There are experimental and theoretical arguments to indicate that the
problem of the Peierls stress in f.c.c. metals can be due to the exist
ence of several kinds of kink pair formation (KPF) mechanisms, present
ing very different activation energies. Some interaction mechanisms be
tween the intrinsic point defects (vacancies and self-interstitials) a
nd the split dislocation cores could be responsible for these differen
t KPF mechanisms.