Sliding charge-density waves as a dynamic critical phenomenon

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Abstract
The dynamic properties of sliding charge-density waves are discussed in terms of a classical description of impurity pinning, with emphasis on the behavior near threshold considered as a dynamic critical phenomenon. A mean-field model introduced previously [Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 1486 (1983)] is analyzed in detail, including ac response above and below threshold and hysteretic behavior below threshold. For short-range interactions, the weak-pinning limit is discussed and scaling behavior is predicted near threshold. The earlier prediction of ac noise with intensity inversely proportional to the square root of the volume with a diverging amplitude near threshold caused by a diverging correlation length is analyzed in terms of the scaling behavior; this interpretation of the noise is semiquantitatively confirmed by recent experiments of Mozurkewich and Grüner [Phys. Rev. Lett. 51→, 2206 (1983)]. Many of the ideas presented here may be applicable to other systems, especially weakly pinned flux flow in type-II superconductors.