Near-resonance scattering from arrays of artificial fish swimbladders

The air-filled swimbladders of fish resonate like damped air bubbles, and are very efficient acoustic scatterers at low to mid frequencies (typically <20 kHz). Scattering experiments were performed on an artificial "fish school" constructed from polyethylene bubbles. A mathematical model, developed to describe near-resonance backscattering from schooling fish [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 196-208 (1996)], was used to analyze the physical behavior for three different arrays of these bubbles. The measurements gave excellent agreement with the model, showing that coupled-resonance and interference effects cause the frequency response of tightly packed arrays, with spacing corresponding to the order of a body length for fish, to differ significantly from those of more dispersed arrays. As the array spacing is increased to the equivalent of several body lengths, these effects rapidly diminish. The results of this comparison demonstrate that, at low to mid frequencies, coupled resonance and interference effects are likely in schooling fish, and need to be considered in applications of underwater acoustic methods to the study of fish populations.     

Stable multibubble sonoluminescence bubble patterns

Multibubble standing wave patterns can be generated from a flat piezoceramic transducer element radiating into water. By adding a second transducer positioned at 90 degrees from the transducer generating the standing wave, a 3-dimensional volume of stable single bubbles can be established. Further, the addition of the second transducer stabilizes the bubble pattern so that individual bubbles may be studied. The size of the bubbles and the separation of the standing waves depend on the frequency of operation. Two transducers, operating at frequencies above 500 kHz, provided the most graphic results for the configuration used in this study. At these frequencies stable bubbles exhibit a bright sonoluminescence pattern. Whereas stable SBSL is well-known, stable MBSL has not been previously reported. This paper includes discussions of the acoustic responses, standing wave patterns, and pictorial results of the separation of individual bubble sonoluminescence in a multibubble sonoluminescence environment.     

Experimental investigations of three laser-induced synchronized bubbles

Herein, we investigated experimentally the dynamics of three laser-induced, same-sized, symmetrically aligned, and synchronized bubbles. Three synchronized laser beams split from the same beam using a Diffractive Optical Element splitter were focused on water, and then we obtained three bubbles. Another nanosecond laser pulse was used to probe the bubbles to obtain shadowgraphs. The exact delay of the excited and detected light was controlled using a delay generator. The results revealed that the maximum volumes of bubbles in arrays decrease as the normalized distance falls, while the lifetimes and translation increase. It was explained by the interaction between the acoustic radiation of bubbles and the surrounding bubbles. The shrinkage of linear bubble arrays exists an anomaly. The center bubbles were stretched, to ellipsoid, stick, even fractured, by the peripheral bubbles. The closer they are, the more distinct is the above phenomenon. However, when the normalized distance was sufficiently small, instead of being stretched, the center bubbles were compressed to disk shape and thus shrank with the whole array. Finally, the dependence of the distance on the energy transfer of the bubble system is also discussed.     

A numerical investigation of the resonance of gas-filled microbubbles: resonance dependence on acoustic pressure amplitude

The general Keller-Herring equation for free gas bubbles is augmented by specific terms to describe the elasticity, viscosity and thickness of the encapsulating shell in ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles. A numerical investigation that analyses the acoustic backscatter from bubbles is employed to identify resonance frequencies that can be compared, for increasing driving pressure amplitude, with linear approximations obtained via analytical considerations. Calculations for bubbles of the size employed in diagnostic ultrasound, between 2 and 6 mum diameter, that are immersed in water and blood and exposed to monochromatic insonation, causing the bubbles to undergo stable cavitation, reveal that the resonance frequency diverges from the linear approximation as the pressure amplitude is increased. The shift in resonance, to lower frequency values, is found to be more pronounced for larger bubbles with the calculated value differing by up to 40% from the linear approximation. The results of this simulation might be potentially useful in preparation of formulations of ultrasound contrast agents with the specifically desired features, such as for instance resonance frequency.     

A numerical investigation of the resonance of gas-filled microbubbles: resonance dependence on acoustic pressure amplitude

The general Keller–Herring equation for free gas bubbles is augmented by specific terms to describe the elasticity, viscosity and thickness of the encapsulating shell in ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles. A numerical investigation that analyses the acoustic backscatter from bubbles is employed to identify resonance frequencies that can be compared, for increasing driving pressure amplitude, with linear approximations obtained via analytical considerations. Calculations for bubbles of the size employed in diagnostic ultrasound, between 2 and 6 μm diameter, that are immersed in water and blood and exposed to monochromatic insonation, causing the bubbles to undergo stable cavitation, reveal that the resonance frequency diverges from the linear approximation as the pressure amplitude is increased. The shift in resonance, to lower frequency values, is found to be more pronounced for larger bubbles with the calculated value differing by up to 40% from the linear approximation. The results of this simulation might be potentially useful in preparation of formulations of ultrasound contrast agents with the specifically desired features, such as for instance resonance frequency.     

