Laser-induced Void Nucleation, Growth and Collapse in the Regime of Stress Confinement

Animated sequence of snapshots from a large-scale three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulation of laser-induced void nucleation and molecular desorption

Laser pulse duration is 15 ps, penetration depth is 50 nm, fluence is below the threshold fluence for the onset of ablation

Animated GIF Image

This animation shows the dynamics of the laser-induced void nucleation, growth and collapse at laser fluence below the threshold for ablation. The void nucleation is driven by the relaxation of high thermoelastic pressure that builds up in the absorption region under the conditions of stress confinement. A detailed discussion of the physical mechanisms leading to the void nucleation, growth and collapse is given in [ L. V. Zhigilei and B. J. Garrison, Microscopic Mechanisms of Laser Ablation of Organic Solids in the Thermal and Stress Confinement Irradiation Regimes, J. Appl. Phys. 88, 1281-1298 (2000), Abstract, Full Text: PDF (800 kB) ].

To see animated snapshots from a simulation with the same pulse duration but at slightly (~10%) higher laser fluence, just above the threshold for the onset of ablation, click here.

To see animated snapshots from a simulation with the same pulse duration but at higher laser fluence, two times the threshold fluence for the onset of ablation, click here.

Animated sequence of snapshots from a large-scale three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulation of laser-induced void nucleation and molecular desorption

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