%0 Journal Article
%T Hidden Charge Order and Multiple Electronic Instabilities in EuTe4.
%A Xiao K
%A Dong WH
%A Wang X
%A Yu J
%A Fu D
%A Hu Z
%A Guo Y
%A Zhang Q
%A Hou X
%A Guo Y
%A Yang L
%A Xu Y
%A Tang P
%A Duan W
%A Xue Q
%A Li W
%J Nano Lett
%V 24
%N 25
%D 2024 Jun 26
%M 38874562
%F 12.262
%R 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01588
%X The rare-earth telluride compound EuTe4 exhibits a charge density wave (CDW) and an unconventional thermal hysteresis transition. Herein, we report a comprehensive study of the CDW states in EuTe4 by using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Two types of charge orders are observed at 4 K, including a newly discovered spindle-shaped pattern and a typical stripe-like pattern. As an exotic charge order, the spindle-shaped CDW is off-axis and barely visible at 77 K, indicating that it is a hidden order developed at low temperature. Based on our first-principles calculations, we reveal the origins of the observed electronic instabilities. The spindle-shaped charge order stems from a subsequent transition based on the stripe-like CDW phase. Our work demonstrates that the competition and cooperation between multiple charge orders can generate exotic quantum phases.