Is the ground state of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2MHg(SCN)4[M=K,Rb,Tl] a charge-density wave or a spin-density wave?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the low-temperature phase of certain quasi-two-dimensional conductors is a charge-density wave or a spin-density wave, concluding that experimental evidence favors a charge-density wave ground state.

Contribution

The study provides a theoretical analysis of the phase diagram in magnetic fields supporting the charge-density wave hypothesis and proposes new experiments to further test this.

Findings

Magnetic field dependence aligns with charge-density wave behavior

Ginzburg-Landau theory models the phase diagram effectively

Proposes experiments to detect high field phase

Abstract

The nature of the low-temperature phase of the quasi-two-dimensional conductors $\alpha-(BEDT-TTF)_2{M}Hg(SCN)_4$[{M}=K,Rb,Tl] is considered. It is argued that the magnetic field dependence of the phase diagram is more consistent with a charge-density wave, rather than a spin-density wave ground state. The phase diagram of a charge-density wave in a magnetic field is discussed using a Ginzburg-Landau free energy derived from microscopic theory. New experiments are proposed to test the charge-density-wave hypothesis and detect an additional high field phase.