Non-uniform Media

Abstract

Continuous or discontinuous changes in thermophysical and optical properties of materials significantly change laser-induced temperature distributions with respect to those estimated for plane uniform (homogeneous) substrates. Continuous changes in physical properties may be related to temperature dependences of material parameters or to slow changes in the material structure or composition. Discontinuous changes in physical properties occur in some types of composite materials, in multilayer structures, and in combined structures. Such structures may only be generated during laser processing, as in laser-induced surface oxidation or deposition of thin films or microstructures.