Mechanically induced Shapiro steps: Enormous effect of vibrations on the charge-density wave transport

Charge-density wave (CDW) transport is studied in the whiskers of orthorhombic TaS3 suspended between piezoelectric actuators. It is found that when the frequency of rf voltage applied to the actuators coincides with a vibration resonance of the whisker, the I–V curves show Shapiro-step-like features, similar with those under rf voltage applied directly to the sample. We provide evidence that the features observed are coupled with the periodic lattice deformation. The effect of vibrations appears surprisingly strong: a time-dependent strain not exceeding 10−4 results in a periodic stop of the CDW. The result suggests an area of electromechanical effects inherent to sliding CDWs.