A new theory for dislocation motion through the Peierls field in a metal was described. Firstly, quantized vibrations of a lattice which contained a dislocation were analyzed. The quantum theory of resonance-type dislocation transfer was then worked out for two cases. Electrons had no effect upon transfer in one case, while the non-adiabatic interaction of electrons with dislocations decreased the probability of transfer in the other case. Quantitative agreement was obtained between theory and experiment with regard to dislocation velocity versus applied shear stress and yield stress versus temperature in Cu. The theory also explained an anomalous yield stress below 50K in dilute Cu-Al alloys. The present theory, when applied to the loss of strength of superconducting metals, succeeded in explaining the experimentally observed temperature dependence of this phenomenon in Pb.

Quantum Theory of Dislocation Motion in Metals. T.Suzuki: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 1995, 64[8], 2817-27