Electron-lattice interaction and the CDW state of 1T-TiSe2

The electronic band structure in the CDW state (superlattice structure) of 1T-TiSe₂ is calculated on the basis of the band-type Jahn-Teller model by extending our theory of lattice instability in the normal phase. A strong coupling between the hole-band (Se p states) around the Λ point and the electron-bands (Ti d states) around the Λ points is caused by the electron-lattice interaction. Reflecting such a strong coupling remarkable changes appear in the dispersion curves near the Fermi energy and the largest CDW gap is obtained to be 0.2 eV. We have also calculated a change of the density of states near the Fermi energy due to the superlattice formation. The result is consistent with that observed by angle-integrated photoemmision by Margaritondo et al. It is also shown that the magnitude of the lattice distortion observed at low temperatures can be explained in a way consistent with the lattice dynamics in the normal phase.     

Ultrasonic attenuation determination of Hc1 and Hc2 for ErRh4B4 at 1.5 K

The attenuation coefficient of longitudinal sound waves propagating in ErRh₄B₄ has been measured as a function of applied magnetic field where the propagation direction (q) of the sound waves was oriented either parallel or perpendicular to H_applied. For both orientations there is evidence of a type II-1 superconducting transition at H_c1 for T ≈ 1.5 K. In addition, when q ⊥ H an increase in attenuation is evident at H_c2, which does not appear when q 6 H, consistent with theories developed by Tachiki et al. utilizing supercurrent screening of the internal magnetic fields.     

Hysteresis in the electrical properties of orthorhombic tantalum trisulphide: Evidence for an incommensurate-commensurate charge-density wave transition?

A study of electrical conduction in orthorhombic TaS₃ has revealed the existence of thermal hysteresis throughout the temperature range 55 K < T < 205 K. This is attributed to variability in the wavevector q of the charge-density wave (CDW) which develops below T_p = 215 K, and confirms the recent finding, from electron diffraction, that at temperatures not too far below T_p the CDW is incommensurate with the underlying lattice. Evidence that q becomes commensurate, at least along the chain direction at 55 K is provided by the vanishing of hysteresis at that temperature, and also by a rise in the threshold field for continuous motion of the CDW.From its dependence on temperature it is concluded that between T_p and 55 K the conduction in the linear regime is better described as that of a Peierls semi-metal, rather than that of a Peierls intrinsic semiconductor. At most temperatures within that range electrical hysteresis also is observed, and a detailed study of this leads to the tentative conclusion that translation of the CDW conveys negative charge, carried presumably by negatively-charged discommensurations. The mechanisms of conduction below 55 K remain uncertain.     

Coupling of the CDW and the water mode in K2Pt(CN)4Br0.3⋯3.2H2O

In previous work we have observed the amplitude mode of the charge density wave (CDW) in K₂Pt(CN)₄Br_0.3?3.2H₂O (KCP) by means of Raman scattering. New measurements made on deuterated material, K₂Pt(CN)₄Br_0.3?3.2D₂O (KCP1), show the same mode but shifted from 44 to 38 cm_?1, maintaining the symmetry properties and temperature dependence of frequency and linewidth. This considerable isotope effect is interpreted in terms of a coupling of the CDW with the water stretching mode, which by the deuteration is shifted from 3494 cm^?1 in KCP to 2560 cm^?1 in KCP1 according to the change in atomic mass. Both of these modes exhibit A₁(z) symmetry. At 5 K the resulting decoupled frequency of the CDW amplitude mode is 57 cm^?1, and the coupling energy about 140 cm^?1. A discussion of the temperature dependence of various important quantities is given. The present results show that the water molecules, which are located in between the Pt chains are strongly involved in the eigenvector of the CDW amplitude mode.     

CDW evidence in one-dimensional K0.3MoO3 by means of Raman scattering

Raman scattering measurements on the one-dimensional (1-D) blue bronze K_0.3MoO₃ are reported as function of temperature. At about 50 cm^-1 a Raman line of A_g(A) symmetry was found with an anomalous temperature dependence. The line symmetry, the softening of the eigenfrequency and the apparent disappearing of the coupling constant at the critical temperature, allow us to assign this line to the amplitude mode of the CDW, predicted by the theory of the Peierls transition. A Peierls precursor at room temperature was also observed and is discussed.     

X-ray evidence for a deformation of CDW during the sliding motion in K0.30MoO3

The wave vector and the correlation length of the CDW ordering in K_0.30MoO₃ are studied by x-ray diffraction as functions of electric fields applied along the one-dimensional axis. Several samples change their CDW-ordering above a threshold field. The change of the wave vector occurs mainly in the (2a¹-c¹) - direction, which is perpendicular to the one-dimensional b¹ - axis. It depends also on the field direction and magnitude. Time resolved x-ray experiments show that characteristic time of this change is of the order of 1 ms. The correlation length becomes longer along the (2a¹-c¹)-direction in the transient period.     

