The Nature of the Eigenfunctions in a Strongly Coupled Jahn-Teller Problem

Abstract

In the lectures of Stinchcombe, Harley, Thomas, and Kjems we have heard about the role of the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect in driving a phase transition. These lectures have dealt primarily with doubly degenerate electronic states coupled to either nonde-generate or double degenerate vibrational modes. (For an introduction to the Jahn-Teller effect, see the lecture of Professor Thomas in this volume.) In this seminar we are interested in the nature of the wavefunctions for a single Jahn-Teller complex which exhibits strong coupling between a triply degenerate electronic state and a triply degenerate vibrational mode (T×τ). The nature of these wave-functions is of interest because, as Professor Thomas said, “The excitations of the single Jahn-Teller complexes give rise to bands of collective modes, and an analysis of the collective modes requires a thorough understanding of the excitations of a single complex.”