| CP | specific heat, J (kg∙K)−1 | V | scanning speed, m/s |
| Epulse | laser pulse energy, J | v | volume, m3 |
| I | Intensity, J/µm2 | Z | non-dimensional height |
| k | thermal conductivity, W(mK)−1 | u(τ) | unit step function |
| Neff | effective number of pulses | z | height, m |
| P | power, W |
| Greek Symbols |
| Q | non-dimensional power | α | thermal diffusion |
| R | non-dimensional radius | η | fraction of the surface absorption |
| r | radius, m | θ | non-dimensional temperature |
| r0 | radius of the beam spot, m | ρ | density, kg/m3 |
| T | temperature, K | τ | non-dimensional time |
| Tref | reference temperature, K | τP | non-dimensional pulse width |
| t | time, s | φo | maximum laser flounce, J/µm2 |
| tP | pulse width (duration), s | φth | ablation threshold, J/µm2 |