Evidence for the constancy of U in the Mott transition of V2O3

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the Mott transition in V2O3, providing evidence that the on-site Coulomb energy U remains constant across the transition, challenging some theoretical models.

Contribution

It offers experimental evidence that U does not change during the MIT in V2O3, narrowing down the viable theoretical explanations for the transition.

Findings

U remains constant across the MIT

Eliminates many theoretical models of the transition

Supports a specific paradigm for the Mott transition

Abstract

We have performed high-resolution hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy for the metal-insulator transition (MIT) system (V(1-x)Cr(x))2O3 in the paramagnetic metal, paramagnetic insulator and antiferromagentic insulator phases. The quality of the spectra enables us to conclude that the on-site Coulomb energy U does not change through the MIT, which eliminate all but one theoretical MIT scenario in this paradigm material.