Thermally Stimulated Depolarization of the Charge-Density Wave inK0.3MoO3

We have found that ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$Mo${\mathrm{O}}_3$ acts as a current source on heating after the charge-density wave has been frozen into a metastable state by cooling to 4.2 K in the presence of small electric fields. The current emitted is dependent on the magnitude of the field applied on cooling, reflecting differences in the frozen-in metastable states. The relaxation of the charge-density wave from its metastable state is thermally activated and occurs with a distribution of relaxation times.