Metal–insulator transitions in systems with electron–phonon and Coulomb interactions

Abstract We consider a model which includes the electron–phonon coupling to Ag or Jahn–Teller Hg phonons, the Coulomb interaction U and an exchange integral K. We study the metal–insulator transition for the integer fillings n=3 and 4. We find that the coupling to Ag phonons increases the critical value Uc where the transition takes place, while the coupling to Hg phonons decreases Uc. Without electron–phonon coupling the Hund's rule coupling also decreases Uc. There is, however, an interesting competition between the Hund's rule coupling and the Jahn–Teller effect. Thus the reduction of Uc due to the Hg phonons becomes smaller when the Hund's rule coupling is turned on. The implications of this is discussed in the context of AnC60.