Stabilization and acoustic spectra of a cavitation cluster in an ultrasonic spherical cavity

Abstract

The dynamics, stabilization, and acoustic spectra of a bubble cluster in different liquids are investigated under the condition of ultrasonic cavitation. Experimental data for the dynamics of a spherical ultrasonic cluster near the end face of a rod, capillary, or pressure sensor placed in the antinode of a pressure standing wave at the center of a single-wave spherical piezoelectric concentrator (piezoelectric sphere) are presented. The variation of the cluster size with the parameters of the ultrasonic field and properties of the liquid is studied. It is found that the shape, collapse dynamics, and stability of the cavitation cluster have a significant influence on the acoustocapillary effect. It is shown that the maximal acoustocapillary effect and sonoluminescence are observed when a stable cluster with spherically symmetric collapse dynamics is provided at the end of a capillary in a 50% solution of glycerol. Using a small-size piezotransducer placed at the center of the sphere, the acoustic pressure is measured and acoustic spectra are studied for different voltages across the piezosphere and during the formation of variously shaped cavitation clusters. In the case of fully developed cavitation and a spherical cluster, the acoustic spectra contain subharmonic components, the cavitation noise factor rises to 35%, and the maximum of the noise envelope shifts toward higher frequencies.