Non-equilibrium charge density wave ground state of quasi-two-dimensional rare-earth tritelluride TbTe3

We have studied the time dependence of the relaxation of the non-equilibrium charge density wave (CDW) toward an equilibrium ground state in TbTe3 when the sample is cooled through the Peierls transition temperature under an electric field down to a given temperature, T-exp. We show that when cooled at zero electric field or a value less than the threshold one, E-t, for depinning the CDW at T-exp, the CDW equilibrium ground state has a single phase in the sample volume. When cooled with an electric field higher than E-t, the CDW ground state is in a frozen glass state, which can be destabilized only by reducing the electric field below E-t. We tentatively interpret these results by the interaction of the CDW with a well ordered Te-Te discommensuration network.

Automated summary

The study found that in TbTe3, the equilibrium ground state of CDW cooled to a given temperature T-exp under an electric field depends on the strength of the electric field. When cooled with an electric field below the critical value E-t, it is in a single-phase state, and when cooled with an electric field higher than E-t, it is in a frozen glass state. This suggests an interaction between CDW and a well-ordered Te-Te discommensuration network.