The correlation-driven Mott transition is commonly characterized by a drop in resistivity across the insulator-metal phase boundary; yet, the complex permittivity provides a deeper insight into the microscopic nature. We investigate the frequency- and temperature-dependent dielectric response of the Mott insulator $kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$-Cu$_2$(CN)$_3$ when tuning from a quantum spin liquid into the Fermi-liquid state by applying external pressure and chemical substitution of the donor molecules. At low temperatures the coexistence region at the first-order transition leads to a strong enhancement of the quasi-static dielectric constant $epsilon_1$ when the effective correlations are tuned through the critical value. Several dynamical regimes are identified around the Mott point and vividly mapped through pronounced permittivity crossovers. All experimental trends are captured by dynamical mean-field theory of the single-band Hubbard model supplemented by percolation theory.
1T-TaS$_2$ undergoes successive phase transitions upon cooling and eventually enters an insulating state of mysterious origin. Some consider this state to be a band insulator with interlayer stacking order, yet others attribute it to Mott physics that support a quantum spin liquid state.Here, we determine the electronic and structural properties of 1T-TaS$_2$ using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction. At low temperatures, the 2$pi$/2c-periodic band dispersion, along with half-integer-indexed diffraction peaks along the c axis, unambiguously indicates that the ground state of 1T-TaS$_2$ is a band insulator with interlayer dimerization. Upon heating, however, the system undergoes a transition into a Mott insulating state, which only exists in a narrow temperature window. Our results refute the idea of searching for quantum magnetism in 1T-TaS$_2$ only at low temperatures, and highlight the competition between on-site Coulomb repulsion and interlayer hopping as a crucial aspect for understanding the materials electronic properties.
Using the time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group (tDMRG), we study the time evolution of electron wave packets in one-dimensional (1D) metal-superconductor heterostructures. The results show Andreev reflection at the interface, as expected. By combining these results with the well-known single-spin-species electron-hole transformation in the Hubbard model, we predict an analogous spin Andreev reflection in metal-Mott insulator heterostructures. This effect is numerically confirmed using 1D tDMRG, but it is expected to be present also in higher dimensions, as well as in more general Hamiltonians. We present an intuitive picture of the spin reflection, analogous to that of Andreev reflection at metal-superconductors interfaces. This allows us to discuss a novel antiferromagnetic proximity effect. Possible experimental realizations are discussed.
We point out the generic competition between the Hunds coupling and the spin-orbit coupling in correlated materials, and this competition leads to an electronic dilemma between the Hunds metal and the relativistic insulators. Hunds metals refer to the fate of the would-be insulators where the Hunds coupling suppresses the correlation and drives the systems into correlated metals. Relativistic Mott insulators refer to the fate of the would-be metals where the relativistic spin-orbit coupling enhances the correlation and drives the systems into Mott insulators. These contradictory trends are naturally present in many correlated materials. We study the competition between Hunds coupling and spin-orbit coupling in correlated materials and explore the interplay and the balance from these two contradictory trends. The system can become a spin-orbit-coupled Hunds metal or a Hunds assisted relativistic Mott insulator. Our observation could find a broad application and relevance to many correlated materials with multiple orbitals.
The pressure-induced insulator to metal transition (IMT) of layered magnetic nickel phosphorous tri-sulfide NiPS3 was studied in-situ under quasi-uniaxial conditions by means of electrical resistance (R) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. This sluggish transition is shown to occur at 35 GPa. Transport measurements show no evidence of superconductivity to the lowest measured temperature (~ 2 K). The structure results presented here differ from earlier in-situ work that subjected the sample to a different pressure state, suggesting that in NiPS3 the phase stability fields are highly dependent on strain. It is suggested that careful control of the strain is essential when studying the electronic and magnetic properties of layered van der Waals solids.
We present an angle-resolved photoemission study of the electronic structure of the three-dimensional pyrochlore iridate Nd2Ir2O7 through its magnetic metal-insulator transition. Our data reveal that metallic Nd2Ir2O7 has a quadratic band, touching the Fermi level at the Gamma point, similarly to that of Pr2Ir2O7. The Fermi node state is, therefore, a common feature of the metallic phase of the pyrochlore iridates. Upon cooling below the transition temperature, this compound exhibits a gap opening with an energy shift of quasiparticle peaks like a band gap insulator. The quasiparticle peaks are strongly suppressed, however, with further decrease of temperature, and eventually vanish at the lowest temperature, leaving a non-dispersive flat band lacking long-lived electrons. We thereby identify a remarkable crossover from Slater to Mott insulators with decreasing temperature. These observations explain the puzzling absence of Weyl points in this material, despite its proximity to the zero temperature metal-insulator transition.