A Universe Created from Tension
ORAL · Invited
Abstract
How do you represent the creation of the universe in a glass object? Not easily!
I collaborated with physicist Ross Greenwood to develop an artistic representation of the “bang” of the Big Bang in glass. Coincidentally, it also serves as an apt analogy of the “Baked Alaska” theory of J. D Bjorken, in which the cold evacuated region in the interior of an expanding hot shell of particles condenses with a “tilted” isospin orientation. (This deviation stores energy which is later released as a secondary “bang” of pions.)
While crafting the solid piece, we used a “cold” inner core (only 870 degrees) and a hot outer layer (2200 degrees) of glass to create internal tension and produce regions of more and less aligned molecular orientations (grains). We also used two compatible glasses with different coefficients of expansion to enhance the tension. When linearly polarized light passes through the piece, different colors rotate by different amounts and produce spectacular patterns, illustrating the usually invisible stored energy inside. Like Baked Alaska, these pieces are in a metastable state and will eventually “bang” (implode) if not handled carefully!
To my knowledge, this is the first deliberate use of internal tension (usually a bad thing in glass) to create art from the interaction of glass and light. I use this art to interface with the public on a regular basis to explain aspects of physics to them—often to a thrilled “Oh wow!” when they see the result. Come check it out!
I collaborated with physicist Ross Greenwood to develop an artistic representation of the “bang” of the Big Bang in glass. Coincidentally, it also serves as an apt analogy of the “Baked Alaska” theory of J. D Bjorken, in which the cold evacuated region in the interior of an expanding hot shell of particles condenses with a “tilted” isospin orientation. (This deviation stores energy which is later released as a secondary “bang” of pions.)
While crafting the solid piece, we used a “cold” inner core (only 870 degrees) and a hot outer layer (2200 degrees) of glass to create internal tension and produce regions of more and less aligned molecular orientations (grains). We also used two compatible glasses with different coefficients of expansion to enhance the tension. When linearly polarized light passes through the piece, different colors rotate by different amounts and produce spectacular patterns, illustrating the usually invisible stored energy inside. Like Baked Alaska, these pieces are in a metastable state and will eventually “bang” (implode) if not handled carefully!
To my knowledge, this is the first deliberate use of internal tension (usually a bad thing in glass) to create art from the interaction of glass and light. I use this art to interface with the public on a regular basis to explain aspects of physics to them—often to a thrilled “Oh wow!” when they see the result. Come check it out!
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Presenters
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Chris Johnson