Method for applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to a glass melt

A method of applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to a glass melt by monitoring a glass melt temperature TY and transferring ultrasonic acoustic energy from an ultrasonic transducer to the glass melt at a controller power PC and a controller frequency vC through an ultrasonic probe positioned in the glass melt is provided. According to the method, the controller power PC is controlled in response to at least (i) the monitored glass melt temperature TY and (ii) a reference glass melt temperature TR. The controller frequency vC is controlled in response to at least (i) one or more input parameters from a temperature-viscosity curve characterizing the glass melt, (ii) one or more input parameters from one or more temperature dependent impedance response models of the glass melt, and (iii) DeltaZ, where DeltaZ represents a degree to which an impedance condition ZY of the ultrasonic probe differs from a reference impedance ZR when the ultrasonic probe is positioned in the glass melt. Systems for applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to glass melts are also contemplated.