Magnetic phase diagram of perovskite Mn oxides at T = 0

Abstract:

Minimizing total free energy by numerical calculations, we obtain the magnetic phase diagram of perovskite Mn oxides, such as (La_1-xX_x)MnO₃with X = Ba, Ca, Sr, etc. in the whole doping region from x =0 to x =1 at temperature T =0. It is discovered that a spiral state is stable in a low concentration of X ions while a canted state is stable in a high concentration of X ions, and a ferromagnetic phase can exist in the intermediate concentrations when the antiferromagnetic interaction is weak. The energy difference between spiral and canted states is found to be small when the Hund coupling is large. Magnetic field induced spiral/canted phase transition is considered as a possible mechanism of the colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in the Mn oxides.