Oscillation

Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. The term 'vibration' is precisely used to describe mechanical oscillation but used as a synonym of 'oscillation' too. Familiar examples include a swinging pendulum and alternating current power.

Oscillations occur not only in mechanical systems but also in dynamic systems in virtually every area of science: for example the beating human heart, business cycles in economics, predator-prey population cycles in ecology, geothermal geysers in geology, vibrating strings in musical instruments, periodic firing of nerve cells in the brain, and the periodic swelling of Cepheid variable stars in astronomy.

Simple harmonic oscillator

The simplest mechanical oscillating system is a weight attached to a linear spring subject to only weight and tension. Such a system may be approximated on an air table or ice surface. The system is in an equilibrium state when the spring is static. If the system is displaced from the equilibrium, there is a net restoring force on the mass, tending to bring it back to equilibrium. However, in moving the mass back to the equilibrium position, it has acquired momentum which keeps it moving beyond that position, establishing a new restoring force in the opposite sense. If a constant force such as gravity is added to the system, the point of equilibrium is shifted. The time taken for an oscillation to occur is often referred to as the oscillatory period.

Oscillation (cell signaling)

Oscillations are an important type of cell signaling characterized by the periodic change of the system in time. Oscillations can take place in a biological system in a multitude of ways. Positive feedback loops, on their own or in combination with negative feedback are a common feature of oscillating biological systems.

Examples

Genetic oscillation

One of the most common forms of biological oscillation is genetic oscillation, which can take place when a transcription factor binds and represses its own promoter. This type of regulatory system is able to successfully describe the NFkB-IkB and p53-Mdm52 biological oscillating systems.

Relaxation oscillations

Relaxation oscillation takes place in the context of a bi-stable system. It is characterized by the periodic switching between two stable states.

References

Oscillation (album)

Oscillation is the seventh and final studio album by the Norwegian black/gothic metal band Trail of Tears. It was released on April 26, 2013 under Massacre Records. The album was recorded at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France between September and October 2011, in collaboration with producer Terje Refsnes.

Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow is listed as the band's drummer in the booklet, however Bjørn Erik Næss is credited with having performed the drums on this album.

Background

Oscillation was composed and recorded in 2011, during a difficult time for the band, with strong personal differences of Ronny Thorsen with Cathrine Paulsen and the guitarist Bjørn Erik Næss, when these had a partner relationship. Consequently, Thorsen took a more secondary role than usual in this album, while Paulsen was involved in virtually all possible areas of production. The album had significant delays in its release date, after recording between September and October of that year. An additional problem was the expiration of Trail of Tears contract with Napalm Records, extended in late 2007.