A theoretical study on the melting of a finite slab with a pulsed laser

Calculations of the spatial and temporal temperature distributions in the molten layer thickness, the still solid part and in the backward surface of the finite slab were carried out during the irradiation with a pulsed laser. The two-dimensional Laplace integral transform technique has been applied to obtain the mathematical expressions for these temperature distributions and the molten layer thickness as a function of the melting time. The derivations have taken into account the temperature-dependent absorption coefficient of the irradiated surface and the cooling. As an illustrative example, computations were carried out on a finite aluminum (Al) target.