The quantum vibes of atoms and ichthyosaurs

Abstract

The quantum mechanical description of microscopic phenomena treats minuscule particles as waves and explains why atoms and molecules absorb and emit radiation at particular frequencies. This article reviews the physical theory of waves and discusses similarities between atoms and musical instruments. In particular, it describes how we may identify new musical scales and harmonies and play atomic music by translating and scaling the frequencies in the atomic world to the audible spectrum.

Keywords

• waves
• atoms
• musical instruments
• atomic music
• audible spectrum