Dynamical transition in sliding charge-density waves with quenched disorder

We have studied numerically the dynamics of sliding charge-density waves (CDW’s) in the presence of impurities in d=1,2. The model considered exhibits a first-order dynamical transition at a critical driving force ${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{c}}$ between ‘‘rough’’ (disorder dominated) (F<${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{c}}$) and ‘‘flat’’ (F>${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{c}}$) sliding phases where disorder is washed out by the external drive. The effective model for the sliding CDW’s in the presence of impurities can be mapped onto that of a magnetic flux line pinned by columnar defects and tilted by an applied field. The dynamical transition of sliding CDW’s corresponds to the transverse Meissner effect of the tilted flux line. © 1996 The American Physical Society.