Voltage induced metal-insulator transition in a one dimensional charge density wave

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores how voltage can induce a transition from metal to insulator in a one-dimensional charge density wave system, revealing non-equilibrium effects and multistability.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled Boltzmann and Hartree-Fock framework to analyze voltage-driven transitions in 1D charge density waves, highlighting non-equilibrium quasiparticle distributions.

Findings

Voltage can induce a metal-insulator transition without Zener tunneling.

Non-equilibrium quasiparticle distributions can occur at small electric fields.

Multiple stable phases exist, with a non-equilibrium free energy guiding phase preference.

Abstract

We present a theoretical investigation of the voltage-driven metal insulator transition based on solving coupled Boltzmann and Hartree-Fock equations to determine the insulating gap and the electron distribution in a model system -- a one dimensional charge density wave. Electric fields that are parametrically small relative to energy gaps can shift the electron distribution away from the momentum-space region where interband relaxation is efficient, leading to a highly non-equilibrium quasiparticle distribution even in the absence of Zener tunneling. The gap equation is found to have regions of multistability; a non-equilibrium analog of the free energy is constructed and used to determine which phase is preferred.