Electronic band structure of α-(Per)2M(mnt)2 compounds

Abstract.

The band structure of α-(Per)2M(mnt)2, leads to a description of these materials as nearly perfectly one dimensional conductors. The conduction is mainly along the stacking direction of the partially oxidized perylene molecules, (Per)1/2+, with virtually no interchain bandwidth. However, recent high magnetic field experiments suggest orbital coupling of the magnetic field to the electronic structure, indicating a finite interchain bandwidth. The details of the band structure and the possible variances, at low energies, from a perfect one dimensional system are examined. In particular, multiple quasi-one dimensional Fermi surface sheets, which would become important at low temperatures, may lead to an explanation for the experimental finding of a magnetic field induced high field charge density wave ground state. Experimental tests to observe the effects of the finite interchain bandwidth are proposed.