A theoretical method for the calculation of frequency- and temperature-dependent interaction constants applicable to the predictive assessment of laser materials processing

On the basis of the Ashcroft and Sturm theory on the optical properties of metals, a theoretical model is proposed for the prediction of frequency- and temperature-dependent interaction properties of pure metals subjected to laser irradiation in laser processing applications. This model is directly suitable for on-line coupling to numerical process modelling without any recursion to external experimental data fitting. The model results show a general good agreement both with other theoretical and experimental results for the case of aluminium, and are considered to represent an important step forward in view of the practical development of laser processing applications, for which a lack of reliable laser-matter interaction constants is noticeable.