Effect of electronic correlations on the metal-insulator transition of $alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$I$_3$: theoretical and experimental investigations of its optical properties

The organic salt $alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$I$_3$ is considered a model system for metal-insulator transition due to electronic charge ordering at $T_{rm CO}=135$~K. The optical properties obtained from polarized reflection measurements above and below $T_{rm CO}$ can be well described by calculations based on first-principle density-functional theory (DFT). We discuss the effect of electronic correlations on the metal-insulator transition.