Large Magnetovolume Effect in Yttrium Doped La-Ca-Mn-O Perovskite

Abstract

ac initial magnetic susceptibility, thermal expansion, and magnetostriction measurements were performed on a polycrystal of ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.60}{\mathrm{Y}}_{0.07}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.33}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ manganese oxide. We observed a spontaneous volume magnetic contribution ( $\ensuremath{\cong}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ at ${T}_{C}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}160\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5\mathrm{K}$). This extra contribution sharply decreases at ${T}_{C}$ as a consequence of the metal ( $M$)--insulator ( $I$) transition, and is suppressed under an applied magnetic field. This shows that the transition to the $M$ state is induced by the field in the $I$ regime, producing strong magnetoelastic effects. The present results demonstrate the close relationship between magnetoelastic and magnetotransport properties in this compound.