LIQUID-LIKE SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION OF MAGNETIC DROPLETS REVEALED BY NEUTRON-SCATTERING IN LA1-XCAXMNO3

Elastic neutron scattering experiments, performed in semiconducting La 1-xCaxMnO3 single crystals (x = 0.05, 0.08), reveal new features in th e problem of electronic phase separation and metal insulator transitio n. Below T-N, the observation of a broad magnetic modulation in the q- dependent elastic scattering intensity, centered at nearly identical q (m) whatever the q direction, can be explained by a liquidlike spatial distribution of similar magnetic droplets. A semiquantitative descrip tion of their magnetic state, diameter, and average distance can be do ne. Such a picture can explain the anomalous characteristics of the sp in wave branches previously observed.