On a Second Critical Point in the First Order Metal - Insulator Transitions

Abstract

For the first order Metal Insulator Transitions we show that together with the d.c conductance zero there is a second critical point, where the dielectric constant becomes zero and further turns negative. At this point the metallic reflectivity sharply increases. The two points can be separated by a Phase Separation State in a 3D disordered system, but may tend to merge in 2D. For illustration we evaluate the dielectric function in a simple effective medium approximation and show that at the second point it turns negative. We reproduce the experimental data on a typical Mott insulator like MnO, demonstrating the presence of the two points clearly. We discuss other experiments for studies of the phase separation state and a similar phase separation in superconductors with insulating inclusions.

4pages, 2 figures