Quasiparticle evolution and pseudogap formation in V2O3: An infrared spectroscopy study

TL;DR

This study uses infrared spectroscopy to investigate how quasiparticles evolve and how a pseudogap forms in V2O3 across different phases, revealing temperature-driven changes in electronic coherence and Mott transition behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of lattice parameter temperature dependence in explaining quasiparticle loss and pseudogap formation in V2O3.

Findings

Quasiparticles appear above the Neel temperature and vanish at higher temperatures.

A pseudogap forms in the optical spectrum above 425 K.

Lattice parameter changes are crucial for understanding the transition.

Abstract

The infrared conductivity of V2O3 is measured in the whole phase diagram. Quasiparticles appear above the Neel temperature TN and eventually disappear further enhancing the temperature, leading to a pseudogap in the optical spectrum above 425 K. Our calculations demonstrate that this loss of coherence can be explained only if the temperature dependence of lattice parameters is considered. V2O3 is therefore effectively driven from the metallic to the insulating side of the Mott transition as the temperature is increased.