Metamagnetic steps in Eu-based manganite compounds

Abstract

Magnetization and specific heat measurements have been carried out on the ABO3 type half-doped (La0.3Eu0.2)(Ca0.3Sr0.2)MnO3 (LE-50) and electron-doped (La0.2Eu0.25)(Ca0.3Sr0.25)MnO3 (LE-55) compounds. These compounds exhibit a metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. In LE-50, the dominant feature of the metamagnetic transition manifests itself at T≲5K. The transition is sharp and steplike at 2K with a critical field (HC) of 3.3kOe and a transition width of 250Oe becoming broad with a width of ∼10kOe at 3K. Similarly, in the LE-55 sample, the steplike behavior occurs at T≲3K with HC=72kOe, whereas at T>3K, the transition is much broader. A feature consistent with the metamagnetic transition appears in the specific heat data in these compounds. Such metamagnetic steps have been observed prior to now only in Pr-based manganites. Observation of the same in Eu-based manganites suggests that these steps have no influence of any property intrinsic to Pr ions.