Modeling of short-pulse laser-metal interactions in the warm dense matter regime using the two-temperature model

A numerical model for laser-matter interactions in the warm dense matter regime is presented with broad applications, e.g., ablation, thermionic emission, and radiation. A unique approach is adopted, in which a complete set of collisional and transport data is calculated using a quantum model and incorporated into the classical two-temperature model for the electron and lattice-ion temperatures. The data set was produced by the average atom model that combines speed, conceptual simplicity, and straightforward numerical development. Such data are suitable for use in the warm dense matter regime, where most of the laser-matter interactions at moderate intensities occur, thus eliminating deficiencies of previous models, e.g., interpolation between solid and ideal plasma regimes. In contrast to other works, we use a more rigorous definition of solid and plasma states of the metal, based on the physical condition of the lattice, crystalline (ordered) versus melted (disordered), rather than a definition based on electron temperature. The synergy between the two-temperature and average atom models has been demonstrated on a problem involving heating and melting of the interior of Al by a short-pulse laser with duration 0.1-1 ps and laser fluences 1×10^{3}-3×10^{4}J/m^{2}(0.1-3J/cm^{2}). The melting line, which separates the solid and plasma regimes, has been tracked in time and space. The maximum melting depth has been determined as a function of laser fluence: l_{melt}(μm)≅4×10^{3}F(J/m^{2}).