THE EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND POWER ON WATER SONOLUMINESCENCE

Sonoluminescence is observed from water saturated with argon and xenon for the 200-500 nm wavelength interval when these solutions are insonified at a frequency of 22 kHz. The total intensity of the light emission in the Xe-saturated water is stronger than in the Ar-saturated water. The spectrum of Xe-saturated water has a strong band near 260 nm. The sonoluminescence spectra does not change markedly with increasing ultrasound power. The sonoluminescence intensity of water in the presence of Xe increases over the whole range of ultrasound power used, but for Ar-saturated waters the sonoluminescence intensity stops increasing when the ultrasound power reaches the value of 9·2 W/cm2. The explanation of the results obtained is in accordance with thermal theory, corresponding to the differences between the characteristics of argon and xenon. © 1991.