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Doping-induced nematic and stripe orders within the charge density wave state of
Phys. Rev. B 112, 165119 – Published 14 October, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/1nxh-3v88
Abstract
In this work, we present a theory to address conflicting experimental claims regarding the charge density wave (CDW) state in , including whether there is single or multiple CDW transitions and whether threefold rotation symmetry () is broken. Using a continuum model coupled to the CDW order parameter, we show how commonplace conduction band doping induces a nematic transition from a -symmetric CDW to a -breaking CDW, which is favored by the large ellipticity of the conduction bands of . We also find that a stripe CDW is generically stabilized for sufficiently high electron doping. We then show how both stripe and nematic CDW states emerge self-consistently from a minimal interacting tight-binding model for both positive and negative initial gaps. Our theory provides a scenario in which, as temperature is lowered, a second -breaking transition may occur or not, depending on the doping level, potentially explaining the experimental variability. These predictions can be further verified with a variety of probes including transport, photoemission, and tunneling.