Studies of the Jahn-Teller effect. I. A survey of the static problem

Abstract

According to the Jahn-Teller theorem, symmetrical molecules with degenerate electronic states are unstable. Such molecules therefore take up a distorted shape. If there is near-degeneracy, the symmetrical shape may also be unstable. We have studied the distortion in some particular cases. The approach is to minimize the total electronic energy with respect to distortions of the nuclear framework, the latter being considered to be static. There are always several equivalent distortions of equal energy, so that a static distortion fails to remove the degeneracy. The discussion of dynamic effects is postponed to a subsequent paper. A linear molecule of formula BAB , for which two electronic states of opposite symmetry are sufficiently nearly degenerate, will be stable in a configuration with unequal A—B separations, and unstable when symmetrical. This example illustrates some of the main physical features of Jahn-Teller distortions in a simple manner. Although we know of no example where the symmetrical structure is actually unstable, there are examples where the tendency towards distortion noticeably reduces the force constant of the asymmetric vibration. Octahedral complexes AB 6 with degenerate electronic states occur in many situations (e. g. paramagnetic crystals, F-centres, luminescent centres and exciton states in cubic crystals). The orbital degeneracy may be threefold ( T 1 and T 2 ) or twofold. In the former case the stable distortion is found to be either of tetragonal symmetry about a [100] direction, or of trigonal symmetry about a [111] direction. The twofold degenerate situation leads to a more complicated situation. If one neglects anharmonic effects there appears to be an infinity of distortions minimizing the energy; a more detailed consideration of the anharmonic terms shows that the stable distortions are of elongated tetragonal character. This result has an important bearing on complexes involving the cupric ion.