Bubble puzzles: From fundamentals to applications

TL;DR

This paper explores the diverse phenomena and applications of bubbles, from fundamental physics like sonoluminescence to practical uses in medicine, industry, and environmental science, highlighting their scientific and technological significance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive personal overview of bubble research, linking fundamental phenomena with a wide range of innovative applications across multiple fields.

Findings

New insights into bubble sonoluminescence and cavitation.

Applications in ultrasound diagnostics and drug delivery.

Effective force models for bubbly two-phase flow.

Abstract

For centuries, bubbles have fascinated artists, engineers, and scientists alike. In spite of century-long research on them, new and often surprising bubble phenomena, features, and applications keep popping up. In this paper I sketch my personal scientific bubble journey, starting with single bubble sonoluminescence, continuing with sound emission and scattering of bubbles, cavitation, snapping shrimp, impact events, air entrainment, surface micro- and nanobubbles, and finally coming to effective force models for bubbles and dispersed bubbly two-phase flow. In particular, I also cover various applications of bubbles, namely in ultrasound diagnostics, drug and gene delivery, piezo-acoustic inkjet printing, immersion lithography, sonochemistry, electrolysis, catalysis, acoustic marine geophysical survey, and bubble drag reduction for naval vessels, and show how these applications crossed my way. I also try to show that good and interesting fundamental science and relevant applications are not a contradiction, but mutually stimulate each other in both directions.