Movement of edge dislocations in KCl by large electric fields

Abstract

Bands of etch pits resembling slip bands have been produced from an indentation made on the (001) surface of a KCl crystal containing nominally 88 p.p.m. Ca₂₊ by the sole action of a d.c. field up to 15 MV m⁻¹ along [100]. Only edge dislocation bands appeared, extending from the indentation towards the anode and forming an asymmetric rosette pattern. From the minimum field needed to produce such edge bands and the yield stress of the crystal, a charge of – 7 × 10⁻¹¹ Cm⁻¹ was obtained for the edge dislocations.