Temperature-gradient-induced open-circuit electric currents in charge-density-wave condensates

We have induced nonlinear conduction and current oscillations in the charge-density-wave state of o-TaS3 in an open-circuit (I=0) configuration using a temperature gradient to generate thermal voltages exceeding a threshold. The above features are associated with a current carried by the condensate which is compensated by a normal current in the opposite direction. Our experiments provide the first clear observation of decoupled motion of the condensed and uncondensed electrons in solids with a charge-density-wave ground state.