Comments on the calculation of the formation volume of vacancies in solids

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Abstract
We establish contact between two stress-assisted diffusion theories. The first theory is formal and has been developed by the author by a consistent use of the principles of modern continuum mechanics. The second theory is microscopic, based on solid-state physics arguments and has been published in a recent issue of Phys. Rev. B by Varotsos et al. We show that both theories are compatible within the low-pressure regime. As a result of this compatibility the phenomenological coefficients of the formal theory can be explicitly calculated in terms of microscopic parameters. Furthermore, an interesting experimental result which cannot be modeled within the formal theory is now adequately explained. The present findings seem to provide additional supporting evidence to the validity of the Varotsos et al. proposition.