Strong Effects of Weak Localization in Charge Density Wave/Normal Metal Hybrids

Collective transport through a multichannel disordered conductor in contact with charge-density-wave electrodes is theoretically investigated. The statistical distribution function of the threshold potential for charge-density wave sliding is calculated by random matrix theory. In the diffusive regime weak localization has a strong effect on the sliding motion.Comment: To be published in Physical Review

Crossover from 2-dimensional to 1-dimensional collective pinning in NbSe3

We have fabricated NbSe$_3$ structures with widths comparable to the Fukuyama-Lee-Rice phase-coherence length. For samples already in the 2-dimensional pinning limit, we observe a crossover from 2-dimensional to 1-dimensional collective pinning when the crystal width is less than 1.6 $\mu$m, corresponding to the phase-coherence length in this direction. Our results show that surface pinning is negligible in our samples, and provide a means to probe the dynamics of single domains giving access to a new regime in charge-density wave physics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, and 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical Review

Mesoscopic charge-density-wave wires

Applied Science

Mesoscopic NbSe3 wires

We have fabricated wire structures with (sub)micron sizes in the charge-density wave conductor NbSe3. Electrical transport measurements include complete mode-locking on Shapiro steps and show that the patterning has not affected the CDW material. Our mesoscopic wires show strong fluctuation and hysteresis effects in the low-temperature current-voltage characteristics, as well as a strong reduction of the phase-slip voltage. This reduction can not be explained with existing models. We suggest that single phase-slip events are responsible for a substantial reduction of the CDW strain in micron-sized systems