Magnetic phase separation in Nd0.5(Ca, Sr)0.5MnO3

The phase separation of Nd0.5Ca0.5-ySryMnO3, for 0 <= y <= 0.5, is studied via electron spin resonance (ESR) in the temperature range 80-400 K. Two types of magnetic phases are found to coexist in the samples with y > 0 below a phase separation temperature T*. The ESR line width exhibits a minimum near the charge order transition temperature T-CO for samples with y < 0.25, and near T* for y >= 0.25. A systematic decrease in line width is observed as y increases from 0 to 0.5. The g factors increase slightly and the ESR intensities increase exponentially when the temperature decreases in the paramagnetic region. Our results demonstrate presence of two local magnetic structures due to the intrinsic phase separation. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3475503]