Short range phase coherence and origin of the 1 T TiSe 2 charge density wave
The impact of variable Ti self doping on the 1T TiSe2 charge density wave (CDW) is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Supported by density functional theory, we show that agglomeration of intercalated Ti atoms acts as preferential nucleation centers for the CDW that breaks up in phase shifted CDW domains whose size directly depends on the intercalated Ti concentration and which are separated by atomically sharp phase boundaries. The close relationship between the diminution of the CDW domain size and the disappearance of the anomalous peak in the temperature dependent resistivity allows to draw a coherent picture of the 1T TiSe2 CDW phase transition and its relation to excitons.