Evidence for a quantum dipole liquid state in an organic quasi-two-dimensional material

Abstract

Mott insulators are commonly pictured with electrons localized on lattice sites. Their low-energy degrees of freedom involve spins only. Here we observe emerging charge degrees of freedom in a molecule-based Mott insulator $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Hg(SCN)$_2$Br, resulting in a quantum dipole liquid state. Electrons localized on molecular dimer lattice sites form electric dipoles that do not order at low temperatures and fluctuate with frequency detected experimentally in our Raman spectroscopy experiments. The heat capacity and Raman scattering response are consistent with a scenario where the composite spin and electric dipole degrees of freedom remain fluctuating down to the lowest measured temperatures