Transverse conductivity in the sliding charge-density-wave state of NbSe3

The dynamical properties of longitudinal and transverse conduction of NbSe3 single crystals have been simultaneously studied when the current is applied along the b axis (chain direction). In the vicinity of the threshold electric field for charge-density-wave sliding, the transverse conduction sharply decreases. When a rf field is applied, voltage Shapiro steps for longitudinal transport are observed as usual but also current Shapiro steps in the transverse direction. The possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.     

横向交、直流电流对蓝青铜K0.3MoO3的I-V特性的调制效应

通过I-V特性测量，研究了横向交、直流电流对蓝青铜K_0.3MoO₃中电荷密度波(CDW)动力学行为的影响.实验结果表明，无论是直流还是交流，随着横向调制电流的增大，CDW滑移的阈值电场均会相应地减小；但横向交流电流的调制效应较小，可能更接近本征的效应.考察了横向交流电流的调制效应与其频率的依赖关系. 关键词： 0.3MoO₃单晶')" href="#">K_0.3MoO₃单晶 电荷密度波 横向电流调制效应     

Harmonic and subharmonic shapiro steps in orthorhombic Tas3

Observation of harmonic and subharmonic Shapiro steps in orthorhombic TaS₃ in the presence of combined rf and dc drive is reported, demonstrating that both the harmonic and subharmonic steps are a general characteristic of charge-density-wave response. Compared to NbSe₃, the noise spectrum is typically much broader in TaS₃, leading to poorly defined steps at small rf voltages. The steps sharpen with larger amplitudes of rf. Increased rf amplitude is also accompanied by an increase in the CDW current density at a given step, but this increase approaches a limiting value for large rf levels. The results are interpreted as evidence for increased coherence of the CDW response in the presence of large rf driving fields.     

Breathing charge density waves in intrinsic Josephson junctions

We demonstrate the creation of a charge density wave (CDW) along a stack of coupled Josephson junctions (JJs) in layered superconductors. Electric charge in each superconducting layer oscillates around some average value, forming a breathing CDW. We show the transformation of a longitudinal plasma wave to CDW in the state corresponding to the outermost branch. Transition between different types of CDW’s related to the inner branches of IV characteristic is demonstrated. The effect of the external electromagnetic radiation on the states corresponding to the inner branches differs crucially from the case of the single JJ. The Shapiro steps in the IV characteristics of the junctions in the stack do not correspond directly to the frequency of radiation ω. The system of JJs behaves like a single whole system: the Shapiro steps or their harmonics in the total IV characteristics appear at voltage $\sum {V_l } = N_R \frac{m} {n}\omega$ , where V _l is the voltage in the lth junction, N _R is the number of JJs in the rotating state, and m and n are integers.     

Shapiro steps in the torsion of a quasi-one-dimensional conductor TaS<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Features have been observed in the current dependences of the torsion angle, φ(I), for samples of a quasi-one-dimensional conductor TaS₃ irradiated by a high-frequency (HF) field. The features appear at the same current values as the Shapiro steps on the current-voltage characteristics, i.e., correspond to the synchronization of the motion of a charge-density wave (CDW) by the HF field. The shape of the features in the φ(I) dependences indicates a decrease in the inhomogeneous deformation of the CDW under the synchronization conditions. The investigation of torsion appears to be a highly sensitive method for determining the spatial coherence of the CDW.     

Pinning and depinning process of an incommensurate CDW as revealed by coherent X-ray diffraction

Experiments on the coherent X-ray diffraction, and their modeling, have been performed on the Charge Density Wave (CDW) system NbSe₃. The 2k_F$2k_F$ satellite reflection associated with the CDW has been measured with respect to external dc currents. Below the threshold current, reflection displays several fringes in the transverse direction which disappear when the threshold current is exceeded. In the sliding state, the transverse satellite profile has a form of two nonsymmetric peaks, one of them being centered at the same position as below the threshold and another one being shifted. The shift of the longitudinal peak position below the threshold current and the nonsymmetric peak in the transverse direction above the threshold one is interpreted as the influence of strong linear defect like a crystal step present on the sample surface, combined with induced arrays of dislocations. Coherent X-rays provide a new access to processes in a CDW driven by an external force in a random pinning potential.     

