Non magnetic molecular Jahn-Teller Mott insulators

TL;DR

This paper investigates non-magnetic insulating states in molecular conductors caused by strong Jahn-Teller coupling, highlighting a dynamical interplay with electron-electron interactions and relating findings to fulleride insulators.

Contribution

It introduces a simple $E\otimes e$ Jahn-Teller model to analyze non-magnetic Mott-like insulators with dynamical Jahn-Teller effects, extending understanding of molecular insulators.

Findings

Identification of a non-magnetic Mott-like insulating state

Analysis of dynamical Jahn-Teller effects in electron correlations

Connection to insulating states in fulleride compounds

Abstract

Narrow-band conductors may turn insulating and magnetic as a consequence of strong electron-electron correlation. In molecular conductors, the concomitance of a strong Jahn-Teller coupling may give rise to the alternative possibility of a non-magnetic insulator, with or without a static cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion. In the latter case the insulator has Mott-like properties, with an interesting interplay between electron-electron repulsion and the Jahn-Teller effect, which is dynamical. We study this kind of non-magnetic insulator in a very simple $E\otimes e$ Jahn-Teller model and we discuss its general properties in a more general context, also in connection with the insulating state of K_{4}C_{60} and Rb_{4}C_{60}.