Abstract. We present a theoretical description of polaron band narrowing in oligo-acene crystals due to electron–lattice interaction. The analysis is based on a model which takes both local and nonlocal contributions to the electron–phonon coupling into account. Different approximation schemes are discussed and compared. The theory is supplemented by quantitative ab initio calculations of the temperature dependence of polaron bandwidths in oligo-acene crystals which show the important role of in-plane nonlocal electron–phonon coupling.

Print publication: Issue 12 (31 March 2004)
Received 2 December 2003
Published 12 March 2004