Perturbation of charge density waves in 1T-TiSe$_2$

In this study, using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we focus on understanding the native defects in pristine \textit{1T}-TiSe$_2$ at the atomic scale. We probe how they perturb the charge density waves (CDWs) and lead to local domain formation. These defects influence the correlation length of CDWs. We establish a connection between suppression of CDWs, Ti intercalation, and show how this supports the exciton condensation model of CDW formation in \textit{1T}-TiSe$_2$.