Laser short-pulse heating of metallic surface: Consideration of Seebeck effect

In the present study, laser short-pulse heating is formulated using an electron kinetic theory approach. Temperature predictions are compared with that obtained from two-equation model. Seebeck effect is considered during the heating process. The predicted Seebeck coefficients are compared with the results based on the early formulation. Electron excess energy loss due to Seebeck effect is compared with electron mean energy. It is found that Seebeck coefficient decays sharply in the surface region due to sharp decay of electron temperature in this region. Seebeck coefficient obtained from the present study is in agreement with the predictions based on the early formulation, provided electron temperature is used in the previous formulation. However, Seebeck coefficient differs significantly once the lattice site temperature is used in the previous formulation. Electron excess energy loss due to Seebeck effect is considerably less than electron mean energy, i.e. the ratio is in the order of 10⁻⁵.