Sonoluminescence Using Microwave Excitation
I filed this provisional application for a patent on December 12, 2019.
I did not follow it up with a regular (non-provisional) patent application so this is now in the public domain.
The following is an html version of the provisional application.
For the drawings click here.
Jed Margolin
December 18, 2019, July 23, 2023
UNITED STATES PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT
FOR
SONOLUMINESCENCE USING MICROWAVE EXCITATION
INVENTOR: JED MARGOLIN
SONOLUMINESCENCE USING MICROWAVE EXCITATION
[001] This invention relates to the field of sonoluminescence which is the emission of short bursts of energy from imploding bubbles in a liquid and is caused by sound waves traveling through the liquid. Cavitation is the more general form of sonoluminescence. The term “acoustic” means the same as “sound”.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION – Prior Art
[002] A typical experiment for producing sonoluminescence is described in Reference 1. (Sonoluminescence by W.A. Steer, Phd.) It uses a standard narrow-necked 100ml round-bottomed laboratory flask filled with water with a partial pressure of around 150mm Hg of dissolved air which is about one fifth atmospheric pressure at sea level. Ultrasonic transducers are attached to the flask and driven at the resonant frequency of the flask, about 25KHz.
[003] Cavitation was not discovered until nearly the 20th century.
The phenomenon of cavitation was first recognized in 1885 during the sea trials of HMS Daring when, due to the previously unmatched propeller speeds, it was noted that ‘. . . cavities were being formed in the water . . . and these were the source of a great waste of power and the cause of other difficulties’. Shortly thereafter, it was found that these cavities were the cause of considerable pitting and erosion of the propeller blades. However, it was not until 1917 that Lord Rayleigh [1] provided a partial explanation by showing that great pressures could be generated during the collapse of spherical vapour bubbles.
See Reference 2 (Cavitation In Medicine by Christopher Earls Brennen).
In addition to causing pitting and erosion of propeller blades and wasting engine power cavitation also creates noise that can be detected by the use of a hydrophone which is undesirable for warships (depending on which side you are on). As a result the primary goal of marine engineers is to do everything they can to reduce cavitation, not enhance it. See Reference 3 (Stone Marine Propulsion).
[004] The phenomenon of sonoluminescence is not well understood. See Reference 4 (Stuff Physicists Don’t Understand by Yvette Cendes). There are some whose experiments have led them to believe that nuclear fusion is taking place. See Reference 5 (U.S. Patent 5,659,173 Converting acoustic energy into useful other energy forms issued August 19, 1997 to Putterman et al.), Reference 6 (Supplement (E-PRLTAO-96-019605) to “Nuclear Emissions During Self Nucleated Acoustic Cavitation; R. P. Taleyarkhan et al.), and Reference 7 (Cavitation-Induced Fusion: Proof of Concept by Max I. Fomitchev-Zamilov) .
[005] One of the theories for sonoluminescence is that it involves the Casimir effect. See Reference 8 (Theory of quantum radiation observed as sonoluminescence by Claudia Eberlein).
For the Casimir effect See Reference 9:
Dutch physicists Hendrik Casimir and Dirk Polder at Philips Research Labs proposed the existence of a force between two polarizable atoms and between such an atom and a conducting plate in 1947; this special form is called the Casimir–Polder force. After a conversation with Niels Bohr, who suggested it had something to do with zero-point energy, Casimir alone formulated the theory predicting a force between neutral conducting plates in 1948 which is called the Casimir effect in the narrow sense.
Predictions of the force were later
extended to finite-conductivity metals and dielectrics, and recent calculations
have considered more general geometries. Experiments before 1997 had observed
the force qualitatively, and indirect validation of the predicted Casimir
energy had been made by measuring the thickness of liquid helium films. However
it was not until 1997 that a direct experiment by
In practice, pairs of particles appear spontaneously, quickly annihilate each other, and disappear, leaving a small puff of energy behind. (Casimir particles are often called “virtual particles” even though they are obviously very real.)
