Cymatics is the study of wave phenomena. It is typically associated with the physical patterns produced through the interaction of sound waves in a medium.
A simple experiment demonstrating the visualisation of cymatics can be done by sprinkling sand on a metal plate and vibrating the plate, for example by drawing a violin bow along the edge, the sand will then form itself into standing wave patterns such as simple concentriccircles. The higher the frequency, the more complex the shapes produced, with certain shapes having similarities to traditional mandala designs.
In 2007 Thomas J. Mitchell and his son Stuart told the press they had decoded "frozen music" based on sculptures in Rosslyn Chapel, in part by using cymatics.[6]