Animated sequence of snapshots from a large-scale 3D molecular dynamics simulation of laser ablation
Laser pulse duration is 150 ps, penetration depth is 50 nm, fluence is 61 J/m2 (1.75 times the threshold fluence for the onset of ablation)
This animation shows the dynamics of a collective material ejection or ablation in the regime of thermal confinement, when the laser pulse duration is shorter than the time of the dissipation of the absorbed laser energy by the thermal conduction. A detailed discussion of the physical mechanisms leading to the material ejection and the dynamics of the ablation plume formation is given in Appl. Phys. A 76, 339-350, 2003.
To see more animations from smaller-scale simulations, click here.