Coherence-Mediated Stress Accumulation and Plasticity in Crystalline Solids

This paper develops a conservative theoretical framework showing how coherence-mediated phase-gradient stresses can accumulate and localize within crystalline and polycrystalline solids, modifying effective yield thresholds without violating momentum conservation or requiring macroscopic external forces. Building on prior work demonstrating transient axial phase-gradient impulses and persistent solitonic stress structures, the analysis shows how localized coherence stresses shift resolved shear conditions at defects, grain boundaries, and dislocation cores. The mechanism predicts reversible softening effects, strong material dependence, and distinct timescale signatures, while remaining fully compatible with standard elasticity, dislocation theory, and phase-field models. Testable predictions are identified to discriminate prompt electromagnetic, acoustic, and persistent coherence-mediated responses.