Measurement of Temperature in Sonoplasma

Abstract

Stable plasma can be generated in a liquid hydrocarbon such as n-dodecane or benzene by simultaneous microwave and ultrasonic irradiation. The authors refer to this plasma as “sonoplasma” and distinguish it from “sonoluminescence” on the basis of the continuity of emission. The temperature in the plasma was obtained by measuring two specified emission intensities from the plasma which reached approximately 5000 K. To analytically estimate the temperature, numerical simulations of the behavior of a single bubble in sound field, taking into account the absorption of microwave energy, were carried out. The temperature inside the bubble in n-dodecane reached approximately 8000 K. In benzene, the temperature inside the bubble, which continued expanding through absorption of microwave energy, exceeded 2000 K.