Sonoluminescence:
It is a fascinating phenomenon where small gas bubbles in a liquid emit a brief flash of light when exposed to intense sound waves.
- This phenomenon was first observed in 1934 by two German engineers studying sonar, a method of using sound waves for navigation similar to how bats operate.
- The process begins when a tiny bubble trapped in a liquid is subjected to powerful sound waves.
- These waves cause the bubble to rapidly expand and contract due to alternating high and low-pressure phases.
- During the contraction phase, the bubble compresses so rapidly that its internal temperature skyrockets to several thousand kelvins.
- This extreme heat ionizes the gases inside the bubble, resulting in the emission of light energy for a fraction of a second—about a trillionth of a second.
