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Title: Superparamagnetic behavior and giant magnetoresistance in oxygen deficient R{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{ital {sub z}} (R=Nd, Pr) epitaxial films (abstract)

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.361545· OSTI ID:279992
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Center for Superconductivity Research, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)

We have studied the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of oxygen deficient R{sub 0.67}Sr{sub 0.33}MnO{sub {ital z}} (R=Nd, Pr) films and have observed superparamagnetic behavior in these films. The superparamagnetism is indicated by (i) the increasing spread between zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetization curves as temperature decreases, (ii) a sharp drop of the ZFC magnetization at low temperature, (iii) enhanced Curie{endash}Weiss constant above the ferromagnetic temperature, and (iv) at low temperature a sharp drop of coercivity (H{sub {ital c}}) with increasing temperature. These findings strongly suggest that all oxygen deficient manganites are magnetically inhomogeneous; i.e., ferromagnetic clusters exist. We estimate the spin cluster diameter to be 7{endash}10 nm at low temperature ({ital T}{lt}30 K). We discuss a possible origin of the giant magnetoresistance effect based on the existence of spin clusters. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

OSTI ID:
279992
Report Number(s):
CONF-951101-; ISSN 0021-8979; TRN: 96:018931
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 79, Issue 8; Conference: 40. conference on magnetism and magnetic materials, Philadelphia, PA (United States), 6-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English