Strain probing of low-temperature conductivity anomalies of a charge density wave in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor orthorhombic TaS3

Problem formulating. It is known that with elongation above the critical εc ~ 0.7% of whiskers of the quasi-one-dimensional conductor orthorhombic TaS3with a charge density wave (CDW), a CDW transitions to a new state with a high degree of CDW coherence is observed. In addition, it is known that in TaS3 the properties of CDWs below a temperature of ~ 90 K change qualitatively. At the moment, there is no single explanation for these phenomena.

Goal. Study of the transition from “normal” to “ultracoherent” (UC) state of CDW at temperatures below 90 K

Result. The conductivity of TaS3 samples was studied depending on the electric field and uniaxial tension in a wide temperature range. It was found that, if the CDW transitions into the UC state at εc above 90 K occurs almost stepwise, then below 90 K the transition occurs with the formation of an intermediate state in which nonlinear conductivity is practically not observed. It is concluded that the CDW at low temperatures is spatially inhomogeneous deformed.

Practical meaning. It is shown that the uniaxial tension technique allows one to determine the structure of CDW in stretched and not stretched whiskers, which can be used in studies of the electromechanical properties of compounds with CDW.