Dynamics of charge-density waves pinned by impurities

Abstract

A model for the dynamics of a one-dimensional charge-density-wave system pinned by quenched, randomly distributed impurities is analyzed. The ac conductivity $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ associated with this model is calculated exactly in the limit of infinitely strong coupling between the charge-density wave and the impurities. In the limit of zero dissipation, the conductivity is found to exhibit devil's-staircase features, which are washed out when dissipation is introduced.