Low temperature charge and orbital textures in La0.875Sr0.125MnO3

By using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques we show that for T<30 K the La0.875Sr0.125MnO3 compound displays a nonuniform charge distribution, comprised of two interconnected Mn ion subsystems with different spin, orbital, and charge couplings. The NMR results agree very well with the two spin wave stiffness constants observed at small q values in the spin wave dispersion curves [Phys. Rev. B 67, 214430 (2003)]. This picture is probably related to a yet undetermined charge and orbital superstructure occurring in the ferromagnetic insulating state of the La0.875Sr0.125MnO3 compound.     

Magnetic properties of La0.70Sr0.30MnO2.85 anion-deficient manganite under hydrostatic pressure

The magnetic properties of La_0.70Sr_0.30MnO_2.85 anion-deficient manganite are studied experimentally under hydrostatic pressure. The results show that, in the whole pressure range under investigation (0–1 GPa), the sample is a spin glass with a smeared phase transition to the paramagnetic state. It is found that the spin glass state arises from the frustration of the exchange coupling of the ferromagnetic clusters embedded in the antiferromagnetic matrix. The fraction of the sample volume occupied by the ferromagnetic phase is found to be V _fer ～ 13%. Under hydrostatic pressure, the freezing temperature T _f of the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic clusters increases at a rate of 4.30 K/GPa and the magnetic ordering temperature T _MO increases at a rate of 12.90 K/GPa. In addition, the ferromagnetic part of the sample increases by ΔV _fer ～ 5%. The enhancement of the ferromagnetic properties of La_0.70Sr_0.30MnO_2.85 anion-deficient manganite under hydrostatic pressure is explained by the redistribution of oxygen vacancies and a decrease in the unit-cell parameters.     

Thermal physical properties of the La0.825Sr0.175MnO3 single crystals

The heat capacity (C _P), the thermal diffusion (η), the thermal conductivity (κ), and the electrical resistance of the La_0.825Sr_0.175MnO₃ single crystal have been measured in the temperature range 80–350 K in magnetic fields to 40 kOe. Dependences C _P(T), κ(T), and η(T) have anomalies near T _C, which are suppressed in magnetic field. The minima in dependences κ(T) and η(T) near T _C are explained by the phonon scattering on fluctuations of the magnetic order parameter. Dependences κ(T) and η(T) have anomalies near T _S = 200 K related to the structural transition from the rhombohedral (R) to the orthorhombic (O*) phase.

     

Colossal room-temperature magnetoresistance of La1/3Nd1/3Sr1/3MnO3 single crystals

Replacement of one half of the neodymium ions by lanthanum in Nd_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ is shown to result in a considerable increase in the Curie temperature. The single-crystal La_1/3Nd_1/3Sr_1/3MnO₃, whose Curie point lies at 315 K, has been found to exhibit a record-high magnetoresistance of 27% in a weak magnetic field of 8.4 kOe in the temperature range above room temperature.     

Intrinsic tunnelling effects in self-doped La0.89MnO3 single crystals

Transport properties of self-doped La_0.89MnO₃ single crystals with Néel temperature of T_N ≈139 K have been investigated in wide temperature range 10–300 K. Data suggests that current at low temperature is conducted through a strongly temperature-dependent, but almost bias independent channel operating in parallel with a bias controlled but temperature independent channel. The first channel is associated with transport across an insulating antiferromagnetic matrix while the latter one represents tunnel conductivity through intrinsic tunnel junctions appearing due to interruption of conducting percolating paths by phase separated insulating inclusions. Tunnel character of the conductivity manifests itself in nonlinear current-voltage characteristics and appearance of a zero-bias anomaly in the form of a prominent conductance peak in the vicinity of zero bias. Zero bias anomaly and V-shaped characteristics of the differential conductance at high voltages are ascribed to the formation of local magnetic states in the insulating region of the tunneling junction.     

Polaron hopping conduction in La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 single crystal

Temperature dependences of electrical resistance and thermopower of a La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ single crystal were measured in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic dielectric phases. It was shown that charge transfer in both phases is due to the variable-range polaron hopping over the localized states. The activation energies in both phases linearly depend on T ^3/4 but differ from each other by a constant which is approximately equal to the exchange energy kT _c. The results obtained are in compliance with the concept of percolation character of metal-insulator transition in manganites.     

Ferromagnetic superstructure of an La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 manganite single crystal

The elastic thermal-neutron scattering patterns of a La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ manganite orthorhombic single crystal are investigated in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. It is found that, in addition to the known ferromagnetic ordering (T _C=240 K), this compound exhibits a ferromagnetic superstructure with the (010)2π/b wave vector (in the Pnma setting of the space group D _2h ¹⁶ ). The ferromagnetic superstructure is observed in the studied crystal at temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 200 K. It is shown that the formation of the ferromagnetic superstructure in this compound is directly associated with a 1/8-type charge ordering of Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions.     

Polarized Raman scattering in single crystals of Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3

We report polarized Raman scattering in single crystals of Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃. The temperature dependence of the MnO₆ octahedral bending and stretching modes observed in the XX spectra points to the existence of local lattice distortions, possibly polarons. The XY spectra have been analyzed using a collision-dominated model, which allows the extraction of the carrier scattering rate.     

