Theory of size effects in depinning of charge-density waves

The theory of depinning of charge-density waves by quantum tunneling that has been applied successfully to bulk specimens (3D) is extended to specimens where one or more of the transverse dimensions becomes less than bulk transverse phase-coherence distance. Results for threshold fields, E_T, derived by McCarten et al. for 2D weak pinning are extended to 1D. The square of the pinning frequency should be proportional to E_T. The reversible threshold polarization, ɛ(0)E_T, should be essentially independent of dimensions.