The occurrence at low temperatures of an ultrasharp field-induced transition
in phase separated manganites is analyzed. Experimental results show that
magnetization and specific heat step-like transitions below 5 K are correlated
with an abrupt change of the sample temperature, which happens at a certain
critical field. This temperature rise, a magnetocaloric effect, is interpreted
as produced by the released energy at the transition point, and is the key to
understand the existence of the abrupt field-induced transition. A qualitative
analysis of the results suggests the existence of a critical growing rate of
the ferromagnetic phase, beyond which an avalanche effect is triggered.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures included. Acepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
