Computational simulation of ionization processes in single-bubble and multi-bubble sonoluminescence

Abstract

The most recent spectroscopic studies of moving-single bubble sonoluminescence (MSBSL) and multi-bubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) have revealed that hydrated electrons () are generated in MSBSL but absent in MBSL. To explore the mechanism of this phenomenon, we numerically simulate the ionization processes in single- and multi-bubble sonoluminescence in aqueous solution of terbium chloride (TbCl3). The results show that the maximum degree of ionization of single-bubble sonoluminescence (SBSL) is approximately 10000 times greater than that of MBSL under certain special physical parameters. The hydrated electrons () formed in SBSL are far more than those in MBSL provided these electrons are ejected from a bubble into a liquid. Therefore, the quenching of to SBSL spectrum is stronger than that of the MBSL spectrum. This may be the reason that the trivalent terbium [Tb(III)] ion line intensities from SBSL in the TbCl3 aqueous solutions with the acceptor of are stronger than those of TbCl3 aqueous solutions without the acceptor of . Whereas the Tb(III) ion line intensities from MBSL are not variational, which is significant for exploring the mechanism behind the cavitation and sonoluminescence.