Plasmon Mode Modifies the Elastic Response of a Nanoscale Charge Density Wave System

Abstract

The elastic response of suspended NbSe₃ nanowires is studied across the charge density wave phase transition. The nanoscale dimensions of the resonator lead to a large resonant frequency (∼10–100  MHz), bringing the excited phonon frequency in close proximity of the plasmon mode of the electronic condensate—a parameter window not accessible in bulk systems. The interaction between the phonon and plasmon modes strongly modifies the elastic properties at high frequencies. This is manifested in the nanomechanics of the system as a sharp peak in the temperature dependence of the elastic modulus (relative change of 12.8%) in the charge density wave phase.