Narrowband noise study of sliding charge density waves in NbSe3 nanoribbons

Abstract

Transport properties (dc electrical resistivity, threshold electric field, and narrow-band noise) are reported for nanoribbon specimens of NbSe3 with thicknesses as low as 18 nm. As the sample thickness decreases, the resistive anomalies characteristic of the charge density wave (CDW) state are suppressed and the threshold fields for nonlinear CDW conduction apparently diverge. Narrow-band noise measurements allow determination of the concentration of carriers condensed in the CDW state n c, reflective of the CDW order parameter Δ. Although the CDW transition temperatures are relatively independent of sample thickness, in the lower CDW state Δ decreases dramatically with decreasing sample thickness.