Laser-induced local heating of multilayers

For a multilayer structure illuminated by a laser beam, absorption of optical energy in the absorptive layers and the diffusion of the resultant heat throughout the structure are studied. Analytical and numerical procedures for this study are described, and, as a specific example, the profiles of temperature distribution during recording on a magnetooptical disk are presented. The technique is also expected to be of value for studies of thermal marking and laser annealing.