Multibubble sonoluminescence in ethylene glycol/water mixtures

The multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) signals generated by 3.5 ms pulses of 515 kHz ultrasound in air-saturated ethylene glycol, water, and ethylene glycol/water mixtures were examined in the absence and presence of a range of solutes, including aliphatic alcohols of various chain lengths (C3-C6) and ionic and zwitterionic surfactants. In general, the alcohols quenched the SL in most solvent mixtures and the surfactants enhanced the sonoluminescence signal. However, in some solvent mixtures complex effects were observed in the presence of the solutes. The discussion presented rationalizes the varied behavior of the solutes on the MBSL observed in terms of their influence on inter- and intrabubble effects experienced by bubbles in an ultrasound field.