Ultrafast X-Ray Imaging and Modelling of Ultrasonic Cavitations in Liquid Metal

The dynamics of ultrasonic bubbles in liquid metal are captured in-situ for the first time using the ultrafast X-ray phase contrast imaging facility housed at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, in the USA. The experimental observations are complemented by the simulations of the acoustic pressure field, the bubble diameter oscillation and the associated pressure and velocity pulses at the bubble wall due to the alternating pressure wave. The experiment and simulation agree well and provide more quantitative insight into the understanding of the highly transient behaviour of the ultrasonic bubbles and their interaction with the surrounding liquid metal.