Characterization of an acoustic cavitation bubble structure at 230 kHz

A generic bubble structure in a 230 kHz ultrasonic field is observed in a partly developed standing wave field in water. It is characterized by high-speed imaging, sonoluminescence recordings, and surface cleaning tests. The structure has two distinct bubble populations. Bigger bubbles (much larger than linear resonance size) group on rings in planes parallel to the transducer surface, apparently in locations of driving pressure minima. They slowly rise in a jittering, but synchronous way, and they can have smaller satellite bubbles, thus resembling the arrays of bubbles observed by Miller [D. Miller, Stable arrays of resonant bubbles in a 1-MHz standing-wave acoustic field, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62 (1977) 12]. Smaller bubbles (below and near linear resonance size) show a fast "streamer" motion perpendicular to and away from the transducer surface. While the bigger bubbles do not emit light, the smaller bubbles in the streamers show sonoluminescence when they pass the planes of high driving pressure. Both bubble populations exhibit cleaning potential with respect to micro-particles attached to a glass substrate. The respective mechanisms of particle removal, though, might be different.     

Natural frequencies of two bubbles in a compliant tube: analytical, simulation, and experimental results

Motivated by various clinical applications of ultrasound contrast agents within blood vessels, the natural frequencies of two bubbles in a compliant tube are studied analytically, numerically, and experimentally. A lumped parameter model for a five degree of freedom system was developed, accounting for the compliance of the tube and coupled response of the two bubbles. The results were compared to those produced by two different simulation methods: (1) an axisymmetric coupled boundary element and finite element code previously used to investigate the response of a single bubble in a compliant tube and (2) finite element models developed in comsol Multiphysics. For the simplified case of two bubbles in a rigid tube, the lumped parameter model predicts two frequencies for in- and out-of-phase oscillations, in good agreement with both numerical simulation and experimental results. For two bubbles in a compliant tube, the lumped parameter model predicts four nonzero frequencies, each asymptotically converging to expected values in the rigid and compliant limits of the tube material.     

Influence of ultrasonic frequency on multibubble sonoluminescence

Computer simulations of bubble oscillations are performed under conditions of multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) in water for various ultrasonic frequencies. The range of the ambient bubble radius for sonoluminescing bubbles narrows as the ultrasonic frequency increases; at 20 kHz it is 0.1-100 microm while at 1 MHz it is 0.1-3 microm. At 1 MHz, any sonoluminescing bubble disintegrates into a mass of smaller bubbles in a few or a few tens of acoustic cycles, while at 20 kHz and 140 kHz some sonoluminescing bubbles are shape stable. The mechanism of the light emission also depends on the ultrasonic frequency. As the ultrasonic frequency increases, the amount of water vapor trapped inside bubbles at the collapse decreases. As a result, MBSL originates mainly in plasma emissions at 1 MHz while it originates in chemiluminescence of OH radicals and plasma emissions at 20 kHz.     

Effect of secondary radiation force on aggregation between encapsulated microbubbles

Secondary radiation force can be an attractive force causing aggregates of encapsulated microbubbles in ultrasonic molecular imaging. The influence of the secondary radiation force on aggregation between two coated bubbles is investigated in this study. Numerical calculations are performed based on four simultaneous differential equations of radial and translational motions. Results show that the secondary force can change from attraction to repulsion during approach, and stable microbubble pairs can be formed in the vicinity of resonant regions; the possibility of microbubble aggregations can be reduced by using low exciting amplitude, ultrasonic frequencies deviating from the resonant frequencies or microbubbles with small compressibility.     

Sound velocity and attenuation in bubbly gels measured by transmission experiments

Measurements of the phase velocity and attenuation of sound in concentrated samples of bubbly gels are presented. Hair gel was used as a matrix material to obtain well characterized distributions of bubbles. Ultrasonic measurements were conducted over a large range of frequencies, including the resonance frequencies of the bubbles. Surprisingly good agreement with Foldy's prediction was found, even for monodisperse samples at resonance frequencies, up to volume fraction of 1%. Beyond this concentration, the effects of high-order multiple scattering were observed. These results support the feasability of ultrasonic techniques to investigate the size distribution of bubbles in a weak gel or liquid.     

