Study on the ablative characteristics of steel target irradiated by nanosecond pulsed pseudo spark electron beams: Experiment and molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

A combination of simulation and experimentation is employed to explore the influence of the non-uniformity of energy distribution in nanosecond PSEB on the target ablation. Firstly, A spatiotemporally distributed heat source model is built using Monte Carlo computational method and an ablation phase transition model is established using molecular dynamics method. The results reveal the time evolution of multiple cavities in the sub-surface region, as well as the temperature and stress field distributions with electron beam irradiation. Phase explosion formation and lattice structure changes in the steel target during the ablation process is found for the first time. The PSEB modified AISI1045 steel samples is experimentally conducted. The characterization results show the changes in the crystal structure within AISI1045 steel, which is attributed to the formation of an amorphous layer resulting from grain refinement and structural defects, as well as the combined effects of thermal elastic stress waves, shock thermal stress waves and temperature gradient distribution. The experimentally obtained crystal phase changes are consistent with the simulation results, confirming the accuracy and validity of the modelling. The findings of this study provide a molecular-scale explanation for the formation of unique morphology and micro-structures during the PSEB ablated metal target.