Effects of pressure and magnetic field on the electrical resistivity of La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 in rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases

A structural transition from the orthorhombic phase to the rhombohedral one is observed and investigated on a La_0.8Ba_0.2MnO₃ single crystal. In the region of the coexistence of two phases, the effects of magnetic field (up to 12 T) and hydrostatic pressure (up to 5 kbar) on the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity are studied. It is shown that magnetic field and pressure reduce the transition temperature and produce qualitatively similar effects on the electrical resistivity in the region of the structural transition.     

Prediction of thermomagnetic properties of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and La0.67Sr0.33MnO3

The dependence of magnetization on the variation of temperature for La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ and La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ perovskite-type ceramic materials under an external magnetic field was modelled. Application of phenomenological model was performed, showing a good agreement with the experimental data. Temperature dependence of change of both magnetic entropy and specific heat under magnetic field 0.05?T was predicted for La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ and La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃. Predicted values of maximum magnetic entropy change, full-width at half-maximum, relative cooling power and maximum specific heat under 0.05 T were evaluated.     

Electrical properties of TlGaTe2 single crystals under hydrostatic pressure

The effect of hydrostatic pressure (up to 0.82 GPa) on the electric properties of chain TlGaTe₂ single crystals has been investigated in the temperature range 77-296 K. It has been shown that pressure leads to a considerable increase of conductivity (σ_⊥) across the chains of TlGaTe₂ single crystals. Parameters of localized states in the band gap of TlGaTe₂ single crystal according to the low-temperature electrical measurements were obtained at various pressures.     

Effect of oxygen non-stoichiometry on magnetic and electrical transport properties of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3

The effect of oxygen deficiency and oxygen excess on the magnetic and electrical transport properties of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ has been investigated. The thermal and isothermal magnetization measurement results show that the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization of oxygen deficient sample (defined as A) are higher than those oxygen excess sample (defined as B). The electrical resistivity of A is lower than that of B in studied temperature range. The magnetoresistance (MR) of B is larger than that of A in the temperature range from 280 to 360 K, which agrees with the magnetic field needed full spin polarization at room temperature. The colossal MR (CMR) around transition temperature from ferromagnetic metal to paramagnetic insulator (T_MI) for A is larger than that for B, which arises from assistance of stronger lattice deformation for A.     

Laser patterning and magnetic properties of perovskite-type La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 crystals on the glass surface

The laser-induced crystallization technique has been applied to 10La₂O₃-35SrO-25MnO₂-30B₂O₃ glass (mol%) in order to examine the possibility of the formation and morphology control of perovskite-type La_1?xSr_xMnO₃ crystals on the glass surface. It is found from X-ray diffraction analyses that La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ crystals are formed in the sample obtained by continuous wave Y b:Y V O₄ fiber laser (wavelength: 1080 nm) irradiations (power: 350 mW, scanning speed: 10 μm/s). La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ manganites in the laser-irradiated samples are proposed to be ferromagnetic crystals having a Curie temperature of ～315 K from magnetization measurements and the Arrott plot. The surface morphology of laser-irradiated parts is not smooth, and La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ crystals are present randomly without any orientations. It is clarified that Mn⁴⁺ ions in the glass act as suitable transition metal ions for the laser-induced crystallization.     

Charge-carrier density collapse in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3and La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 epitaxial thin films

We measured the temperature dependence of the linear high field Hall resistivity of ( K) and ( K) thin films in the temperature range from 4 K up to 360 K in magnetic fields up to 20 T. At low temperatures we find a charge-carrier density of 1.3 and 1.4 holes per unit cell for the Ca- and Sr-doped compound, respectively. In this temperature range electron-magnon scattering contributes to the longitudinal resistivity. At the ferromagnetic transition temperature a dramatic drop in the number of charge-carriers n down to 0.6 holes per unit cell, accompanied by an increase in unit cell volume, is observed. Corrections of the Hall data due to a non saturated magnetic state will lead a more pronounced charge-carrier density collapse. Received 22 July 1999 and Received in final form 7 October 1999     

Submillimeter and infrared spectroscopy on La0.85Sr0.15MnO3

The optical conductivity of La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ single crystals was studied by means of submillimeter and infrared spectroscopy for frequencies cm^-1 and temperatures 10 K < T <300 K. The submillimeter conductivity follows the temperature dependence of the dc-data. The phonon spectrum of La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ changes considerably below K revealing a structural phase transition induced by charge or orbital order. At T =10 K a number of phonon modes can be identified in addition to the room-temperature spectrum. The optical conductivity () in the mid-infrared reveals the characteristics of small polaron absorption. Below the magnetic ordering temperature the polaron binding energy is highly reduced, but the onset of charge order interrupts the formation of free charge carriers with a Drude-like behavior. The frequency and temperature dependence of in this regime qualitatively resembles the small polaron predictions by Millis et al. (Phys. Rev. B 54, 5405 (1996)). Received 5 November 1999