A periodic modulation of electronic charge density, often coupled to a lattice distortion. In a one-dimensional metal, a Peierls distortion with can open a gap at opposite Fermi points, lowering the occupied electron energy at an elastic energy cost. A charge modulation and a spin density wave are distinct: the latter can modulate spin while leaving the total charge nearly uniform.
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A charge density wave (CDW) is a phenomenon observed in some materials, particularly in low-dimensional systems, where the electronic charge density becomes modulated in a periodic manner. This modulation effectively induces a spatial structure in the distribution of charge carriers, leading to regions of higher and lower charge density over specific distances. CDWs are often associated with materials that exhibit strong electron-electron interactions and can result in collective state behaviors, similar to those seen in other ordered phases such as superconductivity or magnetism.