  The pressure-induced changes in the optical properties of the
quasi-one-dimensional conductor LaTiO$_{3.41}$ were studied by
polarization-dependent mid-infrared micro-spectroscopy at room temperature. For
the polarization of the incident radiation parallel to the conducting
direction, the optical conductivity spectrum shows a pronounced mid-infrared
absorption band, exhibiting a shift to lower frequencies and an increase in
oscillator strength with increasing pressure. On the basis of its pressure
dependence, interpretations of the band in terms of electronic transitions and
polaronic excitations are discussed. Discontinuous changes in the optical
response near 15 GPa are in agreement with a recently reported pressure-induced
structural phase transition and indicate the onset of a dimensional crossover
in this highly anisotropic system.
