Numerical simulation of ultra-short laser pulse energy deposition and bulk transport for material processing

We have extended the physics of the one-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics simulation code HYADES to include processes important for studying laser-matter interaction with dielectrics and metals in the eV and sub-eV electron temperature range. Ultra-short laser pulses (USLP) are advantageous in many material processing situations where most of the absorbed laser energy appears in mass motion, and little appears as thermal energy. Major additions to the code include (1) the transport, reflection and absorption of laser light, (2) thermal energy transport and improved shockwave physics, and (3) improved models for the equation of state (EOS), strength of materials, and fracture. Examples from material processing and plasma generation were chosen for simulation. Our numerical simulations include the effects of radiation transport, hydrodynamic expansion and shockwave phenomena. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.