When I’m not creating music or any other type of art, I work as a laser scientist. The idea of manipulating electromagnetic radiation into different colors, qualities, and functions is intriguing to me. I am a scientist by trade and by education, and getting the laser engineer job was like a dream–it’s why I moved last year.
Right now I’m working on a project: a 460-nm optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The requirements from the potential customer are pretty stringent, and the deadline for project completion is in a couple of months. I’m growing more stressed about it but the rest of the team is very supportive and everyone has good ideas and are very helpful as I figure out the design of this OPO.
The first month or so was hell, to say the least. Nothing I did worked or did much of anything at all except burn crystals and mirrors. It wasn’t until about 6 weeks in that I had my breakthrough, and now it’s all about meeting the customer’s requirements and optimizing the system for the best design.
I had Monday off because of the snowstorm that buried my community. Tomorrow I’ll get back to working on this project again. I’m excited but morale can come up and down as the project progresses. It’s very much like a song, with its own ups and downs. All I have to do is remember that I’m still creating, even if it’s just ‘for work’.
–P.H. 26 February 2026, 18:00 (E.T.)
Sounds of Ariadnus 
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