Bubble fusion. Debate about whether nuclear fusion could be applied here.

Interesting reading below. I came across the term while looking for more information on our previous discussion about triboluminescence quite a while back:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoluminescence

Basically, extremely small bubbles emitting a burst of light when imploding under specific circumstances. In 2002, according to the wikipedia notes, shrimp were observed causing sonoluminescence, the phenomenon referred to as 'shrimpoluminescence.'

Neat word, WW. I was wondering if the sono-- referred to sound, and I found:
An intense field of ultrasound in a fluid can trap a sub-millimeter radius gas bubble and make it emit light. This phenomenon is called sonoluminescence. The mechanisms that convert sound into light still remain unexplained despite many various theoretical approaches. A gas bubble is created into a flask filled with fluid. For example degassed, purified water and air are an excellent pair for the phenomenon. A coherent beam of ultrasound makes the bubble cavitate, i.e. to expand and compress in phase with the sound wave. Typical frequency for the sound wave is 25 kHz. While violently imploding in each cycle, the bubble emits light quanta.
Worth going to the site, imo, to see the figures illustrating Motion of the sonoluminescence bubble as a function of time. Notice the supersonic velocity of the radius at the time of imploding.
http://focus.hut.fi/annrep/1996/node33.html

Also, read all that's on the wikiped' link, too, for there's quite a good discussion about the theories of bubble fusion--and whether it would work. Also, there's quite a lot of information about the exigency of sound waves in producing sonoluminescence. I had a gut feeling, Jackie, that you in particular would enjoy the articles posted there. Extraordinary the power generated by such extremely small bubbles.

Dubdub, check out this week's New Scientist...

read all that's on the wikiped' link Ack...ack...I don't trust that place ever since I found out that any old body can edit it...but I prolly will go take a look anyway.