Modeling of processes during pulsed-laser texturing of material surfaces

Pulsed-laser texturing of material surfaces proceeds with shallow melt resulting from the absorption of laser energy. Flow processes in the fluid determine the morphological structure of the re-solidified surface. Approximations made in the literature are improved upon here to describe the fluid flow in the melt. In particular, the pressure in the melt is included in the Navier-Stokes equation and the surface boundary condition, which is shown to have significant impact on the flow processes and thus, on the final finish of the surface. The calculations for Si surface modifications are found to be in close agreement with the experimental observations, considerably improving upon the earlier descriptionsTitle differs between author's version and publisher's versionPeer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye