We study an interplay between the orbital degeneracy and spin-orbit coupling giving rise to spin-orbital entangled states. As a specific example, we analyze the interaction of electrons occupying triply degenerate single-ion $t_{2g}$ levels with trigonal vibronic modes (the $t\otimes T$ problem). A more general problem of the electron-lattice interaction involving both tetragonal and trigonal vibrations is also considered. It is shown that the result of such interaction crucially depends on the occupation of $t_{2g}$ levels leading to either the suppression or enhancement of the Jahn-Teller effect by the spin-orbit coupling.
The quadratic Jahn-Teller effect of C$_{60}^{n-}$ ($n=$ 1-5) is investigated from the first principles. Employing the density functional theory calculations with hybrid functional, the quadratic vibronic coupling constants of C$_{60}^-$ were derived. The warping of the adiabatic potential energy surface of C$_{60}^-$ by the quadratic vibronic coupling is estimated about 2 meV, which is much smaller than the Jahn-Teller stabilization energy ($\approx$ 50 meV). Because of the selection rule and the vibronic reduction, the quadratic coupling slightly modifies the vibronic states of C$_{60}$ anion…
The dynamical Jahn-Teller effect of C$_{60}^{n-}$ anions ($n = $ 1-5) is studied using the numerical diagonalization of the linear $p^n \otimes 8d$ Jahn-Teller Hamiltonian with the currently established coupling parameters. It is found that in all anions the Jahn-Teller effect stabilizes the low-spin states, resulting in the violation of Hund's rule. The energy gain due to the Jahn-Teller dynamics is found to be comparable to the static Jahn-Teller stabilization. The Jahn-Teller dynamics influences the thermodynamic properties via strong variation of the density of vibronic states with energy.…
Ca3CoMnO6 is composed of CoMnO6 chains made up of face-sharing CoO6 trigonal prisms and MnO6 octahedra. The structural, magnetic, and ferroelectric properties of this compound were investigated on the basis of density functional theory calculations. Ca3CoMnO6 is found to undergo a Jahn-Teller distortion associated with the CoO6 trigonal prisms containing high-spin Co2+ (d7) ions, which removes the C3 rotational symmetry and hence uniaxial magnetism. However, the Jahn-Teller distortion is not strong enough to fully quench the orbital moment of the high-spin Co2+ ions thereby leading to an elect…
Reduction factors (RF), that are needed when modeling vibronic systems by an effective Hamiltonian in an electronic basis, are calculated for the T_1u x h_g Jahn-Teller (JT) system. The results obtained will be useful when modeling the fullerene anion C_60-, which is believed to exhibit a T_1u x h_g JT effect in its ground state. First-order RF's are calculated using symmetry-adapted vibronic ground and tunneling states in which the system is allowed to tunnel between equivalent minima in the potential energy surface. The effect of anisotropy in the minima is also considered. Second-order RF's…
Orbital-lattice coupled excitation dynamics in orbitally degenerate correlated systems are examined. We present a theoretical framework, where both local vibronic excitations and superexchange-type inter-site interactions are dealt with on an equal footing. We generalize the spin-wave approximation so as to take local vibronic states into account. Present method is valid from weak to strong Jahn-Teller coupling magnitudes. Two characteristic excitation modes coexist; a low-energy dispersive mode and high-energy multi-peak mode. These are identified as a collective vibronic mode, and Flanck-Con…
The fine structure and temperature evolution of infrared spectra have been intensively used to probe the nature of Jahn-Teller dynamics in correlated materials. At the same time, theoretical framework to adequately extract the information on the complicated vibronic dynamics from infrared spectra is still lacking. In this work, the first-principles theory of the infrared spectra of dynamical Jahn-Teller system is developed and applied to the Mott-insulating Cs$_3$C$_{60}$. With the calculated coupling parameters for Jahn-Teller and infrared active vibrational modes, the manifestation of the dy…
Due to the ubiquitous presence of a Berry phase, in most cases of dynamical Jahn-Teller systems the symmetry of the vibronic ground state is the same as that of the original degenerate electronic state. As a single exception, the linear H x h icosahedral model, relevant to the physics of C60 cations, is determined by an additional free parameter, which can be continuously tuned to eliminate the Berry phase from the low-energy closed paths: accordingly, the ground state changes to a totally-symmetric nondegenerate state.
