Measurement of the dynamic charge susceptibility near the charge density wave transition in ErTe₃.

ABSTRACT: A charge density wave (CDW) is a phase of matter characterized by a periodic modulation of valence electron density coupled with lattice distortion. Its formation is closely tied to the dynamical charge susceptibility, [Formula: see text], which reflects the collective electron dynamics of the material. Despite decades of study, [Formula: see text] near a CDW transition has never been measured at nonzero momentum, [Formula: see text], with meV energy resolution. Here, we investigate the canonical CDW transition in ErTe[Formula: see text] using momentum-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy, a technique uniquely sensitive to valence band charge excitations. Unlike phonons, which soften via the Kohn anomaly, we find the electronic excitations exhibit purely relaxational dynamics well de

SUBMITTER: Chaudhuri D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12207415 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature