. cl as s - ph ] 1 1 M ar 2 00 1 The Inertial Polarization Principle : The Mechanism Underlying Sonoluminescence ?

In this paper we put forward a mechanism in which imploding shock waves emit electromagnetic radiation in the spectral region λ0 = 2πR0., where R0 is the radius of the shock by the time it is first formed. The mechanism relies on three different pieces of Physics: Maxwell’s equations, the existence of corrugation instabilities of imploding shock waves and, last but not least, the Inertial Polarization Principle. The principle is extensively discussed: how it emerges from very elementary physics and finds experimental support in shock waves propagating in water. The spectrum of the emitted light is obtained and depends upon two free parameters, the amplitude of the instabilities and the cut-off Rmax, the shocks’ spatial extension. The spectral intensity is determined by the former , but its shape turns out to have only a mild dependence on the latter, in the region of physical interest. The matching with the observed spectrum requires a fine tuning of the perturbation amplitude ε ∼ 10,indicating a quantum mechanical origin. Indeed, we support this conjecture with an order of magnitude estimative. The Inertial Polarization Principle clues the resolution of the noble gas puzzle in SL. PACS:78.60. Mq,42.50Fx,34.80Dp,03.65.Bz On leave of absence from Campinas State University