EFFECTS OF THERMAL CONDUCTION ON BUBBLE DYNAMICS NEAR THE SONOLUMINESCENCE THRESHOLD

A simple model of bubble dynamics is constructed in which effects of thermal conduction and those of evaporation and condensation of water vapor are included. Results of numerical calculations when a bubble is irradiated by an ultrasonic wave reveal that the effect of thermal conduction is considerable. The calculated results fit with the experimental data of the radius-time curve much more satisfactorily than those by a model without thermal conduction. It is also concluded that a bubble transduces the energy of the acoustic wave into heat. Numerical calculations also reveal that the partial pressure of water vapor in a bubble differs considerably from the saturated vapor pressure especially at collapse of the bubble. Connection with sonoluminescence is also discussed. (C) 1995 Acoustical Society of America.