Abstract
The cavitation bubble cluster and the velocity field in the focal region
of a lithotripter are investigated. Images of the bubble cluster were captured
which show the bubbles increasing in size over approximately 500 μs before
collapsing rapidly. Velocity measurements were obtained using particle image
velocimetry. A few milliseconds after the inception of cavitation the velocity
field consisted of localized flows with maximum velocities and shear rates of
the order of 100mm s−1 and 50 s−1 respectively. At times 40 ms after cavitation
an average uni-directional flow of the order of 10mm s−1 was observed. The
mechanism by which the flow is generated is also considered.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 240 |
| Journal | New Journal of Physics |
| Volume | 9 |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |