Effect of an alternating electric field on the plastic flow in NaCl crystals

The effect of an alternating electric field (E = 2.5 kV/cm, f = 40-400 Hz) on plastic deformation in NaCl crystals was studied. The effect manifested itself as an increase or decrease in the rate of plastic flow (softening or hardening of the crystal, respectively). Under the condition of a single slip, the softening reached its maximum beyond the yield point, while the maximum hardening was observed at the end of the stage of an easy slip. Microscopic mechanisms were proposed to describe the effect of the electric field on the interaction of dislocations and point defects.