Deformation of sliding charge density wave in Rb0.3MoO3

Abstract

The correlation length of the charge density wave ordering in Rb0.3, MoO, has been studied by x-ray diffraction under electric field applied along the one-dimensional axis. The (10, 0.25, -5.5) satellite reflection has been measured in 3D, using high Q-resolution available at the ESRF. Under electrical field, the satellite reaches two stable positions depending on the temperature. It can switch from one to another as a function of the temperature and the current with very long relaxation times ($\rm 10^{th}$ of minutes). After several cycling with T and E, the satellite reflection is found to shift in the 3 main directions. The width of the satellite is reduced by a factor of two in the k-direction and an increase of the transverse correlation length is observed in the two others: the ordered domains look elongated, reaching until 5000 Å in the direction of the applied field and around 1OOO Å, in the perpendicular directions.