Colossal magnetoresistance manganites

We review lattice, thermodynamic, transport, high-frequency, and optical properties of Re1-xDxMnO3 manganites, where Re is a rare earth and D is usually an alkaline-earth element. Colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) is the most famous effect observed in manganites near the Curie temperature T-C. It is shown that the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the magnetocaloric effect, resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall effect, and thermopower near T-C depend on whether the magnetic transition is of first or second order. The possibility of applying the well-known Banerjee criterion to inhomogeneous ferromagnets is discussed. Special attention is paid to various inhomogeneities characteristic of the manganites, including the coexistence of different crystallographic phases, metallic inclusions in the semiconductor matrix, and polarons.