Rectification and phase locking for particles on symmetric two-dimensional periodic substrates

We demonstrate a rectification phenomenon for overdamped particles interacting with a 2D symmetric periodic substrate when driven with a dc and a circular ac drive. As a function of longitudinal dc amplitude, the longitudinal velocity increases in a series of quantized steps distinct from Shapiro steps with transverse rectification occurring near these transitions. The rectification phenomenon is explained using symmetry arguments and a simple model.     

The electronic structure of Fe1+xNb3-xSe10

Fe_1+xNb_3-xSe₁₀ has a crystal structure consisting of prismatic niobium chains and iron/niobium octahedral chains. A Charge Density Wave (CDW) has been observed at low temperatures, as might be expected from the similarity of the prismatic niobium chains to those present in NbSe₃. Here we report tight binding band structure calculations which indicate that the electrons responsible for conduction and the CDW reside primarily on the prismatic chains. The effects of disorder and stoichiometry in the iron/niobium octahedral chains on the electronic structure and CDW wave vector are discussed.     

Convective terms and transversely driven charge-density waves

We derive the convective terms in the damping which determine the structure of the moving charge-density wave (CDW), and study the effect of a current flowing transverse to conducting chains on the CDW dynamics along the chains. In contrast to a recent prediction we find that the effect is orders of magnitude smaller, and that contributions from transverse currents of electron- and holelike quasiparticles to the force exerted on the CDW along the chains act in the opposite directions. We discuss recent experimental verification of the effect and demonstrate experimentally that geometry effects might mimic the transverse current effect.     

Infrared signature of the charge-density-wave gap in ZrTe<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The chain-like ZrTe₃ compound undergoes a charge-density-wave (CDW) transition at T_CDW=63 K, most strongly affecting the conductivity perpendicular to the chains. We measure the temperature (T) dependence of the optical reflectivity from the far infrared up to the ultraviolet with polarized light. The CDW gap Δ(T) along the direction perpendicular to the chains is compatible for T<T_CDW with the behavior of an order parameter within the mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory. Δ(T) also persists well above T_CDW, which emphasizes the role played by fluctuation effects.     

Asymmetric modulation of the transverse current effect of charge-density wave in the blue bronze K0.3MoO3

The effect of a transverse single-particle current (I_x) on the charge-density wave (CDW) dynamics in the blue bronze K_0.3MoO₃ was reported. We found that the modulation of I–V characteristics are asymmetric to the polarity of the transverse current, possibly due to an additional longitudinal electric field (E_add) caused by the slight unbalance of the two transverse current probes. Our result seems inconsistent in some ways with the recent study by Artemenko et al.     

Anomalously large negative magnetoresistance of 1T-TaS2 at ultra low temperatures

The magnetoresistance of 1T-TaS₂ in the commensurate CDW phase was measured from 8 K down to 50 mK. Very large negative magnetoresistance was observed below 0.5 K for both transverse and longitudinal configurations of the magnetic field with respect to the current. This result is explained by Fukuyama and Yosida's theory based on the variable-range hopping in the Anderson localized states.     

Spectroscopic and dc-transport investigations of the electronic properties of $\mathsf{TaSe_{3}}$

TaSe₃ belongs to a class of low-dimensional materials characterized by the interplay and competition between dimensionality crossover and broken symmetry ground states. A comprehensive study by dc-transport, optical, and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments shows that the electronic properties of this compound are strongly anisotropic between the chain and the transverse crystallographic direction. Even though TaSe₃ fails to undergo a charge-density-wave (CDW) phase transition, we found evidence for short range order CDW segments, which progressively disappear with decreasing temperature.Received: 27 April 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 78.20.-e Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films - 71.30. + h Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions - 71.45.Lr Charge-density-wave systems     

A time-dependent density functional theory investigation of plasmon resonances of linear Au atomic chains

We report theoretical studies on the plasmon resonances in linear Au atomic chains by using ab initio time-dependent density functional theory. The dipole responses are investigated each as a function of chain length. They converge into a single resonance in the longitudinal mode but split into two transverse modes. As the chain length increases, the longitudinal plasmon mode is redshifted in energy while the transverse modes shift in the opposite direction (blueshifts). In addition, the energy gap between the two transverse modes reduces with chain length increasing. We find that there are unique characteristics, different from those of other metallic chains. These characteristics are crucial to atomic-scale engineering of single-molecule sensing, optical spectroscopy, and so on.     

