<title>Theory of ultrashort laser pulse interaction with a metal</title>

The interaction of subpicosecond laser pulses with metals is studied theoretically using phenomenological two-temperature model. Wide-range approximations for electron thermal conductivity and electron-ion energy exchange rate are proposed. Effects of temperature dependence of the thermophysical characteristics on lattice heating dynamics are discussed. Melting and evaporation kinetics are incorporated into the model to describe the metal ablation. Damage threshold and ablated layer thickness are calculated.