Non-linear behaviour and stability of trapped micron-sized cylindrical gas bubbles in an ultrasonic field

Stable arrays of cylindrical bubbles with diameters 3 and 4 μm were produced by trapping air in the pores of hydrophobic Nuclepore filters. These bubble arrays were irradiated by beams of cw and pulsed ultrasound at carrier frequencies near the resonance frequencies of the trapped bubbles. By examining the frequency spectrum of the field scattered by the arrays it was found that the bubbles may oscillate as non-linear stable cavities of long duration. Using short pulses, the bubbles remain stable up to excitation pressure amplitudes of several bars. Mechanisms for the eventual growth and decay of the bubbles are discussed in light of the observations.