Experimental Validation of the Dissociation Hypothesis for Single Bubble Sonoluminescence

Abstract

Single bubble sonoluminescence stability in ambient radius ( $R_0$), drive pressure ( $P_a$) phase space is examined for water partially saturated with pure argon, pure nitrogen, and argon/nitrogen mixtures in order to examine the dissociation hypothesis (DH) of Lohse and Hilgenfeldt [J. Chem. Phys. 107, 6986 (1997)]. A stroboscopic imaging system was employed to measure $R_0$ and the maximum bubble radius $R_{\max }$. $P_a$ was calculated by fitting the Rayleigh-Plesset equation to $R_0$ and $R_{\max }$. Excellent agreement was seen between experiment and prediction over a wide range of parameters, validating DH.