Tunable charge-density wave transport in a current-effect transistor

The collective charge-density wave (CDW) conduction is modulated by a trans verse single-particle current in a transistorlike device. Nonequilibrium co nditions in this geometry lead to an exponential reduction of the depinning threshold, allowing the CDWs to slide at much lower bias fields. The resul ts are in excellent agreement with a recently proposed dynamical model in w hich "wrinkles" in the CDW wave fronts are "ironed" by the transverse curre nt. The experiment might have important implications for other driven perio dic media, such as moving vortex lattices or "striped phases" in high-T-C s uperconductors.