MAGNETOTRANSPORT AND MAGNETOCALORIC PROPERTIES OF LA0.55ER0.05CA0.4MNO3

La0.55Er0.05Ca0.4MnO3 in bulk form was prepared both by solid-state re action and by a sol-gel method. Samples prepared by both methods showe d a moderate magnetic entropy change near its Curie temperature, this spread to a large temperature span upon the application of a magnetic field of 1.8 T. The material prepared by the sol-gel method exhibits a large magnetoresistance below its Curie temperature, which is conside red to result from the interfacial spin-dependent tunneling. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)02919-3]