Electronic and magnetic instability in Pr0.65Ca0.25Sr0.1MnO3

Abstract

Electronic and magnetic instability in polycrystalline Pr0.65Ca0.25Sr0.1MnO3 manganite has been established from a systematic study of resistivity (p), magnetization (M) and specific heat (C). The sample shows a charge ordering transition at T-CO similar to 200 K, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering transition at T-N similar to 175 K, a metal-insulator (MI) transition at T-MI similar to 80 K and an unusual magnetic ordering transition at T-M(*) similar to 45 K in the absence of magnetic fields. Though the C data do not show any anomaly at T-MI for MI transition, these illustrate a much smaller anomaly than expected one at T-M* and is suppressed by magnetic fields. This indicates that the unusual magnetic ordering in this sample is of canted, fluctuated or phase separation of AFM and ferromagnetic in nature which is established from the T-H phase diagram, as well as the thermal and magnetic hysteresis in p, M and C. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.