ESR study in lightly doped La1-xSrxMnO3

We present a systematic electron-spin-resonance (ESR) study in single cryst als of La1-xSrxMnO3(0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.2). T he temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth marks all significant transi tions between both orthorhombic (O',O) and the rhombohedral (R) structural phases of the T-x phase diagram. All significant peculiarities of the ESR s pectra for low x values within the O' phase can be attributed to the cooper ative Jahn-Teller effect on the Mn3+ e(g) states and to the influence of th e Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya exchange interaction. Possible relaxation mechanisms at higher doping levels are discussed.