Strandlike microstructures in the charge-density wave states of orthorhombic TaS3

Strandlike domains are observed in the commensurate charge-density wave states of orthorhombic TaS₃ using dark field electron microscopy. The images of the strandlike domains are found to be time-dependent and sensitive to the radiation damage induced by the incident high energy electrons. Our observation suggests that the appearance of the strandlike structure may be common to this class of materials regardless of the commensurability of the charge-density waves.