Reduction of critical field for magnetic and orbital-ordering phase transition in impurity-substituted Nd0.45_{0.45}Sr0.55_{0.55}MnO3_3 crystal

We have investigated the Mn-site substitution effect in Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$MnO$_3$ single crystal, which has an $A$-type layered antiferromagnetic ($A$-AFM) phase with the 3$d_{x^2-y^2}$-type orbital-order. Substitution of Fe or Ga for Mn-site suppresses both the $A$-AFM order and competing ferromagnetic (FM) correlation whereas Cr substitution suppresses only the $A$-AFM order but reactivates the underlying FM correlation via double-exchange mechanism along the AFM coupled $c$-direction. In Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$Mn$_{0.95}$Cr$_{0.05}$O$_3$, the $A$-AFM state with the orbital-order is changed into the orbital-disordered three-dimensional FM metallic state by applying magnetic field of $\mu_0 H = 12$ T, which is much smaller than that of the parent compound Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$MnO$_3$.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in APL Material

Magnetoelectric Properties of (Ca1−x_{1-x}Srx_{x})2_2CoSi2_2O7_7 Crystals

We have investigated the magnetoelectric properties of (Ca$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$)$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ ($0\leq x\leq 1$) crystals with a quasi-two-dimensional structure. In Ca$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ ($x=0$), a canted antiferromagnetic transition occurs at 5.6 K. The transition temperature $T_{\rm N}$ is increasing with increasing Sr concentration, and the rises of the magnetization and dielectric constant become larger. Since the dielectric constant shows large change at $T_{\rm N}$ and the magnetocapacitance effect is observed below $T_{\rm N}$, a coupling between the magnetism and dielectricity is strong in (Ca$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$)$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$. The positive magnetocapacitance is reduced by Sr substitution, and is not observed in $x\geq 0.5$. Namely, the compound of $x\geq 0.5$ does not show the magnetic-field-induced electric polarization. On the other hand, the negative magnetocapacitance is enhanced by Sr substitution.Comment: 4 pages, 2figures, proceeding of International Conference on Magnetism 200

Cr-doping effect on the orbital fluctuation of heavily doped Nd1-xSrxMnO3 (x ~ 0.625)

We have investigated the Cr-doping effect of Nd0.375Sr0.625MnO3 near the phase boundary between the x2-y2 and 3z2-r2 orbital ordered states, where a ferromagnetic correlation and concomitant large magnetoresistance are observed owing to orbital fluctuation. Cr-doping steeply suppresses the ferromagnetic correlation and magnetoresistance in Nd0.375Sr0.625Mn1-yCryO3 with 0 < y < 0.05, while they reappear in 0.05 < y < 0.10. Such a reentrant behavior implies that a phase boundary is located at y = 0.05, or a phase crossover occurs across y = 0.05.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Journal of Applied Physic

Electron- and Hole-Doping Effects on AA-site Ordered NdBaMn2_2O6_6

We have investigated electron- and hole-doping effects on $A$-site ordered perovskite manganite NdBaMn$_2$O$_6$, which has the $A$-type (layered) antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state. Electrons (holes) are introduced by partial substitution of Ba$^{2+}$ (Nd$^{3+}$) with Nd$^{3+}$ (Ba$^{2+}$). Electron-doping generates ferromagnetic (FM) clusters in the $A$-type AFM matrix. With increasing the electron-doping level, the volume fraction of the FM phase or the number of the FM clusters is abruptly increasing. In contrast, the $A$-type AFM phase is robust against the hole-doping, and no FM correlation is observed in the hole-doped NdBaMn$_2$O$_6$.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Journal of the Physical Society of Japa

Magnetic-field-induced switching between ferroelectric phases in orthorhombic-distortion-controlled RRMnO3_{3}

We have investigated the dielectric and magnetic properties of Eu$_{0.595}$Y$_{0.405}$MnO$_{3}$ $without$ the presence of the 4$f$ magnetic moments of the rare earth ions, and have found two ferroelectric phases with polarization along the $a$ and $c$ axes in a zero magnetic field. A magnetic field induced switching from one to the other ferroelectric phase took plase in which the direction of ferroelectric polarization changed from the a axis to the c axis by the application of magnetic fields parallel to the a axis. In contrast to the case of TbMnO$_{3}$, in which the 4$f$ moments of Tb$^{3+}$ ions play an important role in such a ferroelectric phase switching, the magnetic-field-induced switching between ferroelectric phases in Eu$_{0.595}$Y$_{0.405}$MnO$_{3}$ does not originate from the magnetic transition of the rare-earth 4$f$ moments, but from that of the Mn 3$d$ spins.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, RevTeX4, Proceedings of MMM 2005, to appear in J. Appl. Phy

Gigantic magnetoelectric effect caused by magnetic-field-induced canted antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition in quasi-two-dimensional Ca2_2CoSi2_2O7_7 crystal

We have investigated the magnetic and dielectric properties of Ca$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ crystal. The dielectricity and magnetism of Ca$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ are strongly coupled below a canted antiferromagnetic transition temperature ($T_{\rm N}$): Magnetic fields induce electric polarization below $T_{\rm N}$. Interestingly, the magnetic-field-induced electric polarization is detected even without poling electric fields. Below $T_{\rm N}$, a canted antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition is induced by magnetic fields. The large magnetocapacitance is observed around $T_{\rm N}$. The origin of the large magnetocapacitance is due to the magnetic-field-induced the canted antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. accepted to Applied Physics Letter

Internal magnetic field effect on magnetoelectricity in orthorhombic RMnO3RMnO_3 crystals

We have investigated the role of the 4$f$ moment on the magnetoelectric (ME) effect of orthorhombic $R$MnO$_{3}$ ($R$=rare earth ions). In order to clarify the role of the 4$f$ moment, we prepared three samples: (Eu,Y)MnO$_{3}$ without the 4$f$ moment, TbMnO$_{3}$ with the anisotropic 4$f$ moment, and (Gd,Y)MnO$_{3}$ with the isotropic 4$f$ moment. The ferroelectric behaviors of these samples are different from each other in a zero magnetic field. (Eu,Y)MnO$_{3}$ and (Gd,Y)MnO$_{3}$ show the ferroelectric polarization along the a axis in the ground state, while TbMnO$_{3}$ shows it along the c axis. Such difference may arise from the influence of the anisotropic Tb$^{3+}$ 4$f$ moment. The direction of the ferroelectric polarization of $R$MnO$_{3}$ is determined by the internal magnetic field arising from the 4$f$ moment.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, the proceeding of International Conference of Magnetism, to be published in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Material

Pressure induced transition from a spin glass to an itinerant ferromagnet in half doped manganite Ln0.5Ba0.5MnO3 (Ln=Sm and Nd) with quenched disorder

The effect of quenched disorder on the multiphase competition has been investigated by examining the pressure phase diagram of half doped manganite Ln0.5B0.5MnO3 (Ln = Sm and Nd) with A-site disorders. Sm0.5Ba0.5MnO3, a spin glass insulator at ambient pressure, switches to a ferromagnetic metal with increasing pressure, followed by a rapid increase of the ferromagnetic transition temperature Tc. The rapid increase of Tc was confirmed also for Nd0.5Ba0.5MnO3. These observations indicate that the unusual suppression of the multicritical phase boundary in the A-site disordered system, previously observed as a function of the averaged A-site ionic radius, is essentially controlled by the pressure and hence the band width. The effect of quenched disorder is therefore much enhanced with approaching the multicritical region.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figure