XLV. On the dislocation theory of evaporation of crystals

Abstract A complete treatment is given of the steady state spiral both in growth and evaporation of crystals, taking account of the strain energy around the dislocation. It is shown that when the crystal is evaporating there is a limiting value of the undersaturation beyond which there is no steady state solution of the problem. The core of the dislocation is then unable to remain closed and a macroscopic pit appears at the termination of the screw dislocation.