Extremely small energy gap in the quasi-one-dimensional conducting chain compound SrNbO3.41

Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Dec 2;89(23):236403. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.236403. Epub 2002 Nov 18.

Abstract

Resistivity, optical, and angle-resolved photoemission experiments reveal unusual one-dimensional electronic properties of highly anisotropic SrNbO3.41. Along the conducting chain direction, we find an extremely small energy gap of only a few meV at the Fermi level. A discussion in terms of typical 1D instabilities (Peierls, Mott-Hubbard) shows that neither seems to provide a satisfactory explanation for the unique properties of SrNbO3.41.