Self-detection of mechanical oscillations of charge-density wave conductors

Heterodyne mixing technique with frequency modulation is applied for detection of torsional resonances of whiskers of orthorhombic TaS3—a typical quasi one-dimensional conductor with charge-density wave (CDW). In contrast to the previous applications of this technique, both actuation (the torque) and detection (torsional modulation of current) are based on the intrinsic properties of the CDW systems and do not require positioning of the sample in vicinity of a gating electrode. The technique allows studies of electromechanical and elastic properties of the CDW systems at the MHz range at least.