Field-induced charge-density-wave transitions in the organic metal $\alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$KHg(SCN)$_4$ under hydrostatic pressure

TL;DR

This study investigates how hydrostatic pressure and magnetic fields induce and modulate charge-density-wave transitions in the organic conductor $ ext{α}$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$KHg(SCN)$_4$, revealing complex phase behavior and supporting existing theories.

Contribution

It demonstrates the orbital effect of magnetic fields restoring CDW states under pressure and observes high-temperature hysteretic transitions, advancing understanding of field-induced CDW phenomena.

Findings

Magnetic field restores CDW under pressure.

Orbital quantization induces different CDW states.

Hysteretic first order transitions occur at higher temperatures.

Abstract

Successive magnetic-field-induced charge-density-wave transitions in the molecular conductor $\alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$KHg(SCN)$_4$ are studied in the hydrostatic pressure regime, in which the zero field charge-density wave (CDW)state is completely suppressed. The orbital effect of the magnetic field is demonstrated to restore the density wave, while the orbital quantization induces different CDW states in different field intervals. In particular, we have found that at certain field orientations the hysteretic first order transitions between field-induced CDW subphases become visible at much higher temperatures. This observation is very well in line with the existing theories of field-induced CDW transitions.