By solving numerically the full set of hydrodynamic equations governing the pulsation of a bubble, we show that shock waves are often absent in a stable sonoluminescing bubble. Nevertheless, for a wide range of physical parameters, a continuous compressional wave emerges and heats up the bubble, and the resulting black-body radiations have pulse heights and widths that agree with experimental data. Shock waves, being much less robust, are not essential for stable single-bubble sonoluminescence.

• Received 19 November 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.58.R2705