Transversely Driven Charge-Density Waves and Striped Phases of High-TcSuperconductors: The Current-Effect Transistor

We show that a normal (single particle) current density $J_x$ transverse to the ordering wave vector ${2k}_F\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ of a charge-density wave (CDW) has dramatic effects both above and below the CDW depinning transition. It exponentially (in $J_x$) enhances CDW correlations and exponentially suppresses the longitudinal depinning field. The intermediate longitudinal $I-V$ relation also changes, acquiring a linear regime. We propose a novel “current-effect transistor” whose CDW channel is turned on by a transverse current. Our results also have important implications for the recently proposed “striped phase” of the high- $T_c$ superconductors.