Multiscale Numerical Modelling of Ultrafast Laser-Matter Interactions: Maxwell Two Temperature Model Molecular Dynamics (M-TTM-MD)

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive multiscale numerical framework combining Maxwell's equations, Molecular Dynamics, and the Two-Temperature Model to simulate ultrafast laser interactions with metals at the atomic level.

Contribution

It presents a novel self-consistent simulation approach that couples electromagnetic, thermal, and atomic dynamics for ultrafast laser-metal interactions.

Findings

Accurately models electromagnetic field propagation in metals.

Captures electron-phonon energy exchange dynamics.

Simulates surface and structural changes under laser irradiation.

Abstract

In this work, we present a comprehensive numerical framework that couples numerical solutions of Maxwell's equations using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) approach, Molecular Dynamics (MD), and the Two-Temperature Model (TTM) to describe ultrafast laser-matter interactions in metallic systems at the atomic scale. The proposed Maxwell-Two-Temperature Model-Molecular Dynamics (M-TTM-MD) bridges the gap between electromagnetic field propagation, electron-phonon energy exchange, and atomic motion, allowing for a self-consistent treatment of energy absorption, transport, and structural response within a unified simulation environment. The calculated electromagnetic fields incorporate dispersive dielectric properties derived using the Auxiliary Differential Equation (ADE) technique, while the electronic and lattice subsystems are dynamically coupled through spatially and temporally resolved energy exchange terms. The changes in the material topography are then reflected in the updated grid for the FDTD scheme. The developed M-TTM-MD model provides a self-consistent numerical framework that offers insights into laser-induced phenomena in metals, including energy transport and surface dynamics under extreme nonequilibrium conditions.