Rectification and phase locking of graphite

Rectification phenomena and the phase locking in a two-dimensional overdamped Frenkel–Kontorova model with a graphite periodic substrate were studied. The presence of dc and ac forces in the longitudinal direction causes the appearance of dynamicalmode locking and the steps in the response function of the system. On the other hand, the presence of an ac force in the transverse direction causes the appearance of rectification, even though there is no net dc force in the transverse direction. It is found that whereas the longitudinal velocity increases in a series of steps, rectification in the transverse direction can occur only between two neighbor steps. The amplitude and phase of the external ac driving force affect the depinning force, rectification of the system and particles trajectories.     

Shear modulus and plasticity of a driven charge density wave

We have probed the effects of transverse variations in pinning strength on charge-density-wave (CDW) structure in NbSe3 by x-ray micro-beam diffraction. In ribbonlike crystals having a large longitudinal step in thickness, the CDW first depins on the thick side of the step, causing rotations of the CDW wave vector. By measuring these rotations as a function of position and electric field, the corresponding shear strains are determined, allowing the CDW's shear modulus to be estimated. These results demonstrate the usefulness of x-ray microdiffraction as a tool in studying collective dynamics in electronic crystals.     

Observation of Shapiro steps in the charge-density-wave state of NbSe3

We report the observation of ac-induced Shapiro-like steps in the dc I-V characteristics of NbSe₃. Analysis of the steps in terms of a classical model of charge-density-wave (CDW) transport, mathematically equivalent to the Stewart-McCumber model of Josephson tunnel junctions, indicates a highly coherent sample response, and that coupling phenomena well known in the Josephson literature also occur for CDW transport.     

Thermal expansion measurements of the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K0.30MoO3

The charge density wave (CDW) dynamics of the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K_0.30MoO₃ shows two different regimes depending on the temperature: a strongly damped CDW motion above ∼50 K and CDW motion with almost no damping below ∼50 K. In a search for a characterization of this CDW behaviour, we performed thermal expansion measurements on K_0.30MoO₃ single crystals in the temperature range 4-250 K. In addition to the anomaly observed at the Peierls transition at 180 K along the [102] direction, an anomaly is observed at ∼50 K along the [−201] and [102] directions. The results are discussed in relation with the change in the CDW rigidity at ∼50 K.     

Motional ordering of a charge-density wave in the sliding state

We have used high-resolution x-ray scattering, in the presence of an applied direct current, for studying the correlation lengths in the sliding charge-density wave (CDW) state. Transport properties were simultaneously measured in situ during the experiment. We find that, while the transverse correlation is reduced when the CDW moves, the CDW becomes more ordered in the direction of motion. This is the first report of a motional ordering process in a periodic system other than a vortex lattice.     

Electro-reflectance spectra of blue bronze

We show that the infrared reflectance of the quasi-one dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) conductor K_0.3MoO₃ (blue bronze) varies with position when a voltage greater than the CDW depinning threshold is applied. The spatial dependence and spectra associated with these changes are generally as expected from the electro-transmission [B.M. Emerling, et al., Eur. Phys. J. B 16, 295 (2000)], but there are differences which might be associated with changes in the CDW properties on the surface. We have examined the electro-reflectance spectrum associated with CDW current investigation for light polarized parallel to the conducting chains for signs of expected current-induced intragap states, and conclude that the density of any such states is at least an order of magnitude less than expected.Received: 23 June 2003, Published online: 2 October 2003PACS: 71.45.Lr Charge-density-wave systems - 78.20.Jq Electrooptical effects - 72.15.Nj Collective modes (e.g., in one-dimensional conductors)