Journal Article

IMPULSE-2026-00113

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Evolution of charge density wave soft phonon modes in Pd$_{x}$ ErTe$_{3}$

Maity, A. (Corresponding author) ; Rosenkranz, S. ; Osborn, R. ; Heid, R. ; Said, A. H. ; Alatas, A. ; Straquadine, J. A. W. ; Krogstad, M. J. ; Singh, A. G. ; Fisher, I. R. ; Weber, F.

2026
Inst. Woodbury, NY

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/7ky1-nmyx

Abstract: We investigated the lattice dynamics of quasi-two-dimensional Pd-intercalated ErTe3 in relation to its charge-density-wave (CDW) transitions by means of x-ray diffuse and meV-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering. In pristine ErTe3 , CDW order develops at orthogonal in-plane wave vectors q𝑐1=(0,0,0.29) (the 𝑐−CDW) and q𝑎2=(0.31,0,0) (the 𝑎−CDW), with transition temperatures 𝑇𝑐1=270K and 𝑇𝑎2=160K, respectively. Remarkably, we observe diffuse x-ray scattering already near the higher transition temperature 𝑇𝑐1 along 𝑎−CDW but at a slightly different wave vector q𝑎1=(0.29,0,0). Inelastic x-ray scattering for Pd0.01⁢ErTe3 shows that a partial phonon softening at q𝑎1, underscoring the strong competition between ordering tendencies along the nearly equivalent in-plane axes of the orthorhombic lattice. For intercalation levels 𝑥≥0.02, the 𝑎−CDW state is suppressed. Nevertheless, a similar correlation between phonon softening and diffuse scattering persists along the [100] direction, again observed at q𝑎1=(0.29,0,0) and 𝑇𝑐1. These findings suggest that the 𝑎−CDW is fully suppressed for 𝑥≥0.02, and that the residual diffuse scattering at q𝑎1 originates from the partial phonon softening associated with the 𝑐−CDW, reflected by the near equality of the absolute size of q𝑐1 and q𝑎1.

Keyword(s): Basic research (1st) ; Condensed Matter Physics (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. PUMA (PUMA)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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