Melting of charge order in the low-temperature state of an electronic ferroelectric-like system

Abstract

Strong electronic interactions can drive a system into a state with a symmetry breaking. Lattice frustration or competing interactions tend to prevent symmetry breaking, leading to quantum disordered phases. In spin systems frustration can produce a spin liquid state. Frustration of a charge degree of freedom also can result in various exotic states, however, experimental data on these effects is scarce. In this work we demonstrate how in a Mott insulator on a weakly anisotropic triangular lattice a charge ordered state melts on cooling down to low temperatures. Raman scattering spectroscopy finds that κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Hg(SCN)2Cl enters an insulating “dipole solid” state at T=30K, but below T=15K the order melts, while preserving the insulating energy gap. Based on these observations, we suggest a phase diagram relevant to other quantum paraelectric materials.