Cymatics is a recently developed field of science that studies the visualization of waves, and in particular sound waves.
A Brief History of Cymatics
The origin of cymatics dates back to the 18th century and the work of German physicist Ernst Chladni. Among other things, Chladni studied the speed of sound and the ways in which plates vibrate. This two-dimensional study of sound was preceded centuries earlier by Pythagoras' studies of vibrating one-dimensional strings. Chladni's research had immediate application in music and the construction of optimally tuned musical instruments.
The development of cymatics was furthered in the 20th century by Swiss physician Hans Jenny. He experimented with a variety of materials and forms. Most significantly he used photography to document and illustrate his findings. The often beautiful results, the Chladni patterns, captured the imagination of the public and the scientific community alike and popularized the research.
Cymatics and Chaos Theory
Chaos is the mathematical study of order and disorder (complete randomness), and in particular the transition between the two states. Cymatics is related to chaos theory. When sound waves are applied to a material, the material will vibrate - the sound waves will travel through the matrix of molecules in the material. Every material has a set of resonant frequencies. This means that a sequence of vibrations at that frequency will complement and reinforce each other. The material resonates and there is order. Non-resonant frequencies clash with the material and produce disorder.
This effect is often visualized by spreading a powder (such as salt) over the material under study (usually a plate or membrane), and sending sound waves through the material with an amplifier. The particles in the powder will "dance" and settle into a pattern of collected curved lines and cleared ovoid spaces. Pure tones created by an electronic sine wave generator produce the cleanest patterns, but even the human voice can be used.
Cymatics and Music
Music is not a linear experience, it is four-dimensional. The sound is produce through the vibration of strings in roughly one dimension (the string has thickness). Surfaces and cavities (such as the body of a violin) vibrate in two and three dimensions. All the vibrations propagate in three dimensions through space. The air in a room filled with music is vibrating, and the shape and material of the walls also have resonant frequencies just as the instruments do. Cymatic visualization is used as a tool in acoustics to develop high quality instruments and sound systems. A movie theater outfitted with a THX or Dolby sound system has been optimized for a pleasurable aural experience by analyzing the building materials, placement of speakers, and other considerations.
Cymatics and Metaphysics
One of the most striking things about Chladni patterns is the similarity they have with mandalas and other spiritual artworks. The similarity is likely only coincidence since many mandalas date to centuries before the scientific study of sound. It is possible but unlikely that mandalas were inspired by Chladni patterns since no modern technology is required to produce them, but it is more likely that mandala like patterns are simply very pleasing to the human brain and our minds assign them with greater beauty over other patterns and so we tend to fixate and wonder and repeat them and in the process try to extract meaning from them. The film and short story "The Last Mimzy" uses fictionalized three-dimensional cymatics (as well as mandalas) to great effect as a plot device.
