Surface versus bulk Mott transition in Ca$_x$La$_{1-x}$VO$_3$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the differences between surface and bulk electronic transitions in Ca$_x$La$_{1-x}$VO$_3$ using dynamical mean field theory, revealing potential coexistence of metallic bulk and insulating surface states.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of surface versus bulk Mott transitions in Ca$_x$La$_{1-x}$VO$_3$ using advanced theoretical modeling.

Findings

Surface spectra are more strongly correlated than bulk spectra.

Potential coexistence of metallic bulk and insulating surface layers.

Dynamical mean field theory effectively captures surface-bulk differences.

Abstract

The Mott insulator LaVO$_3$ is known to become metallic if La is replaced by small concentrations of Ca. Since surface quasi-particle spectra of various perovskites are more strongly correlated than their bulk spectra, the coexistence of a metallic bulk and an insulating surface layer might be feasible. To investigate this possibility the dynamical mean field theory is used to evaluate the quasi-particle spectra in the bulk and at the surface of Ca$_x$La$_{1-x}$VO$_3$ for various Ca concentrations.