Fibre-optics research by Queen’s University’s Hans-Peter Loock is being displayed in a new exhibition at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
The exhibit demonstrates how fibre optic cabling can be used in both an acoustic and electric guitar to create music from light waves.
“Originally, I was looking to create a proof of concept for some of my other work in vibrational sensors, and I thought, ‘Hey, let’s demonstrate it through music, something everyone understands,'” said Dr. Loock, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s. “The concept worked and today we are working on commercializing this technology into mainstream guitar manufacturing.”
The professor’s acoustic photonic guitar is strung with fibre-optic cabling, which creates a light wave when strummed. That light is then converted by digital equipment into sound.
While it looks essentially the same as a traditional guitar, the instrument produces “a richer, acoustic sound” that allows guitarists to mix with greater accuracy.
Dr. Loock collaborated on this research with Canada Research Chair in Future Photonics Systems’ Dr. Raman Kashyap, of the École Polytechnique of Montreal, and the project was funded by the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations (CIPI), a Network of Centres of Excellence funded by NSERC.
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Release source: Queen’s University News Centre | Video: NCERC on Youtube
