Simulation of the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption by plasma plume in laser penetration welding

Abstract

This work employs the Particle-In-Cell method to evaluate the electron inverse bremsstrahlung absorption occurring in the interaction of laser and plasma under deep penetration welding conditions, with focus on the dependence of the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient on plasma and laser working parameters. When the laser intensity is small, about in the range of industrial applications, the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient is positively correlated with the electron density, coulomb logarithm and laser wavelength, and inversely correlated with electron temperature. When the laser intensity is high, the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient does not change significantly, regardless of plasma working parameters.