Enhancement of sonoluminescence emission from a multibubble cavitation zone

Investigations have been performed on various methods of increasing cavitat ion activity measured by the intensity of sonoluminescence. It is shown tha t the effect of the combined action of (a) pulsed modulation of an acoustic field, (b) liquid degassing and cooling and (c) increasing the static pres sure considerably exceeds the sum of the effects achieved by each of these methods individually. A more than 250-fold increase of the sonoluminescence intensity has been attained compared with continuous irradiation under nor mal conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure, gas-saturated liqui d). An interpretation of the results obtained is proposed. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.