Theory of the electron fracture mode in solids

The theoretical model serving to explain and describe the phenomenon of the electron fracture mode (EFM) discovered experimentally nearly 20 years ago is advanced. EFM is characterized by the brittle cleavage of common plastic crystals proceeding with supersonic velocities independently of initial cracks when subjected to high-intensity electron beams. Using the invariant Г- integral of an electromagnetic deformable medium, it is proven that two electrons moving faster than the phase speed of light attract one another, as distinct from the common Coulomb's law. Self-packing of such relativistic electron beams is studied using a periodic chain model. It is suggested that during irradiation of a solid by a high-intensity electron beam, some electron clusters are formed, which act as wedges cutting the crystalline specimen. The dynamic problem of supersonic cutting by a thin wedge is studied, and the drag is calculated. The length of the resulting crack is computed. The theoretical results are confirmed by available experimental data.

J. Appl. Phys. 74 (12), 15 December 1993
0021-8979/93/74(12)/7134/20/S6.00
(С) 1993 American Institute of Physics 7134-7153

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