MASS-TRANSPORT IN IONIC-CRYSTALS INDUCED BY THE PONDEROMOTIVE ACTION OF A HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC-FIELD

A possible explanation of the experimentally observed enhancement of m ass transport processes in ionic crystalline solids under the action o f high-frequency (HF) electromagnetic fields is suggested. It is based on the ponderomotive effects that occur due to the nonlinear interact ion of the HF electric field with the space charge induced by it withi n the crystal near its surface. Due to the action of the tangential co mponent of the field in the near-surface amorphized layer, where the v acancy mobility is greater than in the bulk, the ponderomotive effects are found to be of sufficient strength to manifest themselves in the experimental conditions.