Generation and growth of gaseous bubbles in hydrocarbon liquids under high divergent field

A real-time optical detection method combined with high-speed current measurement and visualization was used to investigate bubble generation and growth in purified cyclohexane. The generation of gaseous bubbles in the high field region present on a sharp tip appears to be a consequence of the detected current pulse. An analysis of the influence of the energy input together with that of the hydrostatic pressure shows that vaporization of the liquid is the most probable mechanism of bubble generation. The energy input is achieved in a very short time (a few nanoseconds). As the bubble grows, the pressure and temperature decrease in the bubble down to steady-state boiling conditions; the bubble size is then maximal, and as the temperature decreases further to the ambient value, the vapour condenses and the bubble disappears