Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Laser-Materials Interactions: General and Material-Specific Mechanisms of Material Removal and Generation of Crystal Defects

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations of laser-materials interactions are capable of providing detailed information on the complex processes induced by the fast laser energy deposition and can help in the advancement of laser-driven applications. This chapter provides a brief overview of recent progress in the atomic- and molecular-level modeling of laser-materials interactions and presents several examples of the application of atomistic simulations for investigation of laser melting and resolidification, generation of crystal defects, photomechanical spallation, and ablation of metals and molecular targets. A particular focus of the analysis of the computational results is on revealing the general and material-specific phenomena in laser-materials interactions and on making connections to experimental observations.KeywordsLaser FluenceIrradiate TargetAblation PlumePhase ExplosionMelting FrontThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.