Model description of surface charging during ultra-fast pulsed laser ablation of materials

We present a model describing the dynamical mechanisms responsible for generating fast ion ejection under ultra-short pulsed laser irradiation. The model is based on a simplified drift–diffusion approach describing the evolution of the laser-generated charge carriers, their transport, and the electric field generated as a result of quasi-neutrality breaking in the irradiated target. The importance of different processes in generating the non-thermal material-ejection mechanisms is discussed. A common frame is applied to dielectrics, semiconductors, and metals and different dynamical behaviour is observed. The modelling results are in good agreement with fs pump–probe studies and measurements of the velocity distributions of the emitted ions.