Formation of dissipative structures in crystals during heat and electron transport

The surface restructuring (faceting) of solids subjected to longitudinal electric-field and temperature gradients has been studied experimentally and theoretically. Tungsten crystals and wires preheated with a direct current in vacuum or a hydrogen atmosphere to a temperature higher than half the melting temperature are studied by electron microscopy and metallography. The processes of formation of bulk defects and of a regular surface structure are found to correlate. For the first time, these processes are analyzed in terms of synergetics. (c) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.