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Diagnosing temperature change inside sonoluminescing bubbles by calculating line spectra.
1Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Numerical calculations show that prominent spectral lines in sonoluminescence fade as bubble temperature increases. This suggests that sonoluminescing bubbles may not have a hot plasma core, challenging previous theories.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics and Optics
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Single bubble sonoluminescence (SBSL) is a phenomenon involving light emission from collapsing bubbles.
- The spectral characteristics of SBSL are complex and debated, particularly regarding the internal bubble conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically calculate the spectrum of single bubble sonoluminescence.
- To investigate the relationship between bubble temperature and spectral line prominence.
- To evaluate the likelihood of a hot plasma core in SBSL.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulation of the sonoluminescence spectrum.
- Analysis of spectral line behavior as a function of maximum bubble temperature.
- Comparison of calculated spectra with experimental observations.
Main Results:
- Prominent spectral lines are observed at lower maximum bubble temperatures.
- As bubble temperature increases, spectral lines weaken and fade into the continuum.
- Calculated temperature and pressure profiles correlate with spectral profiles, indicating reliability.
Conclusions:
- The numerical model effectively explains the observed spectral changes in SBSL.
- The findings suggest that the prominence of spectral lines is inversely related to bubble temperature.
- The study provides evidence against the existence of a hot plasma core in sonoluminescing bubbles.
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