Title: Molecular dynamics simulations of laser ablation: the Morse potential function approach

Authors: Panagiotis Stavropoulos, George Chryssolouris

Addresses: Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece. ' Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation, University of Patras, Patras, 26500, Greece

Abstract: Since laser was invented about half a century ago, it has been widely used in various industrial applications. Due to its high spatial and temporal coherence as well as small beam divergence characteristics, compared with those of the natural light, the laser beam can have much higher intensity. Laser ablation is the process of material being removed after laser has been irradiated on the target surface, during which very complicated physical and mechanical phenomena occur. Laser is a rather fine tool, a fact implying that laser machining and in this case, ablation, is a rather accurate process. Precision is a driver in Nanomanufacturing processes and consequently, precision simulation methods are required. The Molecular Dynamics (MD) based simulation of machining processes, creates new possibilities for modelling of complex processes. This work describes a methodology of MD, based on the Morse Potential Function (MPF), focusing on the laser ablation of bulk material.

Keywords: laser ablation; molecular dynamics; Morse potential function; MPF; simulation; bulk material; nanomanufacturing; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2007.017992

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2007 Vol.1 No.6, pp.736 - 750

Published online: 25 Apr 2008 *

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