An Involuntary Movement (AIM) (無自覚 Mujikaku?, lit. "No Awareness") is a term used to refer to the phenomenon in which an esper involuntarily produces an invisible energy field that all espers involuntarily produce. The AIM Dispersion Field (AIM拡散力場 AIM Kakusan Rikiba?) has been a main focus in most stories on the Science Side; it also plays heavily in Aleister Crowley's plans.
Principles
AIM is subconsciously emitted by espers and as such cannot be detected without proper equipment; however, espers such as Takitsubo Rikou can detect and even track the AIM of an esper. According to Tsukuyomi Komoe, a sufficiently powerful esper can apparently detect the magnitude of power an esper has using AIM alone. It is also shown that there are several different manifestations of one's AIM (elevated body temperature for pyrokinesis, magnetic fields/voltage for electromastery, pressure for telekinesis, etc), and one's AIM can resonate with others of the same type.
Many scientists devote their research to AIM, and have facilities such as the AIM Analytic Research Center dedicated to it. It is also very important in the Academy City curriculum and is taught to students as early as a student's first year of middle school.
Effects and Uses of AIM
In itself AIM is relatively harmless as it cannot be detected by regular humans; however, AIM is toxic to magicians and is also shown to have anti-magic capabilities in sufficient amounts.[1] This trait of the AIM Field is one of the reasons Aleister wants to set up a Artificial Heaven across the globe, and uses the Level 6 Shift Experiment as part of the plans.
Examples
- One example of this is when Touma finds Misaka Mikoto by following wind turbines that are turning without wind. Mikoto's body involuntarily produces voltage all the time; thus Touma comes to the conclusion that it can power the wind turbines.
- The field around Accelerator is his 'default' setting; it is used as a means to automatically deflect any energy or matter (vectors) that approach him. The passive AIM field surrounding Accelerator at all times is also enough to make him feel pressured and queasy while in the presence of Etzali (who is constantly using magic to maintain his disguise).
Also in certain circumstances, AIM can cause dangerous RSPK Syndrome occurences, which are powerful enough to destroy a large city such as Academy City.
Artificial Angels
Beings that have properties which are similar to those of angels in Christianity; however, they are artifically created. Currently, producing such entities requires vast amounts of AIM.
The first artificial angel to have been introduced in the series is the AIM Burst, which is the result of Kiyama Harumi losing control of the Level Upper Network.[2]
Since Academy City is the home of all the espers in the world it is also home to a vast amount of AIM they emit; because of this an entity made out of the accumulation of AIM was created, Kazakiri Hyouka who resides in the City of Shimmers (which is also the true 'Imaginary Number Sector' - most magicians think Imaginary Number Sector refers to Aleister's windowless building). She was apparently made by Aleister to control the Imaginary Number Sector. She can temporarily manifest in the real world as an immortal entity at times, once by contact with Index and another time by inputting a certain code into Last Order. When she's manifested any damage she takes, even to her clothing, is repaired in a few minutes. However, should Kazakiri come into direct contact with Kamijou Touma's Imagine Breaker she would be erased, since even if she's alive she's made of the AIM dispersion field, as Imagine Breaker wipes out supernatural effects regardless of it being good or evil she is no exception.[3] Later on, Hyouka returns and is turned into an artificial angel named Fuse=KAZAKIRI with the help of a virus installed into Last Order's brain.[4]
Similarly, powerful espers such as Accelerator and Kakine Teitoku, whose powers are unique and have divine properties, can Awaken and gain greater control of their AIM fields, allowing them to update the very laws of reality themselves. Both of them grow wings in this state and at least in Accelerator's case, the wings are a physical expression of his AIM field. Technically, both Accelerator and Kakine can be called artificial angels.
Also Aiwass requires a field with vast amounts of AIM to manifest himself.