Neon Feynman Mobile

(with and without flash)
This piece was inspired by the QED
theory of physicist Richard Feynman.
It
is a mobile that is integrated into a ceiling fan. Air currents from the fan move the mobile
elements around gently. The only neon element
that is directly connected to power is the central arrow. This represents an electron in a Feynman
diagram. The three wavy, neon elements
represent photons. The photons are
counterbalanced by weighted sheets of Mylar that reflect images of the photons
(This is a conceptual pun: the reflection from a plane mirror is called a
virtual image and virtual photons are an important part of the QED
theory.) The photons are not connected
to any power source. As they move into
the RF field surrounding the electron (arrow), they light up. As they drift
away they turn off. The unit remains
fully functional as a ceiling fan. The fan, the torus-shaped fluorescent light above the mobile, and the neonpower may be switched
on and off independently with swtches on the unit.
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