African Musical Symbolism In Contemporary Perspective - Saoas.org

232
Whether in atomic or astronomical space these virtual
particles act as energy bridges between real ones. Ephemeral
networks of such phantom particles continually appear as they
transfer energy about, before promptly vanishing back in virtual
non-existence. However, if some of the virtuals can hang on to
this energy for long enough to get above Planck’s Constant, they
can then begin to exist as real particles in our own normal
macrotime. Conversely, real particles can become virtuals by
loosing energy. Indeed, real and virtual atomic particles are
constantly switching roles as they transfer energy about.
To this churning realm of real and virtual particles, Paul Dirac
added real and virtual anti-particles. In 1928 he suggested that
every subatomic particle has a corresponding opposite or
complementary anti-particle. The two partners have a figureand-ground
relationship to one another: such as positron and
electron, proton ands anti-proton. In addition, whenever these
matter/anti-matter mirror images meet they mutually destroy
each other.
In this scenario there is no such thing as empty space,
whether between stars or atoms. What we think of as a void or
vacuum is in fact full of virtual pairs of particles and antiparticles
continually popping into existence and annihilating
each other. In doing so, they create potential pathways for every
conceivable type of atomic activity. This includes the transfer of
light, heat and other forms of electro-magnetic energy, which
therefore do not need the imponderable ether of the
nineteenth century.
This idea of space being full of activity was depicted in
Figures developed in the 1940’s by the American physicist
Richard Feynman 276 which shows atomic processes interacting in
virtual states of being on a space/time (or energy/momentum)
grid. A special example of a Feynman Figure is the mutual
creation and destruction of a particle and its anti-particle
partner. Because this can take place in even the highest vacuum
of outer space, he called it a Vacuum Diagram.
276 As this book is so much concerned with African percussion it might be of
interest for the reader to know that Feynman was an accomplished player of the
Afro-Cuban “bongo” drums.