Proposed NMR test of strong pinning and phase slip in sliding–charge-density-wave systems

Recent NMR studies of the one-dimensional charge-density-wave materials ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{0.3}$ ${\mathrm{MoO}}_3$ have reported apparently contradictory results for motional narrowing of the charge-density-wave–induced line broadening. A new theoretical model for charge-density-wave motion based on strong pinning and phase slip is found to produce a detailed and quantitative interpretation of all the NMR experiments reported thus far. New behavior is predicted in ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{0.3}$ ${\mathrm{MoO}}_3$ which can provide a definitive test of the theory.