Radio‐Frequency‐Driven Modulation of the Mesoscale Charge‐Density‐Wave Landscape in 1T‐TaS ₂ Thin Films

ABSTRACT

Radio‐frequency excitation directly modulates the mesoscale charge–density‐wave landscape in quasi‐two‐dimensional 1T‐TaS _2​ thin films. Under combined RF and DC bias, the hysteretic current–voltage characteristics associated with the nearly commensurate–incommensurate transition are strongly altered, displaying RF‐driven collapse, branching, and multiple step‐like features that depend on frequency and drive amplitude. In situ Raman measurements show enhanced intensity and linewidth narrowing of low‐frequency CDW phonon modes, consistent with reduced dephasing and increased coherence of the periodic lattice distortion under RF drive. This behavior is captured by a combined overdamped time‐dependent Ginzburg–Landau description of the commensurate CDW and a morphology‐informed percolative resistor‐capacitor transport model. The Ginzburg–Landau model output is consistent with a scenario in which RF excitation anneals frustrated domain configurations, reduces domain‐wall density, and reorganizes the discommensuration network. The resulting morphology defines the circuit model, which reproduces the resulting hysteresis, avalanche‐like pathways, and RF‐induced conductance steps. RF driving therefore provides an effective route for controlling the current‐voltage response originating from the nearly commensurate–incommensurate transition with applications to CDW oscillator networks and harmonic generation.