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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/D001560/1
Title: An acoustoelectrochemical study of single bubble sonoluminescence involving TCSPC
Principal Investigator: Birkin, Dr PR
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Southampton
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 2005 Ends: 30 September 2008 Value (£): 91,129
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electrochemical Science & Eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Under appropriate conditions, it is possible to trap a small gas bubble within a standing sound wave created within a glass chamber filled with liquid. If the sound level is increased sufficiently the bubble within the liquid begins to glow as it is expanded and contracted by the sound pressure waves within the chamber. This emission of light is weak but very short (less than 0.000000001 s) and demonstrates an amazing concentration of energy from the sound wave into light energy. Indeed temperatures inside the bubble have been estimated to be hotter than the surface of the sun! However, this fascinating process is difficult to study particularly in relation to the chemical nature of the processes occurring within the centre of the bubble. Here this project attempts to unravel some of these problems by using small (less than the width of a human hair) electrodes or probes to approach the trapped gas bubble. This approach has the advantage that close to the bubble the local concentration of species is highest and the detection of the chemical by-products of the processes occurring in the interior of the bubble as they escape into the liquid should be possible. In turn the effect of injecting materials into the local environment using these novel probes will be studied in relation to the light emission form the bubble. Finally a new way of seeding the gas bubble will be tested in a number of different chamber designs and at a variety of sound frequencies.
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Organisation Website: http://www.soton.ac.uk