The charge density wave transition is investigated in the bilayer family of rare-earth tritelluride $R{\mathrm{Te}}_3$ compounds ($R=\mathrm{Sm}$, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) via high-resolution x-ray diffraction and electrical resistivity. The transition temperature increases monotonically with increasing lattice parameter from $244\left(3\right)\mathrm{K}$ for $\mathrm{Tm}{\mathrm{Te}}_3$ to $416\left(3\right)\mathrm{K}$ for $\mathrm{Sm}{\mathrm{Te}}_3$. The heaviest members of the series, $R=\mathrm{Dy}$, Ho, Er, and Tm, are observed to have a second transition at a lower temperature, which marks the onset of an additional charge density wave with wave vector almost equal in magnitude to the first, but oriented in the perpendicular direction.

• Received 31 May 2007
• Accepted 9 October 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.77.035114