Pulsed laser heating of steel surfaces - Fourier and electron kinetic theory approaches

Application of Fourier theory to heat conduction due to high power laser irradiation may give closed form solution to the problem. On the other hand, the heat flux through a given plane depends on the electron energy distribution through the material and at the scale of distance required to examine the problem, the material can no longer be considered as being homogeneous continuum, therefore, errors may occur when considering the Fourier theory in laser heating process. The problem requires to be examined in the quantum field. The present study examines the pulse laser heating process when considering both Fourier conduction and electron-kinetic theory approaches. Analytical solution to Fourier heat conduction equation are obtained for the intensity step input pulse while numerical scheme is introduced to solve the heat transfer equation resulted from kinetic theory approach. It is found that both Fourier and electron kinetic theory approaches result in similar temperature profiles for a step input intensity pulse.