Magnetic-Field-Induced Mott Transition in a Quasi-Two-Dimensional Organic Conductor

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that magnetic fields can induce a first-order localization transition in a quasi-two-dimensional organic conductor near the Mott transition, revealing a pressure-field phase diagram and confirming theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of magnetic-field-induced Mott transition in a layered organic conductor, expanding understanding of correlated electron systems.

Findings

Magnetic field induces a first-order localization transition.

The phase diagram includes pressure and magnetic field as control parameters.

Results confirm theoretical predictions of field-induced Mott transition.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of magnetic field on the highly correlated metal near the Mott transition in the quasi-two-dimensional layered organic conductor, $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$Cu[N(CN)$_{2}$]Cl, by the resistance measurements under control of temperature, pressure, and magnetic field. It was demonstrated that the marginal metallic phase near the Mott transition is susceptible to the field-induced localization transition of the first order, as was predicted theoretically. The thermodynamic consideration of the present results gives a conceptual pressure-field phase diagram of the Mott transition at low temperatures.