材料期刊网

Magnetism of bulk La1/3Nd1/3Ca1/3MnO3 with a magnetoresistance ratio as high as -96% in a field of 0.67 T is investigated. Two shoulders are observed on both thermal magnetization curves and magnetization isotherms. A magnetic inhomogeneity model, i.e., simultaneous occurrence of ferromagnetic La-rich domains and nonferromagnetic Nd-rich domains in the compound, is proposed. The model gives a satisfactory explanation for the experimental results. It is argued that a field-induced magnetic transition occurs in the Nd-rich phase and the coexisting La-rich phase can promote the magnetic transition. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(97)03221-0].