Charge density wave in a transverse electric field

A transverse electric field (a field perpendicular to the quasi-one-dimensi onal conducting chains) applied to a charge density wave (CDW) has similari ties with a magnetic field applied to a superconductor: both cause frustrat ion in the ordered state and, thus, can induce various intriguing states. W e study the equilibrium states of CDW in a transverse electric field employ ing Ginzburg-Landau type effective free energy of the ordered state. We fou nd that there are two types of CDW, corresponding to type-I and type-II sup erconductivity: in type-I CDW, the order is completely destroyed in the sur face region as we increase the transverse field, whereas in type-II CDW the dislocations (topological defects) are created, thus avoiding the complete destruction of the order. We discuss the condition for type-I and type-II CDW.