The Jahn-Teller and pseudo Jahn-Teller effect in materials science

Defining materials science as a translation from microscopic foundations of matter to macroscopic performance in applications, this mostly review paper is devoted to the special features of matter with Jahn-Teller (JT) and pseudo JT (PJT) centers that makes it outstanding in the search of novel properties and applications as novel materials. There are three kinds of problems in this respect. The first is related to the difficulties in the use of computer simulation of observable properties (a methodology widely employed in materials science) in application to systems with dynamic JT and PJT effects. The second is due to the specifics of such systems in interaction with external perturbations, which contribute with a strong orientational effect that enhances the observable properties by orders of magnitude. The third kind of problems relevant to materials science is in the use of the JT and PJT effects in revealing the origin of structural properties of a relevant polyatomic system and working out methods to influence them in designing novel materials.