Interfaculty of Art Science
Master Project Degree of Alfredo Ciannameo
Title: ionesis
Abstract
99% of the Universe known is made of plasma; ionized gas considered the fourth state of matter. It is observable at the point commonly called 'electrical break-down' [1] which is the amount of energy sufficient to break the atomic configuration in order to produce collisions of free charged particles effecting light phenomena. On electrical level, the break down point is specifically measured in different gasses across thousands of Volts, defining itself as high voltage current type.
In this research, the basic principle above mentioned has been explored to structure a visual-sonic environment, which creates a specific and peculiar aesthetic as consequence based on a physical content.
While in ionesis audio signals are converted electrically into light, the related experience goes beyond this simple translation: it offers a visualization of the particular way of plasma to spatialize its pulsing energy into a designed environment. Involving artistic choices in this physical process, composing sound and light in time, it becomes indeed a form of Art.
Historical background
The historical background relates ionesis artistically to the visual music tradition, which counted several experiments of light-organs to translate, in ocular stimulations, sound and music. In this field, it's possible to remember visual machines invented by Charles Dockum and Thomas Wilfred, whose MobilColor (1936) and Clavilux (1919) represent superlative instruments to interpolate sound into light however as result of arbitrary supposition. [2]
The 'sonochemical observatory' Camera Lucida (1998) - by Evelina Domitch and Dmitry Gelfand - evolves this sonic-visualization intent into more scientific approach, supporting their particular research on Bubble Chamber as sonoluminescence phenomena recreated in a controlled environment.
The technological background of ionesis in science and media, it has been referred first to principles of Tesla Coils (1888) patented by the engineer Nikola Tesla and later to a lamp called Plasma Globe (1971) by Bill Parker, invented while he was studying as student in a physics laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ionesis can be technologically considered a direct evolution and a new interpretation of these innovations. For the first time, it involves multi-high voltage sources in the same inert-gas environment, characteristic this used to create a multi-electrodes Argon Discharge Tube able to visualize sound.
Scientific aspects
The focus of this research is the following scientific observation: “Nature finds efficient to be able to transfer energy on long distances by twisting two filaments of plasma together and this is the characteristic how plasma carriages current trough the space. Discharge phenomenon seen in plasma laboratory, propagating in few centimeters, can be scaled up to the size of a galaxy preserving formal structure [3] ”.
For the fact of being a multi-electrodes system, plasma filaments in ionesis, while discharging one electrode, are attracted by filaments discharging other electrodes. The result is a complex configuration of plasma visualizing a dynamic sonic-plasma sculpture.
Plasma is a class of light-form which behavior is generally defined unpredictable as described by the Quantum Physics. Consequently, a plasma instrument has to be considered a chaotic system, which is partly possible to be interfered, but not entirely controlled. His propagation of energy follows certain rules depending on architectural aspects of the generating system and physical implications which certain design involves.
Design
The ionesis’ design has been conceptualized on different parts: the glass volumes, the supporting structure and spatial placement of speakers.
Glasses have been produced following two designs: one central volume - a tube with six separated electrodes located on the top and on the bottom - and two smaller twins having, instead, three parallels electrodes on the length of a equal tube shape. Twelve electrodes in total are organized in one column of three lines, which describes a triangular architectural system.
The supporting structure has been constructed in a tri-centric arms-system, made of wood and metal ropes, which expands and opens symmetrically in the space the geometrical form of the electrodes. The column of glass, containing electrodes, is placed in the center in order to be the focal point of the global view. Such a structure offers an ideal context for the audience.
Three speakers are placed in the room to be a triphonic sound system, following the triangular form to create an acoustic space.
The choice of this organization is based on the primary 3D Geometric theory. In a 3D system, which tries to simulate our modality to perceive the space, the basic geometry used to build complex polygons, consists of three points in one plane: the triangle. "Three vertices, connected to the each other by three edges, define a triangle, which is the simplest polygon in Euclidean Space". [4]
Methods
In this field of research, the artistic statement of ionesis is about synchronizing plasma-sound events as a main choice to formulate perceptual meanings in the execution of one piece played on such an instrument.
This methodological aspect, structuring an artistic language able to communicate an "understandable truth" about a technological platform, is possible by applying conditions that organize a phenomenon otherwise chaotic. Building a grammar in this way, it can be recognized as semiotic quality for those who "trans-form" energy in their work.
Tools used to interfere the activity of the light are implemented by the sound synthesis and applied to composition in time. The execution is partly written on score and partly improvised. Techniques of synthesis operating in software are the followings: granular synthesis, frequency modulated synthesis and matrix channels system to control the output.
An interaction between six audio-signals, algorithmically formulated by pulses of sinusoids and electrically interpreted by high-voltage circuits, effects a certain configuration of plasma filaments synaesthetically to the sound. As reactive pulses based system, pulses of sound and plasma have to be considered the fundamental characteristic of the developed electrical machine.
Switching ON/OFF electrodes, order/random, speed, wave phase, differences in amplitude are the possible ways to interact with the chaos dynamic of the plasma light according to the technical capacities of high voltage circuits used in this version.
Trajectories for the future
This described, it was the first version of ionesis. Two important aspects have not been considered yet. The first is the attraction of plasma filaments to human bodies, meaning electrically to the ground. The second is the complex electromagnetic field created around plasma, which is one dimension of propagation of energy trough the space. Placing three antennas in proximity of electrodes, it’s possible to transduce this electromagnetic propagation into audio signals again by capturing the radio field. Antenna signals can be used to remodulate the previous computer generated sound and sent to speakers. The result would be an acoustically spatialization of the plasma activity by a quite peculiar noisy sound.
Focusing on these aspects being part of a future development, it is a dream of ionesis to become an interface able to interact its sonic-plasma to the external world or - pushing my imagination to the limit – to be an artificial organism made of sonic-plasma, who decides creatively its behavior based on a software’s algorithm.
Den Haag, NL
June, 1010
Links:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_breakdown
[2] Evelina Domnitch and Dmistri Gelfand - Camera Lucida. MIT press
[3] THUNDERBOLTS OF THE GODS by Davis Talbott, Wallace Thornhill: Electric Universe
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_modeling
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