Mathematical modeling of laser induced heating and melting in solids

An analytical method for treating the problem of laser heating and melting is developed in this paper. The analytical method has been applied to alumi num, titanium, copper, silver and fused quartz and the time needed to melt and vaporize and the effects of laser power density on the melt depth for f our metals are also obtained. In addition, the depth profile and time evolu tion of the temperature of aluminum before melting and after melting are gi ven, in which a discontinuity in the temperature gradient is obviously obse rved due to the latent heat of fusion and the increment in thermal conducti vity in solid phase. Additionally, the calculated melt depth evolution of f used quartz induced by 10.6 mum laser irradiation is in good agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.