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Acoustic measurements of the nucleus size distribution at the cavitation threshold

Understanding the acoustic cavitation threshold is essential for minimizing cavitation bioeffects in diagnostic ultrasound and for controlling cavitation--mediated tissue ablation in focused ultrasound procedures. The homogeneous cavitation threshold is an intrinsic material property of recognized importance to a variety of applications requiring cavitation control. However, acoustic measurements of the cavitation threshold in water differ from those predicted by classical nucleation theories. This persistent discrepancy is explained by combining novel methods for acoustically nucleating single bubbles at threshold with numerical modeling to obtain a nucleus size distribution consistent with first--principles estimates for ion--stabilized nucleii. We identify acoustic cavitation at threshold as a reproducible subtype of heterogeneous cavitation with a characteristic nucleus size distribution. Knowledge of the nucleus size distribution could inspire new approaches for achieving cavitation control in water, tissue, and a variety of other media.