Sliding Density Wave in Sr ₁₄ Cu ₂₄ O ₄₁ Ladder Compounds

Abstract

We used transport and Raman scattering measurements to identify the insulating state of self-doped spin (1/2) two-leg ladders of Sr14Cu24O41 as a weakly pinned, sliding density wave with nonlinear conductivity and a giant dielectric response that persists to remarkably high temperatures.