[006] Exotic as they are, Casimir particles may have some real world applications in the field of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMs). The feature size achievable in today’s integrated circuits is already smaller than the distances required to detect and use Casimir particles. See Reference 10 (Quantum Mechanical Actuation of Microelectromechanical Systems by the Casimir Force by Chan, et al.). Would it be possible to put enough MEMS on an integrated circuit to produce a small but useful amount of power?
[007] Although Casimir particles are generally explained by using quantum field theory (coming from the zero-point energy of a quantized field in the intervening space between objects spaced closely together) it might be more than that. The Universe is expanding but not into what had been empty space. Space itself is expanding. It is possible that Casimir particles are either the result or the cause of the expansion of space. And since space and time are intrinsically linked it is possible that it is spacetime that is expanding. In that case, not only is space expanding but time is expanding (thereby slowing down) as well. It would explain why the expansion of the Universe appears to be accelerating. It isn’t, it only appears to be accelerating because time is slowing down.
[008] When the experiments confirming the existence of Casimir particles were first announced it was considered that Casimir particles only appear in empty space. That would be odd. It turns out that Casimir particles pop up everywhere, even inside atoms. From Reference 11 (article in Scientific American in February 2014 You Would Be Forgiven For Assuming That We Understand the Proton by Jan C. Bernauer and Randolf Pohl):
Pohi's group was using a new approach. The group was examining subtle shifts in the energy levels of an exotic, electron-free form of hydrogen—shifts that depend critically on the size of the proton. These shifts were first detected in regular hydrogen back in 1947 by the late Willis E. Lamb, Jr. Even though physicists refer to the phenomena by the singular name "Lamb shift," they have come to understand that two distinct causes are at play.
The first contributor to the Lamb shift comes from so-called virtual particles, phantoms that pop up inside the atom before quickly vanishing again. Scientists can use QED to calculate how these virtual particles affect atomic energy levels to an astonishing precision. Yet in recent years uncertainties in the second contributor to the Lamb shift have begun to limit scientists' predictive powers. This second cause has to do with the proton radius and the bizarre quantum-mechanical nature of the electron.
{Emphasis added}
[009] Since Casimir particles appear everywhere it is possible that they are responsible for KT noise in electronic circuits. For an explanation of KT noise See Reference 12. Since the energy produced by Casimir particles is small, when they appear inside atoms the event only shakes the atom a little. It would explain why the power produced by KT noise in a resistor is not infinite. Otherwise, since PN = K*T * Bandwidth, the power produced by KT noise in a pure resistor would be infinite (or at least very large). It would also explain why space is expanding but matter isn’t.
[010] Empty space is not empty. It is filled with the Higgs Field. See Reference 13 (Wikipedia) and Reference 14 (CERN). It is the Higgs Field that gives particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons their mass. Although it is generally stated that since photons do not have mass they do not interact with the Higgs Field, that might not be exactly true. Photons have no rest mass. Photons either travel at the speed of light or they do not exist. But when they exist (traveling at the speed of light) they have Energy E = h*f where h is Planck's constant and f is the frequency. There is also E = M*C2 so that the effective mass of a photon due to its energy comes from h*f = M*C2 so that the effective mass of a photon is M = h * f / C2. It isn’t very much but it is enough to cause the phenomenon of gravitational lensing where light passing by a large mass such as a star or indeed, a galaxy, is bent. See Reference 15 (Wikipedia). Since photons are subject to the effects of gravity (due to their energy), they must interact with the Higgs Field and therefore it is the Higgs Field that gives the electromagnetic field its energy. And thus the Higgs Field interacts with the four fundamental forces of nature: Gravity, the Weak Force, and Strong Force, and the Electromagnetic Force. The theory of the Higgs Field (of which much more work needs to be done) is the Unified Field Theory.
