Direct Imaging of the First-Order Spin-Flop Transition in the Layered Manganite La{sub 1.4}Sr{sub 1.6}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7}

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.4180· OSTI ID:20217963

Welp, U; Berger, A; Miller, D J; Vlasko-Vlasov, V K; Gray, K E; Mitchell, J F

Magnetic field induced transitions in antiferromagnetic La{sub 1.4}Sr {sub 1.6}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} were studied using magnetization measurements and a high-resolution magneto-optical imaging technique. We report the direct observation of the formation of ferromagnetic domains appearing at the first-order spin-flop transition. The magnetization proceeds through nucleation of polarized domains at crystal defect sites and not by domain wall motion. A small magnetic hysteresis is caused by the nucleation and annihilation of domains in the mixed state. The results establish a direct link between the magnetic structure on the atomic scale and the macroscopic transport and magnetic properties of the sample. (c)

• OSTI ID: 20217963
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 83, Issue 20; Other Information: PBD: 15 Nov 1999; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
LANTHANUM OXIDES
STRONTIUM OXIDES
MANGANESE OXIDES
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
IMAGES
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
SPIN FLIP
CRYSTAL DEFECTS
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA