Influence of atomic defect generation on the propagation of elastic waves in laser-excited solid layers

The mechanical behavior of solid layers subjected to laser irradiation is investigated by a dynamical model that is based on coupled evolution equations for the elastic displacement of the medium and lattice defect-density fields. The evolution of defect-density is governed by the (i) generation of defects by irradiation, (ii) their diffusion and recombination and (iii) diffusion induced by strain field. The strain field associated with lattice dilatation due to atomic defects is shown to couple with deformation fields of the layer. Frequency equations corresponding to the symmetric and anti-symmetric modes of vibration of the layer are obtained. It is found that coupling between diffusion and strain fields cause dispersion of the general waveform. Explicit expressions are defined for the wave velocity, and the attenuation (amplification) coefficients which characterize these waves.