Peierls fluctuations in the electron system of a quasi-one-dimensional solid

The physics of the Peierls compound NbSe3 is elucidated by mapping of the electron bands obtained from angle-resolved photoemission, We present experimental data on the Fermi level crossing responsible for the charge density wave along the one-dimensional axis. The data are consistent with a density functional calculation of the Fermi surfaces. The instability with periodicity q = 0.44 Angstrom(-1) induces a backfolding of the electron bands in the nominally metallic state high above the critical temperature of 145 K.