Abstract
Experimental results for single-bubble sonoluminescence of air bubbles at very low frequency are presented: In contrast to the predictions of a recent model [S. Hilgenfeldt and D. Lohse, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1036 (1999)], the bubbles are only as bright ( photons per pulse) and the pulses as long ( ) as at . We can theoretically account for this effect by incorporating water vapor into the model: During the rapid bubble collapse a large amount of water vapor is trapped inside the bubble, resulting in an increased heat capacity and hence lower temperatures, i.e., hindering upscaling. At this low frequency water vapor also dominates the light emission process.
- Received 18 May 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.3165
©2000 American Physical Society