X-ray-induced structural transition in La0.875Sr0.125MnO3

We report a synchrotron x-ray-scattering study of the magnetoresistive mang anite La0.875Sr0.125MnO3. At low temperatures, this material undergoes an x -ray-induced structural transition at which charge ordering of Mn3+ and Mn4 + ions characteristic to the low-temperature stare of this compound is dest royed. The transition is persistent but the charge-ordered state can be res tored by heating above the charge-ordering transition temperature and subse quently cooling. The charge-ordering diffraction peaks, which are broadened at all temperatures, broaden more upon x-ray irradiation, indicating the f inite correlation length of the charge-ordered state. Together with the rec ent reports on x-ray-induced transitions in Pr1-xCaxMnO3, our results demon strate that the photoinduced structural change is a common property of the charge-ordered perovskite manganites. [S0163-1829(99)51110-7].