We discuss the Kondo effect in a spinless two-orbital conduction electron system coupled with anharmonic Jahn-Teller vibration by employing a numerical renormalization group technique. When a temperature $T$ is decreased, we encounter a plateau of $\log 3$ entropy due to quasi-triple degeneracy of local low-energy states, composed of vibronic ground states and the first excited state with an excitation energy of $ΔE$. Around at $T$$\approx$$ΔE$, we observe an entropy change from $\log 3$ to $\log 2$. This $\log 2$ entropy originates from the rotational degree of freedom of the vibronic state a…
The vibronic coupling constants of C$_{60}^-$ are derived from the photoelectron spectrum measured by Wang {\it et al}. [X. B. Wang, H. K. Woo, and L. S. Wang, J. Chem. Phys., {\bf 123}, 051106 (2005).] at low temperature with high-resolutions. We find that the couplings of the Jahn-Teller modes of C$_{60}^-$ are weaker than the couplings reported by Gunnarsson {\it et al}. [O. Gunnarsson, H. Handschuh, P. S. Bechthold, B. Kessler, G. Gantef{ö}r, and W. Eberhardt, Phys. Rev. Lett., {\bf 74}, 1875 (1995).]. The total stabilization energy after $h_g$ and $a_g$ modes is reduced with respect to th…
We investigate the quantum three spin model $({\bf S_1},{\bf S_2},{\bf S_3})$ of spin$=1/2$ on a triangle, in which spins are coupled with lattice-vibrational modes through the exchange interaction depending on distances between spin sites. The present model corresponds to the dynamic Jahn-Teller system $E_g\otimes e_g$ proposed by Longuet-Higgins {\it et al.}, Proc.R.Soc.A.{\bf 244},1(1958). This correspondence is revealed by using the transformation to Nakamura-Bishop's bases proposed in Phys.Rev.Lett.{\bf 54},861(1985). Furthermore, we elucidate the relationship between the behavior of a ch…
A generalization of the Anderson model that includes pseudo-Jahn-Teller impurity coupling is proposed to describe distortions of an endohedral impurity in a carbon nanotube. Treating the distortion within mean-field theory, spontaneous axial symmetry breaking is found when the vibronic coupling strength g exceeds a critical value g$_c$. The effective potential in the symmetry-broken state is found to have O(2) symmetry, in agreement with numerical calculations. For metallic zigzag nanotubes endohedrally-doped with transition metals in the dilute limit, the low-energy properties of the system m…
Dynamical Jahn-Teller (DJT) effect in a spin-orbital coupled system on a honeycomb lattice is examined, motivated from recently observed spin-liquid behavior in Ba$_3$CuSb$_2$O$_9$. An effective vibronic Hamiltonian, where the superexchange interaction and the DJT effect are taken into account, is derived. We find that the DJT effect induces a spin-orbital resonant state where local spin-singlet states and parallel orbital configurations are entangled with each other. This spin-orbital resonant state is realized in between an orbital ordered state, where spin-singlet pairs are localized, and a…
Based on previously computed parameters for the electron-phonon couplings and the Coulomb exchange, we compute and classify the static Jahn-Teller distortions, i.e. the minima of the lowest adiabatic potential energy surface, of C60(n+), for all values of charge 1 <= n <= 9 and spin. We compute the intra-band electronic excitation energies in the different optimal geometries in the sudden approximation, and find a spread of the electronic states of roughly 1 eV. We also obtain the leading vibronic quantum corrections to the ground-state energy, equal to zero-point energy lowering due to the so…
We present a thorough analysis of the interplay of magnetic moment and the Jahn-Teller effect in the $Γ_8$ cubic multiplet. We find that in the presence of dynamical Jahn-Teller effect, the Zeeman interaction remains isotropic, whereas the $g$ and $G$ factors can change their signs. The static Jahn-Teller distortion also can change the sign of these $g$ factors as well as the nature of the magnetic anisotropy. Combining the theory with state-of-the-art {\it ab initio} calculations, we analyzed the magnetic properties of Np$^{4+}$ and Ir$^{4+}$ impurity ions in cubic environment. The calculated…
Ultrasound velocity measurements of magnesium chromite spinel MgCr$_2$O$_4$ reveal elastic anomalies in the paramagnetic phase that are characterized as due to geometrical frustration. The temperature dependence of the tetragonal shear modulus $(C_{11}-C_{12})/2$ exhibits huge Curie-type softening, which should be the precursor to spin Jahn-Teller distortion in the antiferromagnetic phase. The trigonal shear modulus $C_{44}$ exhibits nonmonotonic temperature dependence with a characteristic minimum at $\sim$50 K, indicating a coupling of the lattice to dynamical molecular spin state. These res…
