Observations of bubble clusters within different cavitation environments - electrochemistry, acoustics and imaging studies

A set of experiments designed to characterize an ultrasonic piston like emitter and a cylindrical ultrasonic reactor are presented. These include electrochemical, acoustic and imaging of the systems deployed. An electrochemical technique, that can detect the erosion caused by single inertial cavitation events within these systems, is reported and the comparative results discussed. The technique relies on an opto-isolated measurement of erosion/corrosion of the electrode surface employed. Mapping of the systems is combined with acoustic and luminescent imaging. In addition, high-speed imaging within the different environments studied is used to support the conclusions drawn.