Numerical modelling and simulation on nanosecond laser-target interactions

Abstract Nanosecond lasers are widely used in industrial applications as they are relatively inexpensive, and their compactness and robustness are an advantage. Much experimental work has been carried out to understand deeper the interaction between the nanosecond laser pulses and the targets, as these are complex, transient processes with spatial inhomogeneities. Beside the experiments, the modeling and numerical simulation on the laser interaction with the target are also crucial for understanding the dynamics of laser-material interactions and for optimizing laser processing applications. In this review, the progress of numerical modelling and simulation on nanosecond laser-target interactions are summarized from the aspects of laser-target interactions and target-plasma interface, laser-plasma interactions and plasma radiation, and numerical models on different scales with artificial intelligence advancing. The laser ablation, mass and energy transfer, and mechanical coupling are discussed in the aspect of the nanosecond laser-target interactions and target-plasma interface. The plasma expansion, plasma ionization and recombination, and plasma radiation are discussed in the aspect of the nanosecond laser-plasma interactions and plasma radiation. Then the numerical advances, including microscopic approaches based on molecular dynamics, mesoscopic approaches based on kinetic and statistical physics, macroscopic approaches based on fluid dynamics, and numerical simulations with machine learning are discussed. Finally, the challenges currently being encountered by numerical modelling and simulation on nanosecond laser-target interactions and its potential development direction are considered.