  The dynamics of spherical laser-induced cavitation bubbles in water is
investigated by plasma photography, time-resolved shadowgraphs, and single-shot
probe beam scattering enabling to portray the transition from initial nonlinear
to late linear oscillations. The frequency of late oscillations yields the
bubble's gas content. Simulations with the Gilmore model using plasma size as
input and oscillation times as fit parameter provide insights into
experimentally not accessible bubble parameters and shock wave emission. The
model is extended by a term covering the initial shock-driven acceleration of
the bubble wall, an automated method determining shock front position and
pressure decay, and an energy balance for the partitioning of absorbed laser
energy into vaporization, bubble and shock wave energy, and dissipation through
viscosity and condensation. These tools are used for analysing a scattering
signal covering 102 oscillation cycles. The bubble was produced by a plasma
with 1550 K average temperature and had 36 $\mu$m maximum radius. Predicted
bubble wall velocities during expansion agree well with experimental data. Upon
first collapse, most energy was stored in the compressed liquid around the
bubble and then radiated away acoustically. The collapsed bubble contained more
vapour than gas, and its pressure was 13.5 GPa. The pressure of the rebound
shock wave initially decayed $\propto r^{-1.8}$, and energy dissipation at the
shock front heated liquid near the bubble wall above the superheat limit. The
shock-induced temperature rise reduces damping during late bubble oscillations.
Bubble dynamics changes significantly for small bubbles with less than 10
$\mu$m radius.
