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Sonoluminescense
Name: Carmen Cecilia G.
Status: student
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
What is sonoluminescense?
Replies:
Hello,
I had not heard about it either but I looked it up. Here is what I
found.
Sonoluminescense means generating light from sound. As you know, we can
impart energy via sound (that is how sound excites our ears, hence
hearing). As a further example, you can feel the energy of sound in the
form of fluctuating air pressure in front of a high power speaker.
Pressure (from sound or mechanical force) can induce a voltage in some
materials; these are referred to as piezoelectric materials.
Sonoluminescent materials perhaps work the same way but instead of (or
in addition to?) producing a voltage they produce light. I am not sure
if phenomenon of Sonoluminescense is well understood. I recommend that
you look at this lengthy web page for more information:
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~das4k/october.html
I hope this helps you in your research.
AK
--
Ali Khounsary, Ph.D.
Advanced Photon Source
Argonne National Laboratory
For a good definition and introduction, see
http://www-phys.llnl.gov/N_Div/sonolum/.
I have looked at many other sites,
and this is the most clear.
Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois
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Update: June 2012
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