Sonoluminescence: A new electrical breakdown hypothesis

We discuss an hypothesis wherein single-bubble sonoluminescence is attributed to electrical breakdown due to large pressure gradients existing for small bubble radii. These large gradients produce large electric fields (the flexoelectric effect) that lead to electrical breakdown, releasing energies up to 10(-10) J, which is much larger than the light energy released in each cycle. This hypothesis appears to be consistent with several observations made in studies of the sonoluminescence process. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.