374 Ch.

7 Itinerant Electron Magnetism

+
Figure 7.4: The nesting condition ~ ( kq ) = -€(A) is fulfilled in the energy range
where we can linearize the spectrum about the Ferrni points f k ~ .

It is clear from Fig. 7.4 that in one-dimension, an approximate

nesting situation is present for arbitrary band filling, and we can use
our theory to describe a weak SDW with q = 2 k ~ .The effective field
contains a Fourier component with q = 2 q ~ and , it opens a gap at
the Fermi points. It is remarkable that a metal-insulator transition is
predicted to happen at arbitrary band filling. Notice, however, that this
statement does not hold for higher dimensions.
The best candidates for the observation of SDWs are quasi-one-
dimensional systems which consist of weakly coupled conducting chains.
To cite a well-studied example, consider the organic charge transfer salt
(TMTSF)~PFG [138]. It can be regarded as an array of approximately
quarter-filled Hubbard chains, thus it is a metal though it does not
contain metal atoms at all. The substance develops SDW order a t
TN= 11.5K and at the same time, it undergoes a metal-insulator tran-
sition. Both the low critical temperature, and the small value of the
T = 0 ordered moment 0 . 0 8 show
N ~ ~ that we have to do with a weak-
coupling SDW. Can one observe the order directly? The straightforward
method would magnetic neutron scattering, but the small saturation
moment, and the small sample size make this option look pretty hope-
less. Fortunately, upon the application of an external magnetic field Ho,
-
the SDW gives rise to a modulation Ho cos qr of the internal field, and
this can be detected by the sensitive techniques of nuclar magnetic res-
onance (NMR) and muon spin resonance (pSR) [138]. The temperature
dependence of the order parameter is shown in Fig. 7.5. Considering
that m ( T )cx A(T), it is comforting to see that the measured behaviour