[011] Since the Higgs Field permeates all of space, and space is expanding, is the Higgs Field also expanding or is it staying the same? If the Higgs Field is expanding along with space then the Higgs Field is becoming weaker and the four fundamental forces of nature are becoming weaker. Planetary orbits will increase until the planets are no longer bound to their star and moons will no longer be bound to their planets. With less gravity stars will increase in size (such as when they become red giants because they are now burning helium which produces more energy than burning hydrogen and overwhelms gravity until it reaches a new equilibrium as a red giant) until they simply go out completely because the weak force no longer supports nuclear fusion. And atoms will ionize more easily until they also fly apart. But if the Higgs Field is staying the same then it is effectively becoming more dense (more lines of force per cubic meter) in which case the four fundamental forces of nature are becoming stronger. At some point planetary orbits will decay, stars will implode, and even atoms will collapse. And Stephen Hawking’s Higgs Field Doomsday Prediction will come true. With an increase in the strength of the Higgs Field it will inevitably seek a lower energy level. It will start in a bubble that will expand at the speed of light. From Reference 16:
Here's how Hawking describes this Higgs doomsday scenario in the new book: "The Higgs potential has the worrisome feature that it might become metastable at energies above 100 [billion] gigaelectronvolts (GeV). … This could mean that the universe could undergo catastrophic vacuum decay, with a bubble of the true vacuum expanding at the speed of light. This could happen at any time and we wouldn't see it coming."
Or, if it is spacetime that is expanding (and not just space) then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about since with the expansion of spacetime everything remains in scale.
[012] There is a phenomenon that might be related to sonoluminescence even though it is in the completely different field of CMOS digital integrated circuits. It is called Picosecond Imaging Circuit Analysis (PICA). CMOS digital circuits do not use current to remain in whichever logic state they are in. They only use current to change states. This current surge produces a flash of light which can be used to analyze the operation of the gate. With a suitable light detection means this can be used to determine how the integrated circuit is working (or not working). Essentially, some electrons gain energy, then they lose it producing photons. However, they do this in a hostile environment where this is not expected to happen. Also, it only happens when the current surge is short. See Reference 17 (Picosecond imaging circuit analysis; J. C. Tsang, J. A. Kash, and D. P. Vallett; IBM Journal of Research & Development). See also Reference 18 (U.S. Patent 6,483,327):
It is well known that CMOS transistors emit photons during a state change, for example, switching the gate of a transistor. Photons are emitted from transistors at pn junctions, for example. These transient events occur on time scales that are less than 100 ps.
The pulse of light from sonoluminescence is also less that 100 picoseconds and occurs in a hostile environment where this is not expected to happen. See Reference 5 (U.S. Patent 5,659,173: “The pulse width of the sonoluminescence light energy is less than about 100 picoseconds, ...”) Perhaps some of the research done by the IBM group (Reference 17) could be used to analyze sonoluminescence. The collapse of the bubble produces a plasma. Perhaps sonoluminescence is a form of hot-carrier emission by intraband transitions with a Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution for the high-kinetic-energy electrons.
[013] For reference:
1 microsecond (1μs) is 10-6 seconds. The frequency of a waveform having a period of 1μs is 1 MegaHertz (1MHz) and has a wavelength in a vacuum of 299.70 meters.
1 nanosecond (1ns) is 10-9 seconds. The frequency of a waveform having a period of 1ns is 1 GigaHertz (1GHz) and has a wavelength in a vacuum of 29.97 cm. The wavelength of the frequency of 2.45 GHz is 12.23 cm (4.82 in).
1 picosecond (1ps) is 10-12 seconds. The frequency of a waveform having a period of 1ps is 1 TeraHertz (1THz) and has a wavelength in a vacuum of 0.2997 mm.
1 femtosecond (1fs) is 10-15 seconds. The frequency of a waveform having a period of 1fs is 1,000 THz (1 PetaHz) and has a wavelength in a vacuum of 0.2997 μm (micrometers) which is 299.7 nm (nanometers). The wavelength of blue light is ~490-450 nm and has a frequency of ~610-670 THz.
