Connection between colossal magnetoresistance in La0.85Sr0.15MnO3 and magnetic ordering inhomogeneities of a sample

Resistive and magnetic measurements are made for La0.85Sr0.15MnO3. The dependence of resistivity on the applied magnetic field (10, 20, 30, and 50 kOe) and temperature (200–310 K) is analyzed using the s-d model and the obtained experimental data. The physical features that should be contained in models proposed to explain the colossal magnetoresistance of manganites with activation-type conductivity are determined. It is shown that the proposed mechanism associating the colossal magnetoresistance effect with phase separation into ferromagnetic and paramagnetic microregions near the Curie temperature has the necessary features. © 2014, Allerton Press, Inc.