Figure 1

Microscopic amplitude soliton in a quasi-1D CDW system. 9a) STM image of the ($\mathit{b}$, $\mathit{c}$) plane of ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_3$ measured at 83 K showing the ${\mathit{q}}_1$ CDW superlattice ($22\times 22{\mathrm{nm}}^2$, $V=-0.3\mathrm{V}$, $I=0.1\mathrm{nA}$) The bright regular protrusions represent the ${\mathit{q}}_1$ CDW maxima. The blue rectangle indicates the CDW superlattice unit cell. In the center of the image an extra CDW period is observed (inside the ellipse) at the location of which an amplitude soliton (AS) is trapped. (b) Profiles extracted along the chain carrying the AS (in black) and along its neighboring chains (1RNN: 1st right nearest-neighbor (NN), 3RNN: 3rd right nearest-neighbor). At the AS center, the CDW amplitude is strongly reduced and dephased by $1/2$ of the period with respect to the unperturbed profile on the neighboring chains. (c) Modeling with the Eq. (1) of the AS (simu), centered at the position of the minimum amplitude of the CDW and compared to the experimental AS profile. (d) Enlargement around the AS viewed in three dimensions with perspective, rotated by 90 degrees with respect to Fig. 1a. The chain carrying the AS is along the arrow.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

1D Friedel oscillations in a quasi-1D CDW system. (a) STM image of the ($\mathit{b}$, $\mathit{c}$) plane of ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_3$ measured at 110 K showing a defect indicated by a circle giving rise to 1D Friedel oscillations (FO) ($V=-0.3\mathrm{V}$, $I=0.1\mathrm{nA}$). (b) Corresponding profiles along the chain hosting the defect (FO) and along the first left-nearest-neighbor (1LNN) and third right-nearest-neighbor (3RNN) of this defected chain. Inset: Theoretical profile of a pure Friedel oscillation in presence of the CDW which modulation is recovered after a few CDW periods.Reuse & Permissions