Hybrid ablation–expansion model for laser interaction with low-density foams

Abstract

A sub-grid foam model is developed to describe numerically a sequence of processes transforming solid elements in the foam into a hot plasma under the energy deposition by lasers. We account for three distinct processes: accurate laser energy absorption and scattering on the sub-wavelength cylindrical solid elements, expansion of the foam element due to the energy deposition in its volume, and ablation of the solid element due to the energy deposition on its surface. The foam element dynamics is modeled via a self-similar isothermal expansion combined with a stationary ablation model, and it is described by a set of ordinary differential equations. The microscopic single pore model is incorporated in the macroscopic hydrodynamic codes, and numerical simulations show a good agreement with available experimental data.