Melting of unidirectional charge density waves across twin domain boundaries in GdTe${}_3$

Abstract

Solids undergoing a transition from order to disorder experience the proliferation of topological defects. The melting process generates transient quantum states. However, their dynamical nature with femtosecond lifetime hinders exploration with atomic precision. Here, we suggest an alternative approach to the dynamical melting process by focusing on the interface created by competing degenerate quantum states. We use a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to visualize the unidirectional charge density wave (CDW) and its spatial progression ("static melting") across a twin domain boundary (TDB) in the layered material GdTe${}_3$. Combining STM with a spatial lock-in technique, we reveal that the order parameter amplitude attenuates with the formation of dislocations and thus two different unidirectional CDWs coexist near the TDB, reducing the CDW anisotropy. Notably, we discover a correlation between this anisotropy and the CDW gap. Our study provides valuable insight into the behavior of topological defects and transient quantum states.

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Atomic-Scale Visualization of a Cascade of Magnetic Orders in the Layered Antiferromagnet $GdT{e}_3$
• Magnetic field control over the axialness of Higgs modes in charge-density wave compounds
• Identification of metastable lattice distortion free charge density wave at photoinduced interface via TRARPES
• Energetically Favored One-Dimensional Moiré Superstructure in the Pseudo-Square Lattice GdTe3