The acoustic emissions of cavitation bubbles in stretched vortices

Pairs of unequal strength, counter-rotating vortices were produced in order to examine the inception, dynamics, and acoustic emission of cavitation bubbles in rapidly stretching vortices. The acoustic signatures of these cavitation bubbles were characterized during their inception, growth, and collapse. Growing and collapsing bubbles often produced a sharp, broadband, pop sound. The spectrum of these bubbles, and the peak resonant frequency can generally be related to quiescent flow bubble dynamics and corresponding resonant frequencies. However, some elongated cavitation bubbles produced a short tonal burst, or chirp, with frequencies on the order of a few kilohertz. Theses frequencies are too low to be related to resonant frequencies of a bubble in a quiescent flow. Instead, the frequency content of the acoustic signal during bubble inception and growth is related to the volumetric oscillations of the bubble while it interacted with vortical flow that surrounds the bubble (i.e., the resonant frequency of the vortex-bubble system). A relationship was determined between the observed peak frequency of the oscillations, the highly stretched vortex properties, and the water nuclei content. It was found that different cavitation spectra could relate to different flow and fluid properties and therefore would not scale in the same manner.     

Measurements of bubbles in sea water by nonstationary sound scattering

Methods for the characterization of bubbles in sea water by acoustic scattering are analyzed. Nonstationary linear and nonlinear sound scattering methods are proposed. The transient linear and nonlinear sound scattering allows the scattering by resonant gas bubbles to be distinguished from the scattering by other microinhomogeneities. The application of parametric arrays in oceanic experiments, together with the broadband frequency analysis of the backscattering coefficient, allows information about bubbles in sea water to be obtained. Experimental results on sound scattering and gas bubble distribution functions are presented for different conditions in the ocean.     

含混合气泡液体中声波共振传播的抑制效应

当声波在含气泡的液体中传播时会出现共振传播现象,即在气泡的共振频率附近声衰减和声速会显著地增大,这是声空化领域的一个重要现象.以往的研究一般假设液体中只存在单一种类的气泡,因此忽略了声波共振传播的某些重要信息.本文研究了含混合气泡液体中声波的共振传播,混合气泡是指液体中包含多种静态半径不同的气泡.结果显示:在这种系统中存在声波共振传播的抑制效应,即与含单一种类气泡的系统相比,在含混合气泡的系统中声波的共振衰减和共振声速会明显变小.对于两种气泡混合、多种气泡混合以及气泡满足某种连续分布的系统,研究了抑制效应的本质和主要特征,此外还探究了黏性和空化率等对抑制效应的影响.本文的研究结果是对该领域现有知识的必要补充.     

Numerical simulations of acoustic cavitation noise with the temporal fluctuation in the number of bubbles

Numerical simulations of cavitation noise have been performed under the experimental conditions reported by Ashokkumar et al. (2007) [26]. The results of numerical simulations have indicated that the temporal fluctuation in the number of bubbles results in the broad-band noise. “Transient” cavitation bubbles, which disintegrate into daughter bubbles mostly in a few acoustic cycles, generate the broad-band noise as their short lifetimes cause the temporal fluctuation in the number of bubbles. Not only active bubbles in light emission (sonoluminescence) and chemical reactions but also inactive bubbles generate the broad-band noise. On the other hand, “stable” cavitation bubbles do not generate the broad-band noise. The weaker broad-band noise from a low-concentration surfactant solution compared to that from pure water observed experimentally by Ashokkumar et al. is caused by the fact that most bubbles are shape stable in a low-concentration surfactant solution due to the smaller ambient radii than those in pure water. For a relatively high number density of bubbles, the bubble–bubble interaction intensifies the broad-band noise. Harmonics in cavitation noise are generated by both “stable” and “transient” cavitation bubbles which pulsate nonlinearly with the period of ultrasound.     

Bubble dynamics in a standing sound field: the bubble habitat

Bubble dynamics is investigated numerically with special emphasis on the static pressure and the positional stability of the bubble in a standing sound field. The bubble habitat, made up of not dissolving, positionally and spherically stable bubbles, is calculated in the parameter space of the bubble radius at rest and sound pressure amplitude for different sound field frequencies, static pressures, and gas concentrations of the liquid. The bubble habitat grows with static pressure and shrinks with sound field frequency. The range of diffusionally stable bubble oscillations, found at positive slopes of the habitat-diffusion border, can be increased substantially with static pressure.     

