Dislocation avalanches

Dislocation avalanches are a phenomenon observed in materials undergoing plastic deformation, particularly in crystalline solids. They refer to sudden and abrupt collective movements of dislocations, which are line defects in the crystal structure of materials. When stress is applied to a material, dislocations can move, leading to plastic deformation. However, under certain conditions, the movement of these dislocations can become unstable and result in a rapid, collective motion, akin to an "avalanche.