Electric Field Breakdown of Charge-Density-Wave—Induced Anomalies in NbSe3

Abstract
We report the suppression by electric fields of longitudinal resistivity anomalies at 145 and 59 K in the compound NbSe3. Sample resistance was determined by conventional four-probe dc measurement as well as with short current pulses. We attribute the observed suppression to Zener breakdown across extremely small gaps introduced by the presence of charge density waves.