An experimental study of cavitation effects due to shock waves

Bubble dynamics, acoustic emissions and sonoluminescences due to cavitation in the focal area of an electromagnetic shock wave lithotripter have been studied. In our experiments we used different repetition rate of the shock waves. For low repetition rates we were able to relate our experimental results to theoretical predictions for a similar shock wave field of an electrohydraulic lithotripter. Using a higher repetition rate, we observed qualitatively different effects, which may be important in therapeutical applications