Experimental observations of the stress experienced by a solid surface when a laser-created bubble oscillates in its vicinity

In an attempt to shed more light on the complex process by which cavities i nteract destructively with rigid boundaries we consider experimentally the interaction of a laser-generated bubble with a nearby solid boundary. To de termine the stresses the surface of the boundary experiences, particularly during the final stages of the first collapse phase, we present a series of pressure transducer traces observed when the laser-created cavity is produ ced close to the solid boundary. Through careful control of experimental pa rameters we record pressure increases for cavities created between 0.56 and 1.5 times the maximum bubble radius from the solid boundary. Previous stud ies have shown this to be a complex process which is particularly sensitive to the working parameters of the problem, which is borne out by our observ ations. (C) 2001 Acoustical Society of America.