The Planck time is the time it would take a photon travelling at the speed of light to cross a distance equal to the Planck length. This is the 'quantum of time', the smallest measurement of time that has any meaning, and is equal to 5.4 x 10-44 seconds. The Planck length is the smallest measurement of length with any meaning and is roughly equal to 1.6 x 10-35 m (1.6 x 10-26 nm).
[014] There may be a problem reconciling the Planck length and Planck time with Special Relativity. The Planck length and Planck time are derived from several fundamental constants of nature so they should also be invariant and not subject to time dilation and length dilation taught by Special Relativity; See Reference 19 (The Planck scale: relativity meets quantum mechanics meets gravity).
Perhaps the Planck length is the length of a vector where space has more than three dimensions. The extra dimensions are very close to the three that we experience so that the vectors are only meaningful for very short lengths like the Planck distance. These extra dimensions are spacetime dimensions and not just spacial dimensions so the Planck time is the length of the time vector into these extra dimensions. Thus Special Relativity still works but as the length and time become dilated in our three dimensions it is compensated for by growing in the other dimensions so the vector lengths are constant but only for very short distances and very short times which suggests that the distances between the extra dimensions and our three is the Planck length.
[015] Sonoluminescence occurs in nature in the mantis and pistol shrimp. See Reference 20 (Wikipedia):
Both types strike by rapidly unfolding and swinging their raptorial claws at the prey, and can inflict serious damage on victims significantly greater in size than themselves. In smashers, these two weapons are employed with blinding quickness, with an acceleration of 10,400 g (102,000 m/s2 or 335,000 ft/s2) and speeds of 23 m/s (83 km/h; 51 mph) from a standing start.[10] Because they strike so rapidly, they generate vapor-filled bubbles in the water between the appendage and the striking surface—known as cavitation bubbles.[10] The collapse of these cavitation bubbles produces measurable forces on their prey in addition to the instantaneous forces of 1,500 newtons that are caused by the impact of the appendage against the striking surface, which means that the prey is hit twice by a single strike; first by the claw and then by the collapsing cavitation bubbles that immediately follow.[11] Even if the initial strike misses the prey, the resulting shock wave can be enough to stun or kill.
The impact can also produce sonoluminescence from the collapsing bubble. This will produce a very small amount of light within the collapsing bubble, although the light is too weak and short-lived to be detected without advanced scientific equipment. The light emission probably has no biological significance, but is rather a side effect of the rapid snapping motion. Pistol shrimp produce this effect in a very similar manner.
If sonoluminescence is nuclear fusion then a tank full of mantis or pistol shrimp (and their prey) should produce unexpected particles and energies, perhaps even neutrinos (which are unfortunately difficult to detect).
[016] It is often stated that the reason microwave ovens operate at a frequency of 2.45 GHz is because that is the resonant frequency of water. No, it isn’t. One of the reasons 2.45 GHz was selected is precisely because it is not the resonant frequency of water. If it were then all of the microwaves would be absorbed in the surface layer of a substance (liquid water or food) and the interior of the food would not get cooked at all. See Reference 21 (Microwave ovens and resonance in molecules). One of the other reasons that 2.45GHz was chosen was because it is a “free band” that does not require an FCC license to use. That is also why it was chosen for WiFi. It is one of the ISM Bands for unlicensed operation. (ISM stands for industrial, scientific and medical.) See Reference 22 (ISM). The 2.45 GHz band is an international free band so that microwave ovens operating at that frequency can be sold internationally.
It was been proposed that the resonant frequency for heavy water is about 16 THz and about 21 THz for light water. See Reference 23 (The resonant heating of heavy water solutions under the terahertz pulse irradiation by Yang et al.). These results were simulated probably because the technology for producing high power sources of TeraHertz radiation does not exist yet.
