Dynamics of nanodefects on a loaded gold surface

The dynamics of defects with linear dimensions from ≈1 to ≈100 nm on a Au surface under load have been studied by means of tunnelling microscopy. It is found that the origin, growth, and resorption of the defects is caused by displacements of bands of material from 5 to 50 nm wide, parallel to the {111} slip planes. The defects can be separated into two groups: nonsteady-state defects, whose lifetime does not exceed 15 min, while the depth is ⩽20 nm, and quasi-steady-state defects, with a lifetime three orders of magnitude greater than the first. It is assumed that the nonsteady-state defects are formed when the ensemble of dislocations is being reconstructed, while the quasi-steady-state defects are formed at the instant of formation of dislocation substructures during the creep of the loaded metal. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2180–2183 (December 1998)