The collapse of a bubble in an electric field

The collapse of a bubble in an electric field at low Mach numbers is examined. A modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation is derived along with another equation for the ellipsoidal shape deformations which are assumed to be small. Numerical integration of these equations indicate that a bubble can be made to collapse by instantaneously switching on an electric field. Non-harmonic volumetric oscillations are also observed for time-dependent electric fields of sufficiently large amplitude. We also show that the rate of bubble collapse driven by external pressure variations due, for instance, to acoustic forcing, can be accelerated.