Sonoluminescence from single cavitation bubbles near solid surfaces

Mur, Jaka (author), Petkovšek, Rok (author), Ohl, Claus-Dieter (author)

Sonoluminescence, the light emission from bubbles undergoing large volume oscillations, has traditionally been associated with near-spherical bubble collapses in free liquid. In contrast, highly asymmetric bubble collapses near solid boundaries are known to cause surface erosion from transient and extreme pressure build ups. While both phenomena are caused from energy focusing during bubble collapse, a connection between erosion and light emission has not been previously reported. Here, we for the first time observe the highly asymmetric toroidal cavitation bubble collapse leading to erosive effects on the nearby boundary emits light, too. Through multi-modal measurements of the bubble dynamics and the associated phenomena near solid surfaces, we find that light emission occurs exclusively at the sites and time of the most intense flow focusing. Yet, we find no correlation between the occurrence of light emission from sonoluminescence and erosion. This findings reveal that the mechanisms governing energy focusing within the bubble and in the liquid are resulting from distinct energy focusing pathways.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sonoluminescence, cavitation, cavitation erosion, laser-induced breakdown, time-resolved imaging
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 7 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 128, art. 107815
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180946
• UDC: 535.37:532.528
• ISSN on article: 1350-4177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2026.107815
• COBISS.SI-ID: 272404227
• Publication date in RUL: 20.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Ultrasonics sonochemistry
• Shortened title: Ultrason. sonochem.
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier
• ISSN: 1350-4177
• COBISS.SI-ID: 707668

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sonoluminiscenca, kavitacija, kavitacijska erozija, laserski preboj, časovno razločeno slikanje

Projects

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
• Project number: 57656970
• Name: Programm des Projektbezogenen Personenaustauschs Slowenien 2023–2025

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0270
• Name: Proizvodni sistemi, laserske tehnologije in spajanje materialov