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.
Isakovic
A F
AF
Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Evans
P G
PG
Kmetko
J
J
Cicak
K
K
Cai
Z
Z
Lai
B
B
Thorne
R E
RE