Dynamical transport properties of NbSe3_3 with simultaneous sliding of both charge density waves

Measurements of the nonlinear conductivity in NbSe$_3$ when the high-T and the low-T charge-density waves (CDWs) are simultaneously sliding have been performed. It is shown that the threshold electric field, $E_{t1}$, for depinning the high-T CDW increases 4 - 5 times at the temperature at which the low-T CDW is formed, indicating the strong pinning effect resulting from the interaction between both CDWs. Under application of a radio-frequency (rf) field, Shapiro steps are never observed simultaneously for both CDWs. At the electric field less then one for high-T CDW sliding only Sapiro steps for low-T CDW were observed, and at higher field only Shapiro steps for high-T CDW exist.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, accepted in PR

Toward equilibrium ground state of charge density waves in rare-earth tritellurides

We show that the charge density wave (CDW) ground state below the Peierls transition temperature, $T_{CDW}$, of rare-earth tritellurides is not at its equilibrium value, but depends on the time where the system was kept at a fixed temperature below $T_{CDW}$. This ergodicity breaking is revealed by the increase of the threshold electric field for CDW sliding which depends exponentially on time. We tentatively explain this behavior by the reorganization of the oligomeric (Te$_x$)$^{2-}$ sequence forming the CDW modulation.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted in PR

Anomalous asymmetry of magnetoresistance in NbSe3_3 single crystals

A pronounced asymmetry of magnetoresistance with respect to the magnetic field direction is observed for NbSe$_3$ crystals placed in a magnetic field perpendicular to their conducting planes. It is shown that the effect persists in a wide temperature range and manifests itself starting from a certain magnetic induction value $B_0$, which at $T=4.2$ K corresponds to the transition to the quantum limit, i.to the state where the Landay level splitting exceeds the temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, to be appeared in JETP Let

Charge density wave sliding driven by an interplay of conventional and Hall voltages in NbSe3_3 microbridges

Collective charge-density wave (CDW) transport was measured under a high magnetic field in NbSe$_3$ microbridges which have been cut transversely and at an angle to the chains' direction. We give evidences that the CDW sliding is driven by the Hall voltage generated by the inter-chain current of normal carriers. We have discovered a re-entrance effect of the Hall-driven sliding above a crossover temperature at which the Hall constant has been known to change sign. For the narrow channel, cut at 45$^\circ$ relative to the chain axis, we observed an evolution from the Hall-driven sliding at low temperatures, to the conventional sliding at higher temperatures, which corroborates with falling of the Hall constant. In this course, the nonlinear contribution to the conductivity coming from the collective sliding changes sign. The quantization of Shapiro-steps, generated presumably by a coherent sequence of phase slips, indicates that their governing changes from the applied voltage to the current.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted in PR

Character of electron reflection at a normal metal-Peierls semiconductor boundary

The reflection of electrons incident from a normal metal on the boundary of the metal with a quasi-one-dimensional conductor containing a charge-density wave (CDW) is investigated theoretically. It is shown that the reflection is not of an Andreev character, as it was suggested earlier, but rather of a Bragg character. This is due to the fact that the CDW is actually an electronic crystal, and its wave vector is a reciprocal lattice vector of the electronic crystal. The ratio of the intensities of the standard and Bragg reflection depends on the phase of the CDW.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, revte

Sliding charge-density-wave in two-dimensional rare-earth tellurides

Nonlinear transport properties are reported in the layered DyTe$_3$ compound at temperature below the charge-density-wave (CDW) transition, $T_P=302$ K. Conductivity is increasing sharply above the threshold electric field. Under application of a rf field Shapiro steps are clearly observed. These features demonstrate for the first time CDW sliding in two-dimensional compounds.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure