Spatial motion of the magnetic avalanches associated to the CO-AFM to CD-FM transition in La$_{0.225}$Pr$\_{0.40}$Ca$\_{0.375}$MnO$\_{3}$ manganite

TL;DR

This study observes the spatial propagation of magnetic avalanches during a phase transition in a manganite, revealing that the transition propagates internally with a velocity of tens of m/s and depends on magnetic field gradients.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of the spatial motion and origin of magnetic avalanches in manganites during phase transitions.

Findings

Avalanches originate inside the sample and propagate outward.

The avalanche ignition point depends on the magnetic field gradient.

Transition velocity is on the order of tens of meters per second.

Abstract

Very fast magnetic avalanches in (La, Pr)-based manganites are the signature of a phase transition from an insulating blocked charge-ordered (CO-AFM) state to a charge delocalized ferromagnetic (CD-FM) state. We report here the experimental observation that this transition does not occur neither simultaneously nor randomly in the whole sample but there is instead a spatial propagation with a velocity of the order of tens of m/s. Our results show that avalanches are originated in the inside of the sample, move to the outside and occur at values of the applied magnetic field that depend on the CD-FM fraction in the sample. Moreover, a change in the gradient of the magnetic field along the sample shifts the point where the avalanches are ignited.