Mesoscopic Percolating Resistance Network in a Strained Manganite Thin Film

K. Lai, M. Nakamura, W. Kundhikanjana, M. Kawasaki, Y. Tokura, M. A. Kelly, Z.-X. Shen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

189 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many unusual behaviors in complex oxides are deeply associated with the spontaneous emergence of microscopic phase separation. Depending on the underlying mechanism, the competing phases can form ordered or random patterns at vastly different length scales. By using a microwave impedance microscope, we observed an orientation-ordered percolating network in strained Nd 1/2Sr1/2MnO3 thin films with a large period of 100 nanometers. The filamentary metallic domains align preferentially along certain crystal axes of the substrate, suggesting the anisotropic elastic strain as the key interaction in this system. The local impedance maps provide microscopic electrical information of the hysteretic behavior in strained thin film manganites, suggesting close connection between the glassy order and the colossal magnetoresistance effects at low temperatures.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)190-193
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume329
Issue number5988
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 8 2010
Externally publishedYes

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