Spatial uctuations of spin density wave (SDW) and charge density wave (CDW) in chromium have been compared by combining coherent and simultaneous X-ray diffraction experiments. Despite their close relationship, spatial fluctuations of the spin and of the charge density waves display a very different behavior: the satellite reflection associated to the charge density displays speckles while the spin one displays an impressive long-range order. This observation is hardly compatible with the commonly accepted magneto-elastic origin of CDW in chromium and is more consistent with a purely electronic scenario where CDW is the second harmonic of SDW. A BCS model taking into account a second order nesting predicts correctly the existence of a CDW and explains why the CDW is more sensitive to punctual defects.
@article{arxiv.1405.0738,
title = {Charge and Spin Density Waves observed through their spatial fluctuations by coherent and simultaneous X-ray diffraction},
author = {V. L. R. Jacques and E. Pinsolle and S. Ravy and G. Abramovici and David Le Bolloc'h},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1405.0738},
year = {2025}
}