Dielectric polarization in the Planck theory of sonoluminescence

Sonoluminescence observed in the cavitation of liquid H2O may be explained by the Planck theory of SL, which treats the bubbles as collapsing miniature masers having optical waves standing in resonance with the dimensions of the bubble cavity. Microwaves are shown to be created from the Planck energy of the standing waves, provided the bubble wall can be treated as a perfect blackbody surface. Liquid H2O is strongly absorbent in the ultraviolet and there the bubble approaches a Planck blackbody enclosure. The microwaves are created at frequencies proportional to the bubble collapse velocity only to be promptly absorbed by the rotation quantum states of the H2O and other bubble wall molecules. The microwaves are absorbed discretely at rotation line frequencies, or continuously by dipole rotation at frequencies from 1 to 30 GHz. In the liquid state, molecular rotation of the H2O molecule is hindered and the microwave energy is rapidly turned into bending energy by intermolecular collisions. Subsequently, the bubble wall molecules may thereby ionize and produce visible photons. The microwaves create intense electrical fields in the bubble wall by dielectric polarization. If the gases adjacent to the bubble wall undergo electrical breakdown, free electrons are created, thereby providing sonoluminescence with a magnetic field effect. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.