Ellipsoidal Oscillations of a Gas Bubble with Periodic Variation of the Surrounding Fluid Pressure

Ellipsoidal linear and nonlinear oscillations of a gas bubble under harmonic variation of the surrounding fluid pressure are studied. The system is considered under conditions in which periodic sonoluminescence of the individual bubble in a standing acoustic wave is observable. A mathematical model of the bubble dynamics is suggested; in this model, the variation of the gas/fluid interface shape is described correct to the square of the amplitude of the deformation of the spherical shape of the bubble. The character of the air bubble oscillations in water is investigated in relation to the initial bubble radius and the fluid pressure variation amplitude. It is shown that nonspherical oscillations of limited amplitude can occur outside the range of linearly stable spherical oscillations. In this case, both oscillations with a period equal to one or two periods of the fluid pressure variation and aperiodic oscillations can be observed.