Neutron inelastic scattering study of transverse spin fluctuations in CsNiF3: A soliton-only central peak

We have observed a quasi-elastic contribution to the spectrum of the transverse spin fluctuations S^perp;(Q, ω), perpendicular to an applied magnetic field in the easy plane of the one-dimensional ferromagnet CsNiF₃. According to the present theoretical understanding this contribution is due solely to soliton quasi-particles and it should not contain two-magnon scattering. The observed dependence on momentum transfer is as expected for soliton scattering with zero intensity at q_c = 0 rising through a maximum with increasing q_c.     

Cubic helimagnets in magnetic field and at pressure

Cubic helimagnets with B20 structure display several unusual properties such as anisotropy of the spin-wave spectrum al small momenta q, rotation of the helix vector k in magnetic field and quantum phase transition at pressure. We demonstrate that first two phenomena are a result of umklapp processes mixing excitations with momenta q, q+k and q−k. At very low magnetic field perpendicular to k the helical structure remains stable due to spin-wave gap Δ. Its square is sum of two parts. The first one is a result of the magnon interaction and the second negative part stems from magneto-elastic interaction. It is suggested that competition between these parts leads to the quantum phase transition observed in MnSi and FeGe. For MnSi from rough estimations at ambient pressure was shown that both parts are comparable with the experimentally observed gap. The magneto-elastic interaction is also responsible for 2k modulation of the lattice and contributes to the magnetic anisotropy. Experimental observation by X-ray and neutron scattering of this lattice modulation allows to determine the strength of the magneto-elastic interaction responsible for above phenomena and the lattice helicity.     

The CDW phase transformation in 1T-TaS2 observed by the doppler broadening of positron annihilation

The layered transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaS₂ was studied by the Doppler broadening of positron annihilation. The Doppler broadened line- shape was measured over the temperature range between 77 and 292 K. The CDW phase transformation at about 200 K is discussed in terms of the W-parameters calculated from the energy spectra.     

“Quantization” of the q-vector in microcrystals of K0.3MoO3 and NbSe3

We report steps of conductivity between discrete conducting states in microsamples of quasi-one-dimensional conductors K_0.3MoO₃ and NbSe₃. The steps reveal single phase-slip events, and the discrete states reveal “quantization” of the wave vector q of the charge-density wave. The “quantization” is observed due to the coherence of the CDW within the sample volume and tight boundary conditions at the contacts. The distribution of steps in temperature gives the temperature dependences of the q-vectors, while the steps' height provides the carriers' mobilities. For the case of NbSe₃ we give the 1st direct confirmation of the extremely high mobility of the “pocket” holes at low temperatures.     

Collective excitations in the 1-D-ferromagnet CsFeCl3 with singlet ground state

By means of inalastic neutron scattering we have determined the dispersion relation of the magnetic excitations in CsFeCl₃ at different temperatures.The dispersion in c-direction, along the Fe-chains is typically ferromagnetic and in the hexagonal plane antiferromagnetic. Due to the lack of an applicable theory the data were parametrized by the simple heuristic formula:?ω = [2J[1 - cos πq_c] [A + 2J(1 - cos π)q_c)] + [C + J' (1.5 + γ(q))]²]^{$\text{1}\text{2}$}The gap was found to be C = 0.148 THz, the easy plane anisotropy A = 0.308 THz, the ferromagnetic interaction J = 0.148 THz and the antiferromagnetic interaction J' = -0.04 THz. At 1.25 K all excitations had a width smaller than the instrumental resolution ΔE = 0.025 THz. These results can be interpreted as follows: CsFeCl₃ is a singlet ground state system with strong ferromagnetic interaction J along the crystallographic c-axis and weak antiferromagnetic interaction J' in the plane perpendicular to c.In addition we have measured the influence of a magnetic field along the hexagonal c-axis. The splitting found agrees with the assumed level scheme yielding g = 2.5 for the first excited level.     

Spin- and charge-density-wave orders in La1.87Sr0.13Cu0.99Fe0.01O4

We have performed elastic neutron-scattering measurements on La_1.87Sr_0.13Cu_0.99Fe_0.01O₄ to study the magnetic impurity effects on the stripe correlations in high-T_c cuprates. Both charge-density-wave (CDW) and spin-density-wave (SDW) orders are observed in the low-temperature-orthorhombic (LTO) phase for the first time. With decreasing the temperature, CDW order first appears at followed by the SDW order at lower temperature of . The incommensurability for the CDW order (ε) was found to be 0.224±0.002 r.l.u., which is approximately twice of that for SDW order (δ) of 0.115±0.003 r.l.u. Both ordering sequence and relation of ε≈2δ are the same for SDW and CDW orders observed in the low-temperature-tetragonal (LTT) phase of La_1.60-xNd_0.4Sr_xCuO₄ (LNSCO), suggesting that the similar stripe correlations exist in the cuprate oxides, irrespective of crystal structure.     

