Deformation of NaCl crystals under combined action of magnetic and electric fields

The paper reports observation of a strong macroplastic effect of weak magnetic and electric fields (B≤0.4 T, E～1 kV/m) when applied simultaneously to NaCl samples in the course of their active deformation at constant rate ?=const. In the absence of magnetic field, electric effects in the macroplasticity of the same crystals become manifest at fields E≥10³ kV/m. Quantitative dependences of the macroplasticity on magnetic and electric fields and on the strain rate have been measured. A physical interpretation of the observed phenomena is proposed.