Light scattering is used to measure the dynamics of the repetitive collapse of a sonoluminescing bubble of gas trapped in water. It is found that the surface of the bubble is collapsing with a supersonic velocity at about the time of light emission which in turn precedes the minimum bubble radius by about 0.03% of the period of the acoustic drive. These observations suggest that the shedding of an imploding shock mediates between the bubble collapse and light emission.

• Received 14 September 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.3839