Quenched disorder induced magnetization jumps in (Sm,Sr)MnO$_3$

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quenched disorder from rapid cooling causes inhomogeneous metastable states, leading to step-like magnetization and resistivity changes in SmSr manganites, challenging the martensitic transition explanation.

Contribution

It introduces a new explanation for magnetization jumps in SmSr manganites based on quenched disorder and metastable states, rather than martensitic transitions.

Findings

Magnetization and resistivity show step-like changes dependent on cooling rate.

Magnetostriction does not indicate large strain, ruling out martensitic transition.

Quenched disorder from fast cooling induces inhomogeneous metastable states.

Abstract

Magnetic field induced step-like changes in magnetization and resistivity of SmSr manganites were studied. A strong dependence of these features on the cooling rate was observed. Magnetostriction, however, does not show the presence of large strain in our samples. From all these features we can rule out the conventional explanation of magnetization jumps as a consequence of martensitic transition. We propose instead that quenched by fast cooling disorder leads to the formation of an inhomogeneous metastable state and to subsequent magnetization jumps.