The application of Maxwell's equations for numerical simulation of processes during laser treatment of materials

A number of problems on the laser radiation propagation and absorption are stated on the Maxwell's equation base for the simulation of laser treatment of materials, namely cutting, welding, drilling of metals, selective laser melting and sintering of powders. The algorithm of numerical solution of the Maxwell's equations by the finite difference time domain method is employed with parallelizing elements; the peculiarities of setting of some boundary conditions for the problems of laser interaction for isotropic media are analyzed. (paper)