2D calculations of the thermal effects due to femtosecond laser-metal interaction

Experimental results previously published have shown that the radial heat affected zone (HAZ) for a 500 nm thick Al sample in the femtosecond case is less than 2 μm [Appl. Phys. Lett. 80 (2002) 3886]. The spread of radial thermal effects for femtosecond pulses is calculated, by developing a two-dimensional version of the two temperature model (TTM). The case of an axi-symmetrical geometry is simulated by a finite element technique. A physical metallurgy approach is used to define and to estimate the radial HAZ width from the calculations. The evolution of the temperature as a function of time is studied, leading to a radial HAZ width of 220 nm for 500 nm thick Al samples. Similar calculations in the nanosecond regime are also performed and compared to the femtosecond case.