they were converted into electrical signals of random voltage. A low-level discriminator generated a logic pulse whenever the 12 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 aan eee teninaaeeeeeanea neat nee meee te ete ree ed
Approved For Release PRU CASA SERRE 007 28RO 300210001-5 (U) data from sequential sampling statistics, pulse height analysis, or any other output could be displayed. B. System Testing (U) (U) Noise diodes for use in this system were extensively tested for response to changes in temperature (-40 to +40 C), leakage current (40 pA to 200 pA). and other environmental factors such as a 6000-gauss dc magnetic field and low-intensity radioactive sources Catan, 6800, 147 on). We found that over the range examined for each factor the spectral noise density was flat within +1 dB for the bandpass of the filter (1 kHz to 200 kHz). Furthermore, the filtered noise followed a Gaussian distribution under all conditions tested as long as the leakage current was 80 to 120 pA. We confirmed the manufacturer's specification for the dependency of the noise power-spectrum on temperature, This change was insignificant for variations of +5 C near room temperature, (U) The random emission of electrons from the § decay of 147 on is independent of known external influences. The sensitive element, the surface barrier detector, was tested for changes in leakage current as a function of temperature, At the maximum temperature tested (~40 C) the noise contribution was caused by. the increased current leakage and was eliminated completely with an appropriate low-level discriminator. (U) We assumed that the TTL logic circuitry of the major system elements (LSI-11, Grinnell controller, and the like) would continue to operate as specified by the vendor, so that extensive environmental testing of these components was not done. Any possible failures of these components would have been observed in the extensive control investigations described be low. 17 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 UNCLASSIFIED Cc, System Isolation and Interference Protection (U) eee eee se rotection (U) To prevent spurious signals from known external influences being incorporated into the random source output, numerous precautions “ were taken. Each random source was encased in a sealed 0,125-in, thick soft iron box with radio frequency shielding to provide protection against mechanical, magnetic, or rf intrusion, Batteries supplied the electrical power to eliminate ac-line transients and 60-Hz noise, All data output to the LSI-11 occurred via optical transmission links to ensure complete electrical isolation. In addition, the noise diode was monitored con- tinuously with a precision of +0.2 C to determine any temperature changes. (U) Fail-safe circuits were included in both random sources so that the units would shut off automatically and require manual reset under the following circumstances: * The battery supply dropped below a critical point * (12 V). e The electron detector leakage current rose above an acceptable level (2,0 pA). * The diode current deviated from a narrowly defined current window, D, System Certification Testing Results (U) (U) A variety of fixed-length statistical tests were applied to 500,000 sample control runs of random numbers generated by the system described above. In addition, approximately 3 xX 10° samples from each source were subjected to sequential analysis. No unexpected deviations from chance expectation were observed in any of these control tests, indicating that the system performed in accordance with design. Complete details of the hardware, computer software, testing procedures, and numerical results can be found in May and Hubbard .7° 18 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 ER ——————
Approved For Release 2000/DR ReaD PI6-00788R001300210001-5 V EXPERIMENT PROTOCOL (U) (S) A complete experiment protocol was prepared and submitted to the client organization in advance of the formal data-acquisition portion of Phase II, A. Definitions (U) (U) Much of that protocol is repeated here. We began the discussion of the Phase II Formal Test Protocol by introducing a set of definitions: TARGET BIT SAMPLE TRIAL RUN CONTROL TRIAL SEQUENTIAL ANALYSIS CHANCE DISTRIBUTION DISTORTED DISTRIBUTIONS The determined single bit from one of the random sources to be used in the analysis. The acquisition of eight binary bits from the RNG of which the fifth bit is defined as the target bit. (The additional bits are to provide a local temporal history of the bit stream in which the target bit is imbedded.) A number of samples comprising a sequence that meet a set of statistical conditions that terminate the sequence. 100 trials A trial carried out automatically by the computer under the same conditions as the data acquisition session, but with no one present in the session area, The statistical procedure that provides a decision algorithm for terminating the trial. A binomial distribution of binary digits (0, 1) with a mean probability of 0.05 for observing a one as the target bit. Binomial distributions with means greater than or equal to 0,52, or less than or equal to 0.48 (a two-tailed test). 19 —SEeREE Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5
Approved For Release IRV ESA Sey ETE B07 28R001300210001-5 (U) Table 2 shows the timing intervals for a sample, trial, and run, It is important to note, that no bits in the binary sequence were lost for a single trial, and that data for each trial was a continuous record of bits collected in 8=bit samples, Thus, the average trial length consisting of 3300 samples was approximately 25 s. All bits from the source that were generated between trials were lost. Table 2 (U) TIMING INTERVALS Timing Interval “3 months B, Data-Acquisition Session Description (U) ——— ee ep tion (U) A data-acquisition session was divided into three sections: (1) Presession (2) Session (3) Postsession, (U) During the presession before the subject's arrival, the hardware was checked for proper functioning, and the set of variables characterizing the session (e.g., time of day, noise source) were entered into the system program, The variables chosen were those specifically determined for that participant during the pilot period, In addition, no less than five control trials were executed with no one present in the session area. These con- trol trials were collected under the Same environmental conditions as the 20 UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5 ee
Approved For Release BPR CYA SHH F PETS 00788R001300210001-5 (U) session trials, except for the absence of putative human intervention. Once the control session was initiated, an automatic trial sequencer cycled through a sequence of trials, spaced apart by random time intervals r ,o<7T< 20s, This random spacing insured that the control trials simulated human interaction with the system as closely as possible. (U) To begin a session, the subject and one monitor entered the session room, The subject took his place in front of the viewing monitor and controlled the start time of the individual trials by means of a start button on a cursor associated with the graphics tablet. This constituted the only form of physical interaction of the subject with the apparatus. The subject's task was to cause mentally either an excess number of ones or an excess number of zeroes in the binary sequence. The session lasted no longer than 30 min. During the session the subject received visual feedback for all trials, and auditory feedback (a bell) for trials that sequential analysis indicated belonged to one of the distorted distributions. (U) The postsession consisted of a debriefing in which the subject discussed his experience, At the conclusion of the debriefing, there was an additional period during which no less than five more trials were con- ducted with no one present in the session area. Such postsession trials (not to be confused with control trials) were conducted specifically to investigate the claim that there might be a linger effect associated with putative RP interaction. This linger effect might be compared to the well- understood physics concept of relaxation time. Postsession trials were recorded separately for later analysis. (U) To allow for a possible linger effect, a minimum of one-hour separation between subjects was generally enforced. UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300210001-5