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Title: Phase coexistence at the first-order Mott transition revealed by pressure-dependent dielectric spectroscopy of κ - (BEDT-TTF)2 - Cu2 (CN)3

Journal Article · · Physical Review B

The dimer Mott insulator kappa - (BEDT-TTF)2 - Cu2 (CN)3 can be tuned into metallic and superconducting states on applying pressure of 1.5 kbar and more. We have performed dielectric measurements (7.5 kHz to 5 MHz) on kappa - (BEDT-TTF)2 - Cu2 (CN)3 single crystals as a function of temperature (down to T = 8 K) and pressure (up to p = 4.3 kbar). In addition to the relaxor-like dielectric behavior seen below 50 K at p = 0, that moves toward lower temperatures with pressure, a second peak emerges in ε1 (T) around T = 15 K. When approaching the insulator-metal boundary, this peak diverges rapidly reaching ε1 ≈ 105. Our dynamical mean-field theory calculations substantiate that the dielectric catastrophe at the Mott transition is not caused by closing the energy gap, but due to the spatial coexistence of correlated metallic and insulating regions. We discuss the percolative nature of the first-order Mott insulator-to-metal transition in all details.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; European Union - European Social Fund (ESF); National Science Foundation (NSF); National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL); German Research Foundation (DFG)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1779061
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Vol. 103, Issue 12; ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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