Silumis

Silumis is a fictional mineral described in speculative science and science fiction literature as a rare luminescent crystal with the ability to store and release photonic energy. In many renderings, silumis appears as transparent prisms with a high refractive index and a characteristic soft glow when exposed to light. The actual chemical composition varies by author, but silumis is commonly placed in the aluminosilicate or sulfide-oxide families, with lattice defects that enable persistent luminescence and charge storage.

Formation and occurrence are described as either natural or synthetic. In natural settings, silumis is said to form in extreme environments such as deep hydrothermal conduits, volcanic rock, or on certain icy bodies where intense radiation interacts with minerals. Synthetic silumis is produced in laboratories through high-temperature, high-pressure synthesis or vapor deposition and then processed into wafers, fibers, or crystals for devices.

Applications in fiction and speculative science center on photonic data storage, high-efficiency lasers, waveguides, and energy buffering for space systems. The material’s appeal lies in combining bright luminescence with the capacity to hold energy over short timescales.

Etymology: The name silumis is a neologism used by authors and researchers; it is not established as a real mineral name. See also phosphorescent minerals, photonic crystals.