Field-Induced Disorder in the Charge-Density-Wave State of K sub (0.30) MoO sub 3

The application of an electric field along the b axis of K sub (0.30) MoO sub 3 in the charge-density-wave (CDW) state causes a metastable loss of transverse order as measured by x-ray diffraction. In contrast, scans parallel to the CDW modulation wave vector are resolution limited with no field-induced change of position or width. These results provide structural evidence for metastable CDW states previously seen in transport measurements.