X-ray diffraction study of the metastable charge-density-wave state ofK0.3MoO3

The charge-density-wave superlattice peak (0,0.25,5.5) was investigated in the blue bronze ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.3}$ ${\mathrm{MoO}}_3$ at 10 K. The width of the peak is resolution limited for samples cooled in zero field. Application of an electric field of 24 V/cm causes a broadening of the diffraction peak width in directions both parallel and perpendicular to the chain direction ${\mathrm{b}}^{\mathrm{*}}$. The broadening develops on a time scale of ∼500 sec, and it remains unchanged after the field is removed.