(550e) Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Bubbles Injected into Liquid Suspensions

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to reveal the dynamics of consecutive bubble injection into opaque liquid suspensions. A 3D cylindrical system and a custom-built magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil are employed. The base fluid is 5000 cst Silicone oil and sesame seeds are dispersed into the fluid at varying levels of volume fraction to investigate the effect on bubble dynamics. Such experiments can be analogs of air bubbles or air slugs ascending in magma. In some conditions, periodically repeating coalescence was observed at certain heights in the suspension. 3D reconstruction of bubbles’ shapes was also attempted with reasonable temporal and spatial accuracy.