Abstract
A theory of the insulator-metal transition in transition-metal compounds is developed in terms of the collapse of the effective energy gap which is a function of the thermally excited electron-hole pairs. This dependence is shown to arise from the hole-lattice interaction. The reaction of the lattice is found to be equivalent to generating an internal positive pressure (strain). Estimates show that the observed typical behaviour of the conductivity jump and the change of volume at the transition temperature can be explained by the present theory.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, D...IBM Journal of Research and Development, 1970,14, 261.
— and Brooks, H...Phys. Rev., 1967,155, 826.
Austin, I. G. and Mott, N. F.Science, 1970,168, 71.
Dernier, P...J. Physics Chem. Solids, 1970,31, 2569.
Doniach, S...Adv. in Phys., 1969,18, 819.
Falicov, L. N. and Kimball, J. C.Phys. Rev. Letters, 1969,22, 997.
Frohlich, H...Quantum Theory of Atoms, Molecules and the Solid State, Edited by P. O. Lowdin, (Academic Press, New York), 1966.
Hubbard, J...Proc. Roy. Soc., 1969,281 A, 401.
Hyland, G. I...J. Phys. C. 1, 1968, 189;Phil. Mag., 1969,20, 839.
McWhan, D. B. and Rice, T. M.Phys. Rev. Letters, 1969,22, 887;IBM Journal of Research, 1970,14, 251.
Mott, N. F...Phil. Mag., 1969,20, 1.
Ramirez, R, Falicov, L. M. and Kimball, J. C...Phys. Rev. B., 1970,2, 3383.
Slater, J. C...Phys. Rev., 1951,82, 538.
Ziman, J. M...Electrons and Phonons, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1960.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumar, N., Sinha, K.P. Insulator-metal transition. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 73, 313–323 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03049433
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03049433