Dynamic percolation of ferromagnetic regions in phase separated manganites using non-uniform electric fields
Abstract
Thin films of the manganite (La 1 - yPr y) 1 - xCa xMnO 3 exhibit dynamic phase coexistence with micrometer scale, fluid-like ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) regions interspersed in a charge-order insulating background. It has been previously reported that a uniform electric field realigns the fluid-like FMM regions due to a phenomenon similar to dielectrophoresis. Here, we report that non-uniform electric fields have a stronger effect on the FMM regions as expected from the dielectrophoresis model. The dynamic percolation of the FMM regions is observed over a wider range of temperatures compared to the results in a uniform field. Additionally, in a non-uniform electric field, the time required for dynamic percolation along the magnetic hard axis ( t B) decreased with increasing applied voltage ( V A) as a power law, VA - δ, with δ ≈ 5 while δ < 2 for a uniform electric field. Our results in a non-uniform electric field provide strong evidence in favor of the dielectrophoresis model and a unique method for manipulating micrometer-sized ferromagnetic regions using electric fields.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Applied Physics
- Pub Date:
- June 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1063/5.0004862
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2002.07783
- Bibcode:
- 2020JAP...127u3902S
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 5 figures