Ultrasonic cavitation induced by neutrons

Neutrons from a Pu-Be source nucleate cavitation in the liquid CC1F3 (Preon 11) when it is excited with ultrasonic pressure waves corresponding to ±5 atm at 25 kHz. The bubbles grow to visible size within one ultrasonic period and disappear in a few tens of cycles. Standing-wave bubble patterns were observed. The creation of a cavity is accompanied by a large and very fast light pulse with a decay time faster than 6 ns. Methyl acetate containing dissolved uranium nitrate can be made continuously sensitive to fission fragments at a lower sound level.