CHARGE DENSITY WAVE PROPERTIES OF MOLYBDENUM BRONZES

Abstract

The physical properties of the low dimensional molybdenum bronzes showing charge density wave (CDW) instabilities are reviewed. The mechanisms of the Peierls transition, CDW and spin density wave (SDW) instabilities are first introduced. The properties of the quasi-one-dimensional (1D) blue bronze, A 0.30 MoO 3, including non linear transport due to the depinning of the incommensurate CDW, are described. The transport properties and the effect of pressure on the superconducting properties of the quasi-1D Li purple bronze Li 0.9 Mo 6 O 17 are reported. Finally, one presents the properties of the commensurate CDW state of the quasi-2D purple bronze KMo 6 O 17, especially under high magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure.