Electronic Crystal Growth

Abstract

In this chapter, we focus not on the charge-glass state itself but on the transforming process from charge glass into charge order, that is, electronic crystal growth. First, time dependence of resistivity during the process is measured. We found that obtained crystallization time can be well described by dome-like structure called Time-Temperature-Transformation (T-T-T) curve. It provides a strong evidence for the existence of two distinct processes in electronic crystal growth; nucleation and growth. Furthermore, NMR measurements, which serve as a probe of local charge density profile, give us the remarkable data that the intermediate states different from both initial charge-glass and final charge-ordered states are formed before the formation of true charge ordering near T _g . It is reminiscent of two-step nucleation discussed intensively in classical colloidal system, indicating the universality of such novel nucleation process.