Low temperature magnetic and transport anisotropy in Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3: The magnetostriction scenario

Angle-resolved magnetic and transport measurements of a Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin film as a function of the in-plane magnetic field direction are discussed. The origins of the anisotropic magnetotransport evidenced near Curie tempe rature and at T=30 K are shown to strongly differ. Quantitative magnetic si mulations of the angular dependence of the magnetization at T=30 K were use d to evaluate the anisotropy energy in low field. A rotation of the in-plan e easy axis induced by high fields at T=30 K is attributