Electron-lattice kinetics of metals heated by ultrashort laser pulses

TL;DR

This paper introduces a kinetic model for metals exposed to ultrashort laser pulses, capturing the nonequilibrium dynamics of hot electrons and lattice interactions leading to potential ablation.

Contribution

It develops a coupled system of equations describing electron and lattice dynamics during ultrashort laser heating, including electron-phonon interactions and lattice deformation estimation.

Findings

Model predicts conditions for metal destruction under laser pulses.

Estimates lattice deformation immediately after laser exposure.

Identifies ablation regime based on electron and lattice dynamics.

Abstract

We propose a kinetic model of transient nonequilibrium phenomena in metals exposed to ultrashort laser pulses when heated electrons affect the lattice through direct electron-phonon interaction. This model describes the destruction of a metal under intense laser pumping. We derive the system of equations for the metal, which consists of hot electrons and a cold lattice. Hot electrons are described with the help of the Boltzmann equation and equation of thermoconductivity. We use the equations of motion for lattice displacements with the electron force included. The lattice deformation is estimated immediately after the laser pulse up to the time of electron temperature relaxation. An estimate shows that the ablation regime can be achieved.