Effect of magnetic field on the polarization of LiF crystals during microindentation

The polarization and depolarization processes in a LiF crystal during indentation after exposure to a dc magnetic field ($B$ = 0.9 T, $t$ = 30 min) have been studied. It has been shown that the potential difference appearing due to movement of charged dislocations in the exposed crystal increases more than two-fold as compared to the initial sample, and the subsequent charge equilibrium in the samples is established approximately 1.5 times faster. These developments demonstrate significant increase in the concentration of free cation vacancies due to action of a magnetic field.