NANOBUBBLES AT THE LIQUID/SOLID INTERFACE STUDIED BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

Bubbles on the nanometer scale were produced by a special method on solid surfaces. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to detect these bubbles. It shows that nanobubbles can be seen clearly in the interfaces of liquid/graphite and liquid/mica. In AFM images, the nanobubbles appeared like bright spheres. Some of the bubbles kept stable for hours during the experiments. The bubbles were disturbed under high load during AFM imaging. The conformation of the bubbles is influenced by the atomic steps on the graphite substrate. In addition, a shadow was found around the bubbles, which was due to the interactions between a bubble adhered to the tip and a bubble on the substrate.     

Difference frequency and its harmonic emitted by microbubbles under dual frequency excitation

Vibro-acoustography is an elasticity imaging method that uses two ultrasound beams of slightly different frequency to excite an object and detects the resulting acoustic emission (AE) at the difference frequency. This method is especially sensitive to bubbles due to their nonlinearity. This study explores the harmonic acoustic emission (HAE) at twice the difference frequency emitted from bubbles. A perturbation method based on the dynamic bubble equation is used to derive the AE and HAE from a single bubble excited by dual frequency waves. Simulation shows that HAE is generated only by microbubbles whose resonant frequencies match the incident ultrasound frequencies. In contrast, AE is more sensitive to resonance at the difference frequency, which is relevant to sub-millimeter bubbles. This finding was confirmed by experiments where HAE was produced from Optison microbubbles, but not from larger air bubbles which are off resonance at the incident ultrasound frequency. In conclusion, harmonic acoustic emission is present for microbubbles. It is very sensitive to the size of the bubble and may be used for selective detection of microbubbles.     

Numerical simulation of cavitation bubble dynamics induced by ultrasound waves in a high frequency reactor

The use of high frequency ultrasound in chemical systems is of major interest to optimize chemical procedures. Characterization of an open air 477 kHz ultrasound reactor shows that, because of the collapse of transient cavitation bubbles and pulsation of stable cavitation bubbles, chemical reactions are enhanced. Numerical modelling is undertaken to determine the spatio-temporal evolution of cavitation bubbles. The calculus of the emergence of cavitation bubbles due to the acoustic driving (by taking into account interactions between the sound field and bubbles' distribution) gives a cartography of bubbles' emergence within the reactor. Computation of their motion induced by the pressure gradients occurring in the reactor show that they migrate to the pressure nodes. Computed bubbles levitation sites gives a cartography of the chemical activity of ultrasound. Modelling of stable cavitation bubbles' motion induced by the motion of the liquid gives some insight on degassing phenomena.     

Characterization of cavitation in a flow-through exposure chamber by means of a resonant bubble detector

Ultrasonic cavitation at frequencies of 0.514, 0.866, 1.03 and 1.61 MHz in water flowing through tubes was observed by counting bubbles downstream with a resonant bubble detector (RBD) operated at 0.89 or 1.7 MHz. In a 21 mm diameter, thin-walled tube, cavitation thresholds in tap water flowing at 5.3 cm s^?1 ranged from 2.0 – 2.5 bar at 0.514 MHz to 3 – 4 bar at 1.61 MHz. When high speed injections were employed to trigger the ultrasonic cavitation with hydrodynamically-generated bubbles, the thresholds were reduced to about 2 bar and bubble production was enhanced for 1.03 and 1.61 MHz exposures. Ultrasonic radiation forces on the bubbles and bubble coalescence appeared to cause, under some conditions, a reduction in bubble counts during subthreshold exposures when bubbles were injected into the flow. The RBD method is a useful tool for detecting and semi-quantitatively observing cavitation in a flow-through exposure system.     

Dynamics of three cavitation bubbles with pulsation and symmetric deformation

A new system of dynamical equations was obtained by using the perturbation and potential flow theory to couple the pulsation and surface deformation of the second-order Legendre polynomials (P₂) of three bubbles in a line. The feasibility and effectiveness of the model were verified by simulating the radial oscillations, surface deformation with P₂, and shape evolution of three bubbles. The spherical radial pulsation and surface deformation of the three bubbles exhibit periodic behavior. The maximum secondary Bjerknes forces (SBFs) on the three bubbles are found not to depend on the system’s resonance frequency. Within a stable region, the SBFs of the three bubbles increase with increasing sound pressure amplitude but decrease with increasing distance between the bubbles. The primary Bjerknes force (PBF) on a bubble is significantly higher than the SBF on it.