Evaporation Model of NaCl Cleavage Faces around Edge Dislocations in Vacuum

Abstract

It is shown in the present paper that the evaporation of edge dislocations in the form of circular steps takes place in NaCl crystals by the evaporation of these steps in a high vacuum and in a temperature region of 350–500°C. The distances of steps are regular. This regularity is explained by means of a suggested model. This model explains also the change in the evaporation rate depending upon the density of dislocations. This explanation is based on the existence of an effective charge at the emergence point of the edge dislocations a/2 〈110〉. {110} with the surface planes {100}. This charge interacts with another one formed on the faults of steps. As a result of this interaction a modulation is observed of the formation of a new step in the emergence point. This means that the same is observed in the case of step distances too.