Plastification of bismuth crystals under simultaneous superposition of electric and magnetic fields

The deformation of bismuth crystals under mechanical stress and simultaneous superposition of a constant magnetic field and an impulse electric current has been investigated experimentally. Two plastifying factors have been identified. The first is a damping elastic ultrasonic vibration caused by the Ampere force. In case of the deformation by twinning, these vibrations result in an increase of the density of twinning wedges around the indentation of a diamond indentor. The second factor is an electric charge on the free surface. The electric charge on the (111) cleavage face increases the mobility of twinning dislocations.