Rockstar scientist David Reilly takes the axe to quantum physics – The Sydney Morning Herald

Of the five electric guitars owned by experimental quantum physicist David Reilly, he likes this one the best. Themustard-yellow Fender Telecaster has two pickups, a maple fretboard and country-rock twang. When he's not in the laboratory pondering the mysteries of life, the universe and everything, he likes to lay down tracks on his axe at home, alone. "It's a fantastic way of switching off."

Electric guitar and quantum science are surprisingly similar, he says. To start with, neither pursuit presents an inherentlystable career path. "There are many scientists I know who drive taxis because it's not easy to get a job, like musicians," he says.

Professor Reilly directs the quantum nanoscience laboratory at the University of Sydney and spends timecogitating"spooky" questions, such as: "What does the world look like when I am not observing it?" and "What is the '80s sound?" He's intoJohn Mayer and quantum entanglement. Steely Dan and cryogenic electronics.

Music and quantum physics are quite alikemathematically, he says. "The physics of sound and the construction of tonal systems, such as the way in which a guitar is laid out, captures a lot of the essence of what quantum physics is," he says. "Quantum physics tells us the world is made up of vibrations or waves, just like the waves when you pluck a guitar string."

The rockstar scientist in blue jeans and brown suede shoes who is left-handed but usesregular right-handedguitars will discuss such parallels while playing on stage at the City Recital Hall on August 14, as part of the This Sounds Like Sciencefree lunchtime series.

"There's an enormous amount of electronics and instrumentation and experimental physics wrapped up in music," he says. "It's total nerd heaven."

Professor Reilly started playing guitar at the age of nine and practised every day until his late teens, when he had to choose between the lotof a musician or a scientist. Do you ever wish you were a professional rock guitarist, I ask. "At certain times I flirt with that idea," he says.

But quantumphysics and guitar riffs can feed off each other, he adds. "Science is very much like music, it's about thinking outside the box. Somehow, tapping other parts of your brain musically opens up different thought processes.

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

"A lot of people talk about having ideas in the shower. I would say that playing guitar gives me scientific ideas."

He has played in various bands over the years, at wedding receptionsand in pubs. The 1238-seat City Recital Hall, in Angel Place, will be his largest gigby far. He has something special planned for the show. "My hope is that I can tune the configuration of the guitar strings to match that of the hydrogen atom," he says.

"Can you tune your guitar to hydrogen or helium or lithium? I am not sure how good that is going to sound."

Read this article:

Rockstar scientist David Reilly takes the axe to quantum physics - The Sydney Morning Herald