Nanoscale Phase Separation and Colossal Magnetoresistance: The Physics of Manganites and Related Compounds

ISBN-13: 9783540432456 / Angielski / Twarda / 2002 / 459 str.

Elbio Dagotto

Opis

Condensed matter is one of the most active areas of research in physics. Ev- ery year new materials are discovered with properties that are as challenging as or more than those of the year before. The effort is led mainly by exper- imentalists, who systematically manage to prepare compounds with exotic new properties, including complex ground states involving nontrivial spin, charge, lattice, and orbital arrangements. This work is typically carried out by a relatively small number of researchers, compared with other disciplines, and the interaction between experimentalists and theorists is quite strong. It is a real pleasure for a theorist, like the author, to have experimental data with which to test proposed ideas in short time scales. This allows for a theory-experiment cross-fertilization that keeps the field very active. These are quite interesting times in condensed matter for sure. This book is devoted to the study of a family of materials known as man- ganites. As for other exotic compounds, the fast development of experiments has induced a rapid evolution of the main theoretical ideas. A considerable ef- fort, both on theory and experiments, has led to the currently much-accepted notion that nanoscale phase separation is at the heart of the behavior of elec- trons in these compounds. This point is described in detail in this book, with a plethora of experimental data, computer simulation results, and analytic calculations supporting that description.

Recenzje

From the reviews:

"Dagotto has authored a fascinating book that comprehensively presents both the physical properties of manganites and our theoretical understanding of these unusual properties. ... the publishers have, as usual, produced a durable volume which is well bound, nicely typeset, and nicely illustrated with many useful figures ... . This is a volume that will prove useful for many years and that will also survive extensive use ... . As such it is highly recommended to the reader who wants an in-depth view of the manganites." (Gary J. Long and Fernande Grandjean, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (2), 2005)

"The book of E. Dagotto, being an original introduction to the physics of manganites, is focused mainly on the problem of nanoscale phase separation of these materials. ... The book ... provides a solid knowledge of the foundations of the correlation effects and the present status of the field. ... this book will be also of a great value for researchers already working in the field of strongly correlated systems as well as for these who are interested in new materials for the spintronics." (G. B. Teitel'baum, Applied Magnetic Resonance, Vol. 24 (2), 2003)

Spis treści

1. Why Manganites Are Interesting.- 2. The Discovery of Manganites and the Colossal Magnetoresistance Effect.- 3. Phase Diagrams and Basic Properties of Manganites.- 4. Preliminary Theoretical Considerations: Coulombic and Jahn Teller Effects.- 5. Models for Manganites.- 6. The One-Orbital Model: Phase Diagram and Dominant Correlations.- 7. Monte Carlo Simulations and Application to Manganite Models.- 8. Mean-Field Approximation.- 9. Two-Orbitals Model and Orbital Order.- 10. Charge Ordering: CE-States, Stripes, and Bi-Stripes.- 11. Inhomogeneities in Manganites: The Case of La1?xCaxMnO3.- 12. Optical Conductivity.- 13. Glassy Behavior and Time-Dependent Phenomena.- 14. Inhomogeneities in La1?xSrxMnO3 and Pr1?xCaxMnO3.- 15. Inhomogeneities in Layered Manganites.- 16. An Elementary Introduction to Percolation.- 17. Competition of Phases as the Origin of the CMR.- 18. Pseudogaps and Photoemission Experiments.- 19. Charge-Ordered Nanoclusters above TC: the Smoking Gun of Phase Separation?.- 20. Other Compounds with Large MR and/or Competing FM AF Phases.- 21. Brief Introduction to Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR).- 22. Discussion and Open Questions.- References.

Blurb

The study of the spontaneous formation of nanostructures in single crystals is rapidly developing into a dominant field of research in the subject area known as strongly correlated electrons. The structures appear to originate in the competition of phases. This book addresses nanoscale phase separation, focusing on the manganese oxides with colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). The text argues that nanostructures are at the heart of the CMR phenomenon. Other compounds are also addressed, such as high-temperature superconductors, where similar nanostructures exist. Brief contributions by distinguished researchers are also included. The book contains updated information directed at experts, both theorists and experimentalists. Beginning graduate students or postdocs will also benefit from the introductory material of the early chapters, and the book can be used as a reference for an advanced graduate course.