Mechanisms of plastic deformation of bismuth single crystals that are opera
tive upon the deformation of the (111) plane using a Berkovich indenter at
a loading rate of 1-10 mN/s were studied. The plastic deformation in the ra
nge of the loading rates studied was established to occur mainly by pyramid
al slip. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".