Metallic resistivity occurs at cryogenic temperatures in insulators wi
th small carrier trap energies, e.g., superconducting cuprates. A simi
lar metallic regime has been reported for the lanthanide (RE) manganit
es (RE(1-x)(3+)A(x)(2+))MnO3. To interpret the anomalous resistivity r
ho as a function of temperature and magnetic field in these compounds,
a model constructed from the relation for mobility activated semicond
uction and the Brillouin-Weiss theory of ferromagnetism has been devel
oped. the resistivity maximum occurs at the susceptibility peak slight
ly above the Curie temperature T-C and its magnitude is related to the
hopping electron trap energy E(hop) by exp(E(hop)/kT(C)). Where T<T-C
, rho is metallic because E(hop) is small due to the collinear polariz
ation of spins. For T greater than or equal to T-C, E(hop) increases t
o a value similar to 0.1 eV equal to the decrease in stabilization ene
rgy of the transfer electrons caused by the transition from spin align
ment to disorder. The magnetoresistance sensitivity d rho/dH at T=T-C
is controlled by TC through (1/T-C)exp(E(hop)/kT(C)). The relative sen
sitivity (1/rho d rho/dH, the superconducting cuprates occurs because
of the frustration of antiferromagnetism. (C) 1996 American Institute
of Physics.