Eur. Phys. J. D 33, 315-322 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00052-6

Theory of light emission in sonoluminescence based upon transitions in confined atoms

Dipartimento di Fisica “G.Galilei" and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy

Corresponding authors: ^a fortunat@pd.infn.it - ^b torriell@pd.infn.it

Received: 21 April 2004
Revised: 23 June 2004
Published online: 3 May 2005

Abstract

A theory of light emission in sonoluminescing hydrogen bubbles, based upon transitions in confined atoms, is proposed. Despite the simplicity of the assumptions this model accounts for a number of facts related to sonoluminescence: a broadband spectrum in the correct wavelength window is predicted as well as the number of emitted photons. Taking the temperature at the moment of collapse as a parameter we argue that confined atomic transitions at 4000 K may account for the observed light emission. This result favours a `cold' interpretation of sonoluminescence in contrast to previous theories. Many considerations are qualitatively extendible to rare gases.