Quasiparticles at the verge of localization near the Mott metal-insulator transition in a two-dimensional material

Abstract

The dynamics of charge carriers close to the Mott transition is explored theoretically and experimentally in the quasi two-dimensional organic charge-transfer salt $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br$_x$Cl$_{1-x}$, with varying Br content. The frequency dependence of the conductivity deviates significantly from simple Drude model behavior: there is a strong redistribution of spectral weight as the Mott transition is approached and with temperature. The effective mass of the quasiparticles increases considerably when coming close to the insulating phase. A dynamical mean-field-theory treatment of the relevant Hubbard model gives a good quantitative description of the experimental data.