Fortunately, such high frequencies are not necessary to produce heating that is mostly confined to the surface layer of a liquid. That is because of dielectric losses in the liquid. At a high enough frequency the microwaves will not go very far into the liquid. For water at 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) the penetration depth for microwaves at 2.45 GHz is about 1.4 cm (about 0.55 inches). See Reference 24 (Table 1 from Penetration Depths; Puescher GMBH). At lower temperatures the penetration depth is less. It is greater at lower frequencies so that operating a microwave oven at a lower frequency would give better cooking results. However, as noted 2.45 GHz is an international free band. Other lower frequencies are not. Also, the magnetron would be larger.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES
[017] In sonoluminescence experiments, by replacing the acoustic transducer(s) with a pulsed microwave source the frequency of the sound waves is more easily and precisely controlled making sonoluminescence easier to investigate. Even if sonoluminescence cannot be used to produce a practical fusion reactor the further investigation of sonoluminescence will contribute to the progress of science.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[018] In a first preferred embodiment a microwave source is closely aimed at a spherical containment vessel containing a working fluid. The microwave source is pulse modulated to produce a thermal shock wave in the working fluid. (See Figure 1). The frequency of the pulses corresponds to either the resonant frequency of the spherical containment vessel or multiples of the resonant frequency of the spherical containment vessel. The spherical shape of the containment vessel focuses the shock waves at its center. The size of the spherical containment vessel is substantially larger than the wavelength of the microwave source, typically at least 10 times the wavelength of the microwave source. The size of the spherical containment vessel must also be substantially greater than the penetration depth of the microwave source into the working fluid, typically at least 10 times the penetration depth.
[019] The following example is for using a microwave source of 2.45GHz and using water as the working fluid. A microwave source of 2.45GHz has a wavelength of about 12.23 cm (about 4.82”) so the spherical containment vessel should have a diameter of at least 122.3cm (48.2”). The penetration depth of 2.45GHz into water is about 1.4 cm (about 0.55 inches) so 10 times that is 15cm (5.5”). The minimum size of the spherical containment vessel is the greater of the two, so it should be at least 122.3cm (48.2”).
The following is a rough approximation of the resonant frequency of the spherical containment vessel. The speed of sound in water at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is 1,482 m/s. Since velocity = frequency * wavelength, frequency = velocity/wavelength. For a wavelength of 1.223 m (122.3 cm) the frequency is 1,482 (m/s) / 1.223 (m) = 1,211.7743 Hz ≈ 1,212 KHz.
Thus, when using a microwave source of 2.45GHz, the approximate resonant frequency of a sphere having a diameter of 122.3cm (48.2”) and filled with water at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is about 1,213 Hz. Since this is well within the range of normal human hearing it will be obvious when the spherical containment vessel is being excited at its resonant frequency. Indeed, it may be necessary for the user to use hearing protection.
[020] The following example is for using a microwave source of 10.0GHz and using water as the working fluid. A microwave source of 10.0GHz has a wavelength of about 3.00 cm (1.18”) so the spherical containment vessel should have a diameter of at least 30.0cm (11.8”). The penetration depth of 10.0GHz into water will be much smaller than at 2.45 GHz so the minimum size of the spherical containment vessel should be at least 30.0cm (11.8”).
The following is a rough approximation of the resonant frequency of the spherical containment vessel. The speed of sound in water at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is 1,482 m/s. Since velocity = frequency * wavelength, frequency = velocity/wavelength. For a wavelength of 0.30 m (11.8 cm) the frequency is 1,482 (m/s) / 0.30 (m) = 4,940 Hz.
Thus, when using a microwave source of 10.0GHz, the approximate resonant frequency of a sphere having a diameter of 30.0cm (11.8”) and filled with water at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is about 4,490 Hz. Since this is within the range of normal human hearing it will be obvious when the spherical containment vessel is being excited at its resonant frequency. Indeed, it may be necessary for the user to use hearing protection.
