Scots artist develops cosmic ray instrument for Fringe show
The particles, known as muons, are used to generate in-depth 3D pictures of structural interiors, which helps researchers see inside dense materials, such as the pyramids of Giza.
Artist Lomond Campbell helped design the machine. (Image: Glasgow University) Mahon said: 'Working with Lomond to expand the scope of that research, generating sound alongside images while he plays along with cosmic rays, has been a fantastic experience.
'I'm looking forward to seeing how audiences engage with the Muonophone during the performances and the installation during the month of August.'
The series of live performances (entitled MŮO) featuring the muonophone's audiovisual output will be held at Edinburgh's French Institute during the month of August.
After the performances conclude, the French Institute will continue to host the muonophone until the 25th of August, giving visitors the chance to see the instrument for themselves.
Several events funded by the Institute of Physics in Scotland will also be held, where PhD students from the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow will discuss the science of muons with visitors.
Tickets to the live show cost £10, while concessions are £8 and family tickets cost £6.
Singer King Creosote is among the guests at the performance series. (Image: free) A statement on Campbell's website reads: 'Using muon detectors, MŮO captures cosmic radiation from deep space, transforming it into reactive sound and entrancing live visuals.
'Performing with his one-of-a-kind handmade instrument, the Muonophone, Lomond creates a constantly evolving sonic landscape, joined by special musical guests throughout the festival.
'Blending art, science and sound in a way you've never seen before, MŮO is a cosmic journey not to be missed.'
Muons are generated when cosmic rays collide with the Earth's atmosphere and break apart. Special devices known as muon detectors pick up the presence of the particles as they pass through various materials.
The Muonophone reacts to the detection of muons by triggering 'pre-prepared sound and visualisations.'
As cosmic rays from 'deep space' shape the muonophone's outputs, Campbell will play live keyboard parts to accompany the machine's soundscapes.
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Dr Mahon, of the University of Glasgow's School of Physics & Astronomy, noted: 'I've been working on muon-related research at the University for more than 15 years now, finding new ways to harness cosmic rays to see inside objects.
'A University spinout company, called Lynkeos Technology, is now using muography to provide industry with detailed 3D images of the interiors of structures which are impossible to create using other methods.'
Campbell added: 'When approached by The University of Glasgow to work with their muon detecting technology I jumped on it. There is a score being constantly written by the nuclear activity of the cosmos and with muon detectors we can listen in to that and then interpret it sonically and visually.
'I find that whole concept stirring and want MŮO to instil that same sense of wonder in people who come to experience the live performances and the installation.
'What began as an idea to make an instrument called The Muonophone, has grown into a fully immersive audiovisual experience called MŮO, thanks to support from Made In Scotland, Sonica Glasgow and The French Institute.'
According to the National Institutes of Health in the United States, muography has a range of uses, including in the fields of geoscience, nuclear safety and security, and civil engineering and archaeology.
Muons have been used to explore the interior of the pyramids.One of the most well-known applications of muography is the ScanPyramids project, which has mapped the inside of the Egyptian pyramids, and led to the discovery of several 'plane-sized' voids within the 4500-year-old structures in 2018.
At the time, Mehdi Tayoubi, ScanPyramids project co-founder and president of the Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute, told The Independent:
'It could be composed of one or several structures, maybe it could be another Grand Gallery. It could be a chamber, it could be a lot of things. It was hidden, I think, since the construction of the pyramid.'
The rays can also be used to image the inside of volcanoes, nuclear storage facilities, and blast furnaces - and now power musical instruments at the Edinburgh Fringe.
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