J.W. Brill

Electromodulated infrared transmission spectra of blue bronze

Abstract:The infrared transmission of the quasi-one dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) conductor blue bronze (K0.3MoO3) is affected by polarization of the CDW, and therefore by application of a voltage near or above the threshold for CDW depinning. In this paper, we compare the spectra associated with the relative change in transmission taken for different temperatures and oscillating voltages. We find that the phonon spectrum is affected by CDW polarization; the linewidths or frequencies of most phonons change by cm-1. However, no new intragap states that can be associated with current injection are observed; i.e. the spectra associated with polarization of the CDW in the crystal bulk is identical to that associated with CDW current injection near the contacts. Our results indicate that, for light polarized perpendicular to the conducting chains, the density (n), cross-section , and bandwidth of intragap states are related by: n (Åcm-1)-1. For expected values of the cross-section and bandwidth, this implies that the intragap states can be optically excited for a time less than s.

Electro-reflectance spectra of blue bronze

Abstract.We show that the infrared reflectance of the quasi-one dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) conductor K0.3MoO3 (blue bronze) varies with position when a voltage greater than the CDW depinning threshold is applied. The spatial dependence and spectra associated with these changes are generally as expected from the electro-transmission [B.M. Emerling, et al., Eur. Phys. J. B 16, 295 (2000)], but there are differences which might be associated with changes in the CDW properties on the surface. We have examined the electro-reflectance spectrum associated with CDW current investigation for light polarized parallel to the conducting chains for signs of expected current-induced intragap states, and conclude that the density of any such states is at least an order of magnitude less than expected.