[021] Since the speed of sound varies with temperature and the microwave source heats the working fluid it is desirable to cool the working fluid to maintain a constant temperature for long-term tests. This can be done with an extension tube (See Figure 2). The walls of the extension tube are made with a material that has a low thermal resistance such as copper. The end plate is made of a material that is transparent to microwaves. Therefore, in a second preferred embodiment the spherical containment vessel contains an extension tube containing and comingling with the working fluid and is cooled with a cooling jacket and a chiller. (See Figure 3). As an alternative, in a third preferred embodiment the extension tube is cooled with a finned heatsink (See Figure 4).
[022] The fourth preferred embodiment allows a smaller spherical containment vessel to be used than would be dictated by the wavelength of the microwave source. The extension tube begins with the cross-section dimension of the wavelength of the microwave source and then its cross-sectional area decreases exponentially until it reaches the desired cross-sectional dimension which is about one-tenth the diameter of the spherical containment vessel. See Figure 5. Figure 6 is a close-up of the extension tube showing that the extension tube contains and comingles with the working fluid. The end plate of the extension tube seals in the working fluid and is transparent to microwaves. The extension tube having an exponentially decreasing cross-sectional area uses the same principle as that used in acoustics where it is called an exponential horn. In acoustics an exponential horn provides a better match of the impedance of the transducer to the impedance of the air making it more efficient. See Reference 25 (Horn Theory: An Introduction, Part 1) and Reference 26 (Horn Theory: An Introduction, Part 2). Although exponential horns are now most commonly used with loudspeaker systems, before there was electronic amplification instrumentalists, singers, and speakers performed in front of a horn which gathered and funneled sound waves toward a thin diaphragm at the small end of the horn. The energy of the sound waves caused the diaphragm to vibrate. The vibrating diaphragm caused an attached stylus to etch the sound waves onto a blank wax rotating cylinder or disc. Exponential horns were also used as a primitive hearing aid called an “ear trumpet”.
[023] The fifth preferred embodiment adds a cooling jacket and a chiller to embodiment four in order to maintain the working fluid at a constant temperature. See Figure 7.
[024] The sixth preferred embodiment adds a finned heatsink to embodiment four in order to maintain the working fluid at a constant temperature. See Figure 8.
[025] As an alternative to a spherical containment vessel Figure 9 depicts the seventh preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of a parabolic reflector at the end of the extension tube. The sound waves arriving along the axis of symmetry are focused at the focal point which must be within the working fluid. The parabolic reflector may have a center focal point or it may have an offset focal point to reduce the disruption of the incoming sound waves by the formation and collapse of the bubble. For a discussion of parabolic reflectors having an offset focal point See Reference 27 (U.S. Patent 6,377,436 Microwave Transmission Using a Laser-Generated Plasma Beam Waveguide issued April 23, 2002 to the present inventor). The extension tube may be cooled with a cooling jacket and a chiller or with a finned heatsink.
[026] As a further alternative to a spherical containment vessel Figure 10 depicts the eighth preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of a parabolic reflector at the end of the extension tube which begins with the cross-section dimension of the wavelength of the microwave source and then its cross-sectional area increases exponentially until it reaches the desired cross-sectional dimension of the parabolic reflector. This allows a larger parabolic reflector to be used. The sound waves arriving along the axis of symmetry are focused at the focal point which must be within the working fluid. The parabolic reflector may have a center focal point or it may have an offset focal point to reduce the disruption of the incoming sound waves by the formation and collapse of the bubble. The extension tube may be cooled with a cooling jacket and a chiller or with a finned heatsink.
[027] A number of working fluids may be used to produce sonoluminescence. The following are only examples. There are certain to be many others waiting to be discovered.
1. Pure degassed water to which a partial pressure of 150mm Hg of dissolved air is added. This partial pressure is about one fifth atmospheric pressure at sea level. At other altitudes the partial pressure must be adjusted accordingly. For example, at an altitude of 6,000 feet (where the present inventor lives) when the air pressure at sea level is 1013 mb the air pressure at 6,000 feet is about 820 mb. One-fifth of 820 mb is 164 mb (123mm Hg).
2. Because cavitation was first discovered in seawater, an obvious choice for the working fluid is: seawater. The seawater should have average salinity, average chemical composition, and average partial pressure of dissolved air.
3. Acetone to which air is added having a partial pressure of between 0.1 and 0.3 atmosphere.
4. Deuterated acetone saturated with deuterium gas.
Sonoluminescence with the above working fluids works better at low temperatures so the experiments can be done in an appropriate size freezer adjusted to a temperature where the working fluid will not freeze and the electronics will still work. As a simple expedient, the experiments can be outside on a cold night but not so cold that the working fluid freezes or the electronics stop working.
As an alternative working fluid, Lithium-6 deuteride saturated with deuterium gas can be used. Since Lithium-6 deuteride has a high melting temperature (689 °C which is 1272 °F) the energy from the microwave source helps keep the Lithium-6 deuteride liquid. A cooling jacket is still needed to maintain the working fluid at a stable temperature. Tests done using Lithium-6 deuteride as the working fluid are best done in a suitable underground cavern and performed by remote control.
[028] Figure 1 depicts the first preferred embodiment where a pulsed microwave source is directly coupled to a spherical containment vessel producing thermal shock waves in the containment vessel.
[029] Figure 2 depicts the detail of the second preferred embodiment where an extension tube is used to allow for cooling the working fluid.
[030] Figure 3 depicts the second preferred embodiment where a cooling jacket and a chiller are used to cool the working fluid.
[031] Figure 4 depicts the third preferred embodiment where a finned heatsink is used to cool the working fluid.
[032] Figure 5 depicts the fourth preferred embodiment where the extension tube has a cross-section area that increases exponentially from the waveguide to the spherical containment vessel to allow the use of a spherical containment vessel that is smaller than would be dictated by the wavelength of the microwave source.
[033] Figure 6 depicts the detail of the extension tube with an exponential cross-section area.
[034] Figure 7 depicts the fifth preferred embodiment where a cooling jacket and a chiller are used in the fourth preferred embodiment to cool the working fluid.
[035] Figure 8 depicts the sixth preferred embodiment where a finned heatsink is used in the fourth preferred embodiment to cool the working fluid.
[036] Figure 9 depicts the seventh preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of a parabolic reflector at the end of the extension tube.
[037] Figure 10 depicts the eighth preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of a parabolic reflector at the end of the extension tube where the extension tube has a cross-section area that increases exponentially from the waveguide to the parabolic reflector.
[038] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances well-known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.
[039] For the first preferred embodiment (Figure 1) Microwave Source 13 is aimed directly at Spherical Containment Vessel 11 through Waveguide 14. Spherical Containment Vessel 11 is filled with Working Fluid 12. Microwave Source 13 is pulsed by Pulse Generator 15. The pulsed microwave energy from Microwave Source 13 creates thermal shock waves in Working Fluid 12 that create acoustic shock waves in Working Fluid 12. The spherical shape of Spherical Containment Vessel 11 causes the acoustic shock waves to converge at its center. Microwave Source 13 is pulsed at the appropriate rate that causes Spherical Containment Vessel 11 to resonate, creating sonoluminescence.
[040] Figure 2 shows the detail that allows Working Fluid 12 to be cooled. Spherical Containment Vessel 21 is extended with Extension Tube 22 containing and comingling Working Fluid 12. End Plate 23 seals Working Fluid 12 in and is transparent to microwaves.
[041] For the second preferred embodiment (Figure 3) Extension Tube 22 is cooled using Cooling Jacket 31 and Chiller 32 which are filled with a suitable cooling fluid such as water or oil.
[042] For the third preferred embodiment (Figure 4) Extension Tube 22 is cooled using Finned Heatsink 41.
[043] For the fourth preferred embodiment (Figure 5) Exponential Coupling 56 allows Spherical Containment Vessel 51 to be smaller than it would otherwise need to be. Microwave Source 53 is modulated by Pulse Generator 55. The output of Microwave Source 53 is coupled through Waveguide 54 to Exponential Coupling 56. Exponential Coupling 56 has a circular cross-section area that decreases exponentially along its length ending in a cross-section dimension that is small compared to the diameter of Spherical Containment Vessel 51. Spherical Containment Vessel 51 and Exponential Coupling 56 are filled with Working Fluid 52. End Plate 57 seals Exponential Coupling 56 and is transparent to microwaves. The pulsed microwave energy from Microwave Source 53 creates thermal shock waves in Working Fluid 52 that create acoustic shock waves in Working Fluid 52. The spherical shape of Spherical Containment Vessel 51 causes the acoustic shock waves to converge at its center. Microwave Source 53 is pulsed at the appropriate rate that causes Spherical Containment Vessel 51 to resonate, creating sonoluminescence.
[044] Figure 6 shows the detail of the Exponential Coupling 56 and its connection to Spherical Containment Vessel 51. End Plate 57 seals Exponential Coupling 56 and is transparent to microwaves.
[045] For the fifth preferred embodiment (Figure 7) Exponential Coupling 56 is cooled by Cooling Jacket 71 and Chiller 72 filled with a suitable cooling fluid such as water or oil.
[046] For the sixth preferred embodiment (Figure 8) Exponential Coupling 56 is cooled by Finned Heatsink 81.
[047] As an alternative to a spherical containment vessel Figure 9 shows the seventh preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of Parabolic Reflector 91 at the end of Extension Tube 93. End Plate 94 seals in the Working Fluid 92. Microwave Source 95 produces microwaves that are transmitted by Waveguide 96 to Extension Tube 93. Microwave Source 95 is modulated by Pulse Generator 97.
[048] As a further alternative to a spherical containment vessel Figure 10 shows the eighth preferred embodiment where the containment vessel consists of Parabolic Reflector 101 at the end of Extension Tube 103. End Plate 104 seals in the Working Fluid 102. Microwave Source 105 produces microwaves that are transmitted by Waveguide 106 to Extension Tube 103 which begins with the cross-section dimension of the wavelength of Microwave Source 105 and then its cross-sectional area increases exponentially until it reaches the desired cross-sectional dimension of Parabolic Reflector 101. Microwave Source 105 is modulated by Pulse Generator 107.
[049] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it is to be expressly understood that modifications and changes may be made thereto.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A microwave source is used to produce the sound waves needed for sonoluminescence by creating thermal shock waves in the working fluid in the containment vessel. The microwave source is pulsed producing thermal shock waves which produce sound waves through the working fluid. This allows the frequency of the sound waves to be easily and precisely controlled.
References
Reference 1:
Sonoluminescence; William Andrew Steer PhD; Physics Department of
Reference 2: Cavitation In Medicine; Christopher Earls Brennen; California Institute of Technology; October 6, 2015.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4549847/pdf/rsfs20150022.pdf
Reference 3: Cavitation of Propellers; Stone Marine Propulsion;
http://www.smpropulsion.com/technical/pdfs/Cavitation%20of%20Propellers%20NL.pdf
Reference 4: Stuff Physicists Don't Understand: Sonoluminescence - How can tiny collapsing bubbles inside a vat of water or other liquid reach temperatures of 20,000 degrees C? Nobody has a clue; Yvette Cendes; Scientific American Guest Blog; October 14, 2016.
Reference 5:
Reference 6: Supplement (E-PRLTAO-96-019605) to “Nuclear Emissions During Self Nucleated Acoustic Cavitation; R. P. Taleyarkhan et al.; Physical Review Letters; 2006.
http://ftp.aip.org/epaps/phys_rev_lett/E-PRLTAO-96-019605/LJ10514Supplement_E-PRLTAO-96-019605_.pdf
Reference 7: Cavitation-Induced Fusion: Proof of Concept; Max I. Fomitchev-Zamilov; Quantum Potential Corporation; September 2012.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1209.2407&usg=AOvVaw1pONuGHawA3Hvye_k5BROg .
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