Sonoluminescence and quantum optical heating

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum optical heating mechanism for sonoluminescence bubbles, suggesting that noble gas atoms can be rapidly heated by inhomogeneous electric fields, potentially explaining the energy concentration and enabling temperature control.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum optical model for bubble heating in sonoluminescence, highlighting the role of inhomogeneous electric fields and laser detuning for temperature increase.

Findings

Potential detection of non-thermal photon emission prior to light flash

Theoretical basis for laser-induced temperature enhancement inside bubbles

Explanation of energy concentration during bubble collapse

Abstract

Sonoluminescence is the intriguing phenomenon of strong light flashes from tiny bubbles in a liquid. The bubbles are driven by an ultrasonic wave and need to be filled with noble gas atoms. Approximating the emitted light by blackbody radiation indicates very high temperatures. Although sonoluminescence has been studied extensively, the origin of the sudden energy concentration within the bubble collapse phase is still controversial. It is hence difficult to further increase the temperature inside the bubble for applications like sonochemistry and table top fusion. Here we show that the strongly confined nobel gas atoms inside the bubble can be heated very rapidly by a weak but highly inhomogeneous electric field as it might occur naturally during rapid bubble deformations. An indirect proof of the proposed quantum optical heating mechanism would be the detection of the non-thermal emission of photons in the optical regime prior to the light flash. Our model implies that it is possible to increase the temperature inside the bubble with the help of appropriately detuned laser fields.