Theory of plastic flows of CDWs in application to the current conversion

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding plastic deformations in sliding charge density waves, focusing on phase slips and dislocation dynamics, supported by simulations and experimental comparisons.

Contribution

It introduces a new theoretical model for plastic flows in charge density waves during current conversion, incorporating dislocation mechanisms and phase slip processes.

Findings

Dislocation creation and proliferation are key to phase slips.

The model aligns with space-resolved X-ray, optical, and multi-contact experimental data.

Numerical simulations support the theoretical predictions.

Abstract

We suggest a theoretical picture for distributions of plastic deformations experienced by a sliding Charge Density Wave in the course of the conversion from the normal current at the contact to the collective one in the bulk. Several mechanisms of phase slips via creation and proliferation of dislocations are compared. The results are applied to space resolved X-ray, multi-contact and optical studies. Numerical simulations are combined with model independent relations.