The local Jahn-Teller effect in (La/Sr)(n+1)MnO3n+1

Lattice polarons play an important role in the mechanism of colossal magnet oresistance in the (La/Sr)(n + 1)MnnO3n + 1 manganites. Local lattice disto rtions were characterized by the pulsed neutron pair density function (PDF) analysis. The result shows that the doped holes form polarons related to t he Jahn-Teller (JT) effect, both in the two-dimensional layered crystals (n = 2) and in the perovskites (n = infinity). The temperature effects are al so similar in both systems suggesting that lattice polarons are largely ind ependent of the crystal symmetry.