Voltage induced metal-insulator transition in a one dimensional charge density wave

We present a theoretical investigation of the voltage-driven metal insulator transition based on solving coupled Boltzmann and Hartree-Fock equations to determine the insulating gap and the electron distribution in a model system – a one dimensional charge density wave. Electric fields that are parametrically small relative to energy gaps can shift the electron distribution away from the momentum-space region where interband relaxation is efficient, leading to a highly non-equilibrium quasiparticle distribution even in the absence of Zener tunneling. The gap equation is found to have regions of multistability; a non-equilibrium analog of the free energy is constructed and used to determine which phase is preferred.