Ryan Berkheimer with Prof. Kathleen Kash

Sonoluminescence

Sonoluminescence is the process of changing a mechanical pressure into electromagnetic radiation and heat. Applying an external harmonic oscillating sound field at a certain resonant frequency to a gas bubble in a liquid chamber will force the gas bubble to oscillate its volume, shrinking and expanding with the sound field. Upon contraction, electromagnetic radiation is produced. This phenomenon is what is known as Sonoluminescence. For an air bubble in water, the radiation has been shown to achieve optical to UV wavelengths, with gas temperatures theorized at over 1000K. This project will attempt to observe and measure Sonoluminescence using air bubbles in a water solution for a control. This will involve design of a high Q bubble chamber (minimum power dissipation to energy input). Once this control is established, the gas and solution makeup will be altered to search for limits to the intensity and energy spectrum of the emitted radiation. If time permits a theoretical and possibly experimental examination will be made of the RPI acetone-uranium experiment.