Purpose This study aims to develop an advanced fractional photo-thermo-viscoelastic model for rotating semiconductor cylindrical structures subjected to thermal and optical loads. By integrating the Atangana–Baleanu fractional Kelvin–Voigt model with a nonlocal Moore–Gibson–Thompson heat equation, the framework captures memory-dependent viscoelastic behavior and finite-speed thermal wave propagation. The objective is to investigate the coupled effects of fractional order, thermal nonlocality, rotation and electromagnetic fields on temperature, stresses, displacement and carrier density, thereby improving the predictive accuracy of semiconductor devices operating under high-frequency and ultra-short laser excitation conditions. Design/methodology/approach A rotating semiconductor medium with a cylindrical cavity is modeled within a coupled photo-thermo-viscoelastic framework. The constitutive behavior is described using a fractional Kelvin–Voigt model based on the Atangana–Baleanu operator with a generalized Mittag–Leffler kernel, while heat conduction is governed by a nonlocal Moore–Gibson–Thompson equation to ensure finite thermal wave speeds. The governing equations, incorporating magnetic field and optical thermal transfer effects, are formulated in the Laplace transform domain. Analytical–numerical solutions are obtained via Fourier series expansions, enabling systematic parametric analysis of fractional order, relaxation times, thermal nonlocality and rotational velocity. Findings The results demonstrate that fractional-order parameters and thermal nonlocality significantly influence thermal and mechanical wave propagation within the rotating semiconductor structure. Increasing the fractional order enhances memory effects, leading to smoother attenuation and delayed peak responses in temperature, stress and carrier density distributions. The nonlocal thermal parameter ensures finite-speed propagation and reduces unrealistic thermal gradients predicted by classical models. Rotational velocity and magnetic field strength markedly affect stress concentration and displacement near the cylindrical cavity. Overall, the coupled fractional–nonlocal formulation provides more stable and physically consistent predictions under high-frequency and ultra-short laser loading conditions. Originality/value This study presents a novel integration of the Atangana–Baleanu fractional Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic model with a nonlocal Moore–Gibson–Thompson heat conduction equation within a unified photo-thermo-viscoelastic semiconductor framework. Unlike classical and conventional generalized models, the proposed formulation simultaneously captures hereditary memory effects, nonlocal thermal behavior, rotational dynamics, magnetic field influence and optical thermal transfer. The work provides a comprehensive analytical–numerical treatment for rotating semiconductor structures with cylindrical cavities, offering improved physical realism and predictive capability for high-frequency and ultra-short laser applications. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this combined fractional–nonlocal approach has not been previously reported.
Salem et al. (Mon,) studied this question.