Kennelly–Heaviside Layer - Cultural Impact

Cultural Impact

The "Heaviside layer" is used as a symbol for heaven (in the afterlife sense) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. This reference is based on a quote found in a letter written by T. S. Eliot, whose book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats forms the basis of the musical. In the musical, one cat is chosen each year by Old Deuteronomy to go to the Heaviside Layer and begin a new life. In the song "The Journey to the Heaviside Layer", it is stated that the Heaviside Layer is "past the Russell Hotel" and "past the Jellicle moon", indicating that it is very far away and difficult to access.

In the end of the musical, Grizabella is chosen to go the Heaviside Layer. She does so by ascending on a flying tire until she reaches a structure resembling clouds, into which she disappears, although in the film version of Cats she ascends with Old Deuteronomy and then she walks up a giant metal hand to the Heaviside layer.

Eliot also refers to the "Heaviside Layer" in his play The Family Reunion which explores issues around the afterlife, heaven and hell.

In Tim Powers supernatural spy novel "Declare" the Heaviside layer is the realm of the "spirits of the upper air".

In Thomas Pynchon's 1964 short story "The Secret Integration," a boy's dreams are affected "when the thing in the sky, the Heaviside layer, was right for it."

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