Electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) method for modeling the formation of metal surface structures induced by femtosecond laser radiation

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 280; pp. 711 - 714
• Main Authors: Djouder, M., Lamrous, O., Mitiche, M.D., Itina, T.E., Zemirli, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-09-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical and Process Engineering; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Ejection; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Explosive forming; FDTD; Femtosecond; Finite difference method; Formations; Laser; Lasers; LIPPS; Metal surfaces; Physics; PIC; Ripples; Simulation; Femtosecond; PIC; Simulation; FDTD; Laser; LIPPS; Laser radiation; Modelling; Surface structure; femtosecond laser; surface structures; modeling
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.05.047

•New numerical calculation results of femtosecond laser radiation on a copper material are reported.•The formation of laser induced periodic surface structures is explained by the Coulomb explosion.•The structures have the form of ripples perpendicular to the laser polarization.
The particle in cell (PIC) method coupled to the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to model the formation of laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) at the early stage of femtosecond laser irradiation of smooth metal surface. The theoretical results were analyzed and compared with experimental data taken from the literature. It was shown that the optical properties of the target are not homogeneous and the ejection of electrons is such that ripples in the electron density were obtained. The Coulomb explosion mechanism was proposed to explain the ripples formation under the considered conditions.