Journal article
Observation of a hidden charge density wave liquid
Nature physics, v 22, pp 68-74
2026
Featured in Collection : Drexel's Newest Publications
Abstract
Charge density waves, electronic crystals that form within a host solid, have long been theorized to melt into a spatially textured electronic liquid. Although such liquid charge density waves have not been previously observed, they may be central to the phase diagrams of correlated electron systems, including high-temperature superconductors and quantum Hall states. In 1T-TaS2, a promising material for hosting a liquid charge density wave, a structural phase transition hinders observation. Here we use femtosecond light pulses to bypass this transition, revealing how topological defect dynamics govern hidden charge density wave correlations. Following photoexcitation, charge density wave diffraction peaks broaden azimuthally, indicating the emergence of a hexatic state. At elevated temperatures, photoexcitation fully destroys both translational and orientational orders, leaving only a ring of diffuse scattering—the hallmark of a liquid charge density wave. These findings offer compelling evidence for a defect-unbinding transition to a charge density wave liquid. More broadly, this approach demonstrates a route to uncover electronic phases obscured by intervening transitions in thermal equilibrium.
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Details
- Title
- Observation of a hidden charge density wave liquid
- Creators
- Joshua S.H. Lee - University of California, Los AngelesThomas M. Sutter - University of California, Los AngelesGoran Karapetrov - Drexel UniversityPietro Musumeci - University of California, Los AngelesAnshul Kogar (Corresponding Author) - University of California, Los Angeles
- Publication Details
- Nature physics, v 22, pp 68-74
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105026507703
- Other Identifier
- 991022152824804721