A stable three-level finite difference scheme for solving the parabolic two-step model in a 3D micro-sphere heated by ultrashort-pulsed lasers

Ultrashort-pulsed lasers with pulse durations of the order of sub-picosecond to femtosecond domain possess exclusive capabilities in limiting the undesirable spread of the thermal process zone in the heated sample. Parabolic two-step micro heat transport equations have been widely applied for thermal analysis of thin metal films exposed to picosecond thermal pulses. In this study, we develop a three level finite difference scheme for solving the heat transport equations in a three-dimensional micro-sphere heated by ultrashort-pulsed lasers. It is shown that the scheme is unconditionally stable. The method is illustrated by numerical examples.