X-ray study of field induced deformation of sliding CDW in K0.30MoO3

A deformation of the CDW is investigated under the electric field whose magnitude is intensionally made inhomogeneous in the one-dimensional conductor K_0.30MoO₃. It is verified that the CDW's deformation, which occurs in the transverse (2a¹-c¹)-direction, is caused by the field gradient in the sample. In the sample where the CDW deformation is found without the intensional inhomogeneity of the electroc field, the deformation is not uniform from point to point. Possible relations are discussed between the structural change and the electrical polarization observed in pulse measurements of the conductivity.     

Field-induced CDW in HMTSF-TCNQ

Field-induced successive transitions were observed in magnetoresistance in the quasi-one-dimensional organic conductor, HMTSF-TCNQ, hexamethylene-tetraselena-fulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane. The magnetoresistance exhibits kink transitions accompanying hysteresis at pressures around 1 GPa, but neither at p=0 nor at 2 GPa. At p=0 and below 30 K, this material undergoes charge density wave (CDW) state, which is suppressed around 1 GPa, where successive transitions are observed. Since these behavior is only observed at the boundary in pressure between insulator and metal, and the nature of the insulating state is CDW at p=0, it is strongly suggested that the successive transitions observed in magnetoresistance might be associated with CDW, accordingly a field-induced CDW by the one-dimensionalization by strong magnetic field ranging from 10 to 30 T. The behaviors are compared with previously claimed FICDW and the established FISDW (field-induced-spin-density-wave).     

Atomic displacements in the incommensurable charge-density wave in alpha-uranium

We present a detailed examination of the incommensurable charge-density wave (ICDW) in α-uranium below 43 K. We have measured the q vectors as a function of temperature and the structure factors of a large number of first-order satellites with neutron diffraction. From the structure factors the atomic displacements that occur at the onset of the CDW have been determined in all three independent crystallographic directions. Uniaxial stress up to 3.5 kbar has been applied along 2 directions but does not change the satellite intensities, thus leaving ambiguity whether the structure is single or multi q. We discuss the relationship between the present results and the observations of Smith et al.     

Evidence for the fröhlich collective mode in the one-dimensional conductor K2[Pt(CN)4] Br0.3 · 3H2O from far infrared reflection

Far infrared and infrared reflection measurements on single crystals of the one dimensional conductor K₂[Pt(CN)₄] Br_0.3 · 3H₂O have been performed at 4.2K, 62K and 300K for light polarized parallel (E6z) and perpendicular (E ? z) to the platinum chains. At 4.2K and 62K a strong structure is observed in the E6z spectrum near 40 cm^-1 which is not observable at 300K. This structure is interpreted as due to the Fröhlich collective 2q_F-phonon mode.     

Electron diffraction study of the charge-density wave superlattice in 2H-NbSe2

In addition to the well-known 3a₀ CDW superlattice, we have observed in 2H-NbSe₂ a 2a₀ superlattice and a well-defined elliptical contour of diffuse intensity between the 3a₀ CDW spots. The 2a₀ superlattice is indicative of a CDW formation through the saddle-point nesting on the Fermi-surface.     

Charge-density-wave partial gap opening in quasi-2D KMo6O17 purple bronze studied by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Low dimensional (LD) metallic oxides have been a subject of continuous interest in the last two decades, mainly due to the electronic instabilities that they present at low temperatures. In particular, charge density waves (CDW) instabilities associated with a strong electron-phonon interaction have been found in Molybdenum metallic oxides such as KMo₆O₁₇ purple bronze. We report an angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) study from room temperature (RT) to T ∼40 K well below the Peierls transition temperature for this material, with CDW transition temperature T_CDW ∼120 K. We have focused on photoemission spectra along ΓM high symmetry direction as well as photoemission measurements were taken as a function of temperature at one representative k_F point in the Brillouin zone in order to look for the characteristic gap opening after the phase transition. We found out a pseudogap opening and a decrease in the density of states near the Fermi energy, E_F, consistent with the partial removal of the nested portions of the Fermi surface (FS) at temperature below the CDW transition. In order to elucidate possible Fermi liquid (FL) or non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behaviour we have compared the ARPES data with that one reported on quasi-1D K_0.3MoO₃ blue bronze.     

Incommensurate superlattice reflections in quasi one dimensional conductors, (MSe4)2I (M=Ta and Nb)

X-ray diffraction and conductivity measurements have been made on (MSE₄)₂I, (M=Ta and Nb). A phase transition of (NbSe₄)₂I was found and the transition temperature T_c was determined to be about 210K by the conductivity measurement. For (TaSe₄)₂I, T_c was about 260K as reported previously. Superlattice reflections due to the formation of charge density wave (CDW) in (TaSe₄)₂I were observed at points $\text{q}\text{?}\text{=(±0.05, ±0.05, ±0.085)}$. The type of CDW of (NbSe₄)₂I is known to be identical to that of (TaSe₄)₂I. Temperature dependence of the threshold electric field of nonlinear conductivity is consistent with the result in previous reports.