Abstract
A CHARGE density wave (CDW) is a periodic symmetry-lowering redistribution of charge within a material, accompanied by a rearrangement of electronic bands (such that the total electronic energy is decreased) and usually a small periodic lattice distortion1,2. This phenomenon is most commonly observed in crystals of reduced symmetry, such as quasi-two-dimensional3 or quasi-one-dimensional4 materials. In principle, the reduction of symmetry associated with surfaces and interfaces might also facilitate the formation of CDWs; although there is some indirect evidence for surface charge density waves5–12,14, none has been observed directly. Here we report the observation and characterization of a reversible, temperature-induced CDW localized at the lead-coated (111) surface of a germanium crystal. The formation of this new phase is accompanied by significant periodic valence-charge redistribution, a pronounced lattice distortion and a metal–nonmetal transition. Theoretical calculations confirm that electron–phonon coupling drives the transition to the CDW, but it appears that some other factor—probably electron–electron correlations—is responsible for the ground-state stability of this phase.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tosatti, E. Electronic Surface and Interface States on Metallic Systems (eds Bertel, E. and Donath, M.) (World Scientific, Singapore, 1995).
Tosatti, E. Festkorperprobeleme 15, 113–147 (1975).
Wilson, J. A., DiSalvo, F. J. & Mahajan, S. Phys. Rev. Lett. 32, 882–885 (1974).
Grüner, G. Density Waves in Solids (Addison Wesley, Reading, MA, 1994).
Felter, T. E., Barker, R. A. & Estrup, P. J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 38, 1138–1141 (1977).
Debe, M. K. & King, D. A. J. Phys. C: Solid St. Phys. 10, L303–L308 (1977).
Wang, X. W. & Webber, W. Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 1452–1455 (1987).
Tosatti, E. Solid St. Commun. 25, 637–640 (1978).
Wang, C. Z., Fasolino, A. & Tosatti, E. Phys. Rev. B37, 2116–2122 (1988).
Wang, X. W., Chan, C. T., Ho, K. M. & Webber, W. Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 2066–2069 (1988).
Fasolino, A. & Tosatti, E. Phys. Rev. B35, 4264–4283 (1987).
Hoffmann, F. M. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1256–1259 (1994).
Peierls, R. E. Quantum Theory of Solids (Clarendon, Oxford, 1955).
Binnis, C. & Norris, C. J. Phys.: Cond. Matt. 3, 5425–5436 (1991).
Métois, J. J. & LeLay, G. Surf. Sci. 133, 422–442 (1983).
Huang, H., Wei, C. M., Li, H., Tonner, B. & Tong, S. Y. Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 559–562 (1989).
Feidenhans'l, R., Pedersen, J. S., Nielsen, M., Grey, F. & Johnson, R. L. Surf. Sci. 178, 927–933 (1986).
Seehofer, L., Falkenberg, G. & Johnson, R. L. Surf. Sci. 290, 15–25 (1993).
Ancilotto, F., Selloni, A. & Car, R. Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 3685–3688 (1993).
Crommie, M. F., Lutz, C. P. & Eigler, D. M. Nature 363, 524–527 (1993).
Carlisle, J. A., Miller, T. & Chiang, T.-C. Phys. Rev. B47, 3790–3796 (1993), Phys. Rev. B47, 10342–10347 (1993).
Rice, M. J. in Low-Dimensional Co-operative Phenomena (ed. Keller, H. J.) 29 (Plenum, New York, 1975).
Carpinelli, J. M. & Weitering, H. H. Phys. Rev. B53, 12651–12654 (1996).
Stumpf, R. & Scheffler, M. Phys. Rev. B53, 4958–4971 (1996).
Overhauser, A. W. Phys. Rev. 128, 1437–1452 (1962); Phys. Rev. 128, 691–698 (1968).
Fazekas, P. & Tosatti, E. Phil. Mag. 39, 229–244 (1979).
Han, W., Hunt, E. R., Pankratov, O. & Frindt, R. F. Phys. Rev. B50, 1476–14749 (1994).
Coleman, R. V. et al. Adv. in Phys. 37, 559–644 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carpinelli, J., Weitering, H., Plummer, E. et al. Direct observation of a surface charge density wave. Nature 381, 398–400 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/381398a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/381398a0
This article is cited by
-
Modeling of networks and globules of charged domain walls observed in pump and pulse induced states
Scientific Reports (2018)
-
Hidden phase in a two-dimensional Sn layer stabilized by modulation hole doping
Nature Communications (2017)
-
Uncertainty principle for experimental measurements: Fast versus slow probes
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
Microscopic dynamics of synchronization in driven colloids
Nature Communications (2015)
-
Charge-order fluctuations in one-dimensional silicides
Nature Materials (2008)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
