Acoustic cavitation series: part one

Abstract Acoustic cavitation has been an active area of research for at least 30 years and interest in the subject shows no sign of diminishing. Cavitation may occur whenever high intensity ultrasound is applied to liquids, for example in such important applications as sonar, industrial processing and bio-medical research. Future issues will carry a series of articles reviewing the physics and technology of acoustic cavitation, each contributed by a well-known specialist. The present introductory article is a preface to the series, covering background history, explaining the scope of the subject and defining terms in common use. Also included is a list of the major sources of reference presently available, in the form of books, reviews and collections of papers.