# Charge Density Waves: Models, Current Characteristics and Applications

Abstract

This project paper mainly focuses on the physical models and the current characteristics of charge density waves (CDW) in the niobium triselenide (NbSe$$_{3}$$) with anisotropic band structures. The models discussed in this paper are classical single particle transport model (a.k.a. sliding model) and quantum tunneling model. The classical model gives a threshold electric field beyond which the CDW material is a conductor. Finally, CDW effects could be modulated by applying gate voltage, resulting in field-effect CDW transistors.

# Introduction

The idea of charge density waves was first proposed by Frohlich (Frohlich 1954) in 1954. It was not until the late 1970s that CDW phenomenon was investigated and physical models were constructed (Bardeen 1979). Later on, the CDW material was found to have interesting non-linear current response and frequency dependence when applied dc or ac electric fields (Thorne 1996). The electric properties of CDW could be engineered by applying gate voltage to build field-effect CDW electronic devices, which can function as gate-controlled switch (Adelman 1995) and current oscillator (Thorne 1986).

The CDW is produced in some quasi-one-dimensional materials such as niobium triselenide (NbSe$$_3$$) (Fig.1). Electrons in the conduction band of the quasi-one-dimensional structure will undergo phase transition due to the electron-phonon interaction. Pointed out by Peierls in 1955 (Peierls 2001), the conduction electron state is unstable below certain temperature $$T_P$$, also known as Peierls temperature. The ground state is the CDW state which reduces the total electric energy at the cost of small amount of deformation energy of the quasi-one-dimensional lattice. Conducting electrons pile up near the deformation, which might be due to phonon or impurities in the lattice. The charge density varies periodically according to the deformation, producing non-linear current characteristics.

(Jonge 2011)