Effect of surfactants, polymers, and alcohol on single bubble dynamics and sonoluminescence

Abstract

The radial dynamics of an acoustically driven single bubble, levitated in water, along with the sonoluminescence (SL) signal, were recorded in the absence and in the presence of micromolar quantities of different surfactants and polymers. It was observed that these nonvolatile solutes, in the low concentration range used, did not significantly affect the radial dynamics nor the SL intensity of a single bubble in water. In contrast, the addition of micromolar quantities of a volatile solute, pentanol, quenched approximately 90% of the SL without affecting the radial dynamics of the bubble.