The selection rule on vibronic angular momentum of $t_{1u}^n \otimes h_g$ Jahn-Teller problem ($n = $ 1-5) is reinvestigated. It is shown that among three adiabatic orbitals only two have nonzero Berry phase. Thus, the Berry phase of adiabatic electronic configurations depends on the spin multiplicity as well as the number of electrons. On this basis, the general relation between the Berry phase and the angular momentum is described. It allows, in particular, to clarify the nature of vibronic states arising from high spin configurations. In comparison with the previous solution for the low-lyi…
High-pressure infrared transmission measurements on \PhC60 were performed up to 9 GPa over a broad frequency range (200 - 20000 cm$^{-1}$) to monitor the vibrational and electronic/vibronic excitations under pressure. The four fundamental T$_{1u}$ modes of \C60a\ are split into doublets already at the lowest applied pressure and harden with increasing pressure. Several cation modes and fullerene-related modes split into doublets at around 2 GPa, the most prominent one being the G$_{1u}$ mode. The splitting of the vibrational modes can be attributed to the transition from the dynamic to static …
We investigate the $E_g \otimes e_g$ Jahn-Teller system for the purpose to reveal the nature of quantum chaos in crystals. This system simulates the interaction between the nuclear vibrational modes and the electronic motion in non-Kramers doublets for multiplets of transition-metal ions. Inclusion of the anharmonic potential due to the trigonal symmetry in crystals makes the system nonintegrable and chaotic. Besides the quantal analysis of the transition from Poisson to Wigner level statistics with increasing the strength of anharmonicity, we study the effect of chaos on the electronic orbita…
A methodology is worked out to retrieve the numerical values of all the main parameters of the six-dimensional adiabatic potential energy surface (APES) of a polyatomic system with a quadratic T-term Jahn-Teller effect (JTE) from ultrasound experiments. The method is based on a verified assumption that ultrasound attenuation and speed encounter anomalies when the direction of propa- gation and polarization of its wave of strain coincides with the characteristic directions of symmetry breaking in the JTE. For the SrF2:Cr crystal, employed as a basic example, we observed anomaly peaks in the tem…
We present a theoretical study of vibrational and vibronic properties of a point defect in the dilute limit by means of first-principles density functional theory calculations. As an exemplar we choose the negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center, a solid-state system that has served as a testbed for many protocols of quantum technology. We achieve low effective concentrations of defects by constructing dynamical matrices of large supercells containing tens of thousands of atoms. The main goal of the paper is to calculate luminescence and absorption lineshapes due to coupling to vibrational …
The characteristic transition of the NV- centre at 637 nm is between ${}^3\mathrm{A}_2$ and ${}^3\mathrm{E}$ triplet states. There are also intermediate ${}^1\mathrm{A}_1$ and ${}^1\mathrm{E}$ singlet states, and the infrared transition at 1042 nm between these singlets is studied here using uniaxial stress. The stress shift and splitting parameters are determined, and the physical interaction giving rise to the parameters is considered within the accepted electronic model of the centre. It is established that this interaction for the infrared transition is due to a modification of electron-el…
Recent experiments have shown that C60 can be positively field-doped. In that state, fullerene exhibits a higher resistivity and a higher superconducting temperature than the corresponding negatively doped state. A strong intramolecular hole-phonon coupling, connected with the Jahn-Teller effect of the isolated positive ion, is expected to be important for both properties, but the actual coupling strengths are so far unknown. Based on density functional calculations, we determine the linear couplings of the two a_g, six g_g, and eight h_g vibrational modes to the H_u HOMO level of the C60 mole…
