Sonoluminescence

Sonoluminescence is a phenomenon where tiny bubbles in a liquid emit brief flashes of light when exposed to intense sound waves. The sound causes the bubbles to rapidly grow and then collapse violently, creating extreme conditions—temperatures of thousands of degrees and very high pressures—inside the bubble. This sudden energy release produces a flash of light, similar to a tiny explosion. Scientists are interested in sonoluminescence because it offers insights into extreme physics and energy concentration on a microscopic scale, bridging acoustics, fluid dynamics, and light emission processes.