Periodic lattice distortions and charge density waves in one-and two-dimensional metals

Overview & Synopsis

At low temperatures, low-dimensional metals are commonly found to exhibit superlattices incommensurate with the primitive lattice (periodic lattice distortion coupled to charge density waves, PLD-CDW). Transitions to such states are driven by strong electronphonon coupling and favoured by the particular forms of the Fermi surface of these metals. Experimental investigations of the structural distortions, and of the changes in electronic structure around the Fermi level produced by the PLD-CDW state, will be discussed for the layered dichalcogenides, the linear chain platinum complex KCP, and the organic charge transfer salts.