Long-range order in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

We study the formation of the charge-density wave long-range order in a system of repulsive 1D electrons coupled to 3D phonons. We show that the charge-density wave can be stabilized by interaction with phonons in quasi-1D crystals and semiconducting nanowires. In the case of metallic atomic chains, interaction with phonons of a 3D substrate is not enough, and violation of the translational invariance by commensurable perturbation or disorder is needed. The possibility of stabilization of superconductivity in 1D electrons with attraction by means of tunnel coupling to a 3D metal is considered.     

Interference commensurate oscillations in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

We suggest an analytical theory to describe angular magnetoresistance oscillations recently discovered in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor (TMTSF)2PF6 [see Phys. Rev. B 57, 7423 (1998)]] and define the positions of the oscillation minima. The origin of these oscillations is related to interference effects resulting from Bragg reflections which occur as electrons move along quasiperiodic and periodic ("commensurate") electron trajectories in the extended Brillouin zone. We reproduce via calculations existing experimental data and predict some novel effects.     

Electron localization in quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors

The theory of electron localization in quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors is reviewed in detail. The effective diagram technique to take into account strong scattering and commensurability effects is developed using the Berezinsky method. The singularities of the electron density of states, of the localization length and of the static dielectric constant near the middle of the electron band and near other rational points of the band are discussed. A transition similar to the Anderson transition is found near the band edge. The effects of the electron-phonon interaction are taken into account and exact results for the hopping conductivity are obtained. The experimental data on the electrical and optical properties of TCNQ salts with strong structural disorder and of other quasi-1d organic conductors are reviewed and analysed.     

Triplet versus singlet superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

Quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors are highly unconventional materials, which exhibit a wide variety of phenomena, including spin density waves, quantum Hall effect, and superconductivity. In this paper, we review some experimental and theoretical developments concerning the superconducting state of these systems, where a particular emphasis is placed on the possibility of triplet superconductivity. This possibility is supported by various experiments including upper critical field, Knight shift and NMR relaxation time measurements on the Bechgaard salt bistetramethyltetraselenafulvalene hexafluorophosphate [(TMTSF)₂PF₆]. However, similar NMR results are still lacking for another compound (TMTSF)₂ClO₄ and other members of the Bechgaard salts family. Furthermore, the pairing mechanism and order parameter symmetry are not yet fully known. Therefore, we include a discussion of both triplet and singlet pairing states, and analyse briefly the possibility that the symmetries of the superconducting order parameters are different for various compounds. Finally, we also discuss some open questions regarding the superconducting state of these systems.     

Peierls distortion in alloys of quasi-one-dimensional conductors

We have calculated the value of the mean field Peierls transition temperature in a quasi-one-dimensional binary A-B alloy as a function of the relative concentration. This was done in the framework of the single-dimer coherent potential approximation. Reductions in the transition temperature are predicted for isoelectronic constituants.     

Impurity-induced stabilization of Luttinger liquid in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

It is shown theoretically that the Luttinger liquid can exist in quasi-one-dimensional conductors in the presence of impurities in a form of a collection of bounded Luttinger liquids. The conclusion is based on the observation by Kane and Fisher that a local impurity potential in Luttinger liquid acts, at low energies, as an infinite barrier. This leads to a discrete spectrum of collective charge and spin density fluctuations, so that interchain hopping can be considered as a small parameter at temperatures below the minimum excitation energy of the collective modes. The results are compared with recent experimental observation of a Luttinger-liquid-like behavior in thin NbSe₃ and TaS₃ wires.     

Electrical instability in quasi-one-dimensional charge density wave conductors

Narrow-band noise in niobium triselenide and similar substances is proposed to be a consequence of a negative differential dielectric constant which has been observed at field strengths larger than the threshold field. A small-signal theory is presented which yields the observed proportionality between frequency and charge density wave current. The calculation is independent of any model for the conduction and polarization mechanisms.     

Interlayer magnetoresistance of quasi-one-dimensional layered organic conductors

We studied the interlayer magnetoresistance of the representative quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) layered organic conductor, (TMTSF)2PF6, over the full range of magnetic field orientations in three dimensions, and constructed a stereographic conductivity plot. Our results show that the previously reported angular-dependent magnetoresistance phenomena in Q1D conductors are closely related to one another in intermediate field orientations. Based on a comparison with theories, we can conclude that the Lebed resonance is the only fundamental effect and that other effects result from the modulation of the Lebed resonance amplitude. Most of the observed phenomena can be explained within the framework of the conventional Fermi liquid; however, the anomalous enhancement of the interlayer conductivity under a field parallel to the conducting planes suggests the existence of a new electron state.     

Interplay between spin-density-wave and superconducting states in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

The interference between spin-density-wave and superconducting instabilities in quasi-one-dimensional correlated metals is analyzed using the renormalization group method. At the one-loop level, we show how the interference leads to a continuous crossover from a spin-density-wave state to unconventional superconductivity when deviations from perfect nesting of the Fermi surface exceed a critical value. Singlet pairing between electrons on neighboring stacks is found to be the most favorable symmetry for superconductivity. The consequences of non uniform spin-density-wave pairing on the structure of phase diagram within the crossover region is also discussed. Received 3 January 2001 and Received in final form 1st March 2001     

Stochastic resonance and charge density wave dynamics in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

Stochastic resonance (SR) in nonlinear systems is a counterintuitive concept in which a weak periodic signal and noise cooperate and give rise to a maximum in the signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the system when the noise is tuned to a certain value. The spatial coupling of a large number of oscillators showing SR may have a constructive effect and leads to the so-called array enhanced stochastic resonance (AESR). We discuss the possible application of SR and AESR concepts to charge density wave (CDW) dynamics in quasi-one-dimensional conductors. We show in a preliminary experiment that the addition of noise can modify the behavior of the CDW in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K_0.30MoO₃.     

Field-induced spin-sensity-wave phases in quasi-one-dimensional conductors: theory versus experiments

We show that the "quantized nesting" model misses important features of the magnetic-field-induced spin-density-wave (FISDW) phase diagram. Among them are the following: (1) the FISDW wave vector is not strictly quantized; (2) in some compounds, the FISDW diagram consists of two regions: (a) At low temperatures, there are jumps of the wave vector (i.e., the first order transitions between FISDW phases); (b) at high temperatures the jumps and the first order transitions disappear, but the wave vector is still a nontrivial function of a magnetic field. These are in agreement with the experiments on (TMTSF)2PF6.     

Ionic plasma screening and long-range electron correlations in quasi-one-dimensional conductors

In quasi-one-dimensional systems with the intercalation-type doping, the dynamical response of dopant ions can substantially affect the interplay of density-wave and superconducting instabilities. A generic model system of Coulombically coupled Luttinger-liquid chains augmented by the interaction with the ion displacements is exactly solved in the forward-scattering channel providing for the resulting system excitations and electron correlations. For a jellium-like ion response, the effect of the bare electron–electron repulsion is essentially canceled by the ions. Superconducting correlations can then be developed due to a non-polarizational interaction with an additional phonon mode.     

Interlayer Aharonov-Bohm interference in tilted magnetic fields in quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors

Different types of angular magnetoresistance oscillations in quasi-one-dimensional layered materials, such as organic conductors (TMTSF)2X, are explained in terms of Aharonov-Bohm interference in interlayer electron tunneling. A two-parameter pattern of oscillations for generic orientations of a magnetic field is visualized and compared to the experimental data. Connections with angular magnetoresistance oscillations in other layered materials are discussed.