X-ray diffraction study of the metastable charge-density-wave state of K0.3MoO3

The charge-density-wave superlattice peak (0,0.25,5.5) was investigated in the blue bronze K0.3MoO3 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 b*. The broadening develops on a time scale of 500 sec, and it remains unchanged after the field is removed.