XXXIX. The creep of cadmium crystals at liquid helium temperatures

Abstract

Experiments on single crystals of cadmium at temperatures between 1·2° and 4·2° k have shown that measurable transient creep occurs, and that the amount of such creep does not fall off rapidly with decreasing temperature. It is suggested that this creep is due to the quantum mechanical tunnel effect, which allows dislocations to penetrate barriers to their motion that cannot be overcome by the action of the applied stress alone.