Finite-Element Analysis of Low-Power Laser Heating in Gold::Vanadium Dioxide Nanocomposites

Abstract

Finite element modeling was performed using COMSOL Multiphysics to study the thermal dynamics of gold::vanadium dioxide (VO$_{2}$) nanocomposites. These simulations were done to understand the data from transient absorption pump probe measurements taken over the previous two years by the author. The various parameters contributing to the dynamics of the system were systematically varied within the simulation in order to understand how the various properties of the nanocomposite affect the thermodynamics of the system. It was determined that the background temperature and the optical properties of the film make the dominant contributions to the system response. The simulation was able to predict the maximum change in transmission measured in experiment fairly well but could not predict the speed at which the system responded to the pump laser. Steps to improve upon the agreement between experiment and simulation are proposed.