The radial dynamics of an acoustically driven single bubble, levitated in water, along with the sonoluminescence (SL) signal, were recorded in the absence and in the presence of micromolar quantities of different surfactants and polymers. It was observed that these nonvolatile solutes, in the low concentration range used, did not significantly affect the radial dynamics nor the SL intensity of a single bubble in water. In contrast, the addition of micromolar quantities of a volatile solute, pentanol, quenched ∼90% of the SL without affecting the radial dynamics of the bubble.

• Received 21 August 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.65.046310