Crowdions in elasticity theory

Abstract

A crowdion, which is a defect in a crystal structure, is described within the mechanics of continuous linear elastic medium. In the continual approximation, the crowdion is defined, analogously with dislocations, as a singular “carrier” of the plastic deformation of the medium and as a source of elastic deformation. The geometric and force parameters of this singularity are associated with the characteristics of the lattice crowdion. The structure of the strain and stress fields of a crowdion in an anisotropic elastic continuum is described in the general form, and explicit expressions for these fields in an isotropic medium are derived.