Thermal dynamics of charge density wave pinning in ZrTe3

Abstract

Impurity pinning has long been discussed to have a profound effect on the dynamics of an incommensurate charge density wave (CDW), which would otherwise slide through the lattice without resistance. Here we visualize the impurity pinning evolution of the CDW in ZrTe3 using the variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). At low temperatures, we observe a quasi-1D incommensurate CDW modulation moderately correlated to the impurity positions, indicating a weak impurity pinning. As we raise the sample temperature, the CDW modulation gets progressively weakened and distorted, while the correlation with the impurities becomes stronger. Above the CDW transition temperature, short-range modulations persist with the phase almost all pinned by impurities. The evolution from weak to strong impurity pinning through the CDW transition can be understood as a result of losing phase rigidity.

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• Observation of a Robust Zero-energy Bound State in Iron-based Superconductor Fe(Te,Se)
• Probing topological quantum matter with scanning tunnelling microscopy
• Giant Kohn anomaly and the phase transition in charge density wave ZrTe_3
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• Cluster charge-density-wave glass in hydrogen-intercalated TiSe${}_2$
• Effects of frequency mixing on Shapiro-step formations in sliding charge-density-waves
• Edwards-Anderson parameter and local Ising-nematicity in FeSe revealed via NMR spectral broadening
• Coexistence of stripe order and superconductivity in NaAlSi
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