Professor Justin Wark

Abstract:

We present detailed simulations of the optical spectra emitted from an argon plasma whose conditions correspond to those thought to prevail within sonoluminescing bubbles. The model incorporates detailed atomic physics based on atomic data from the Opacity Project database, and includes bound-bound, bound-free and free-free transitions. Line broadening is treated using the modified semi-empirical method. The spectral model is used as a postprocessor of hydrodynamic simulations. While finding excellent agreement with the shape of experimental spectra, we calculate an intensity that is a factor of 100 greater than that in experiment. We also predict that whilst the majority of the optical emission corresponds to bound-free transitions, there remains the possibility of observing broad line emission in both the UV and IR regions of the spectrum.

Abstract:

Pump-probe time-resolved x-ray diffraction of allowed and nearly forbidden reflections in InSb is used to follow the propagation of a coherent acoustic pulse generated by ultrafast laser excitation. The surface and bulk components of the strain could be simultaneously measured due to the large x-ray penetration depth. Comparison of the experimental data with dynamical diffraction simulations suggests that the conventional model for impulsively generated strain underestimates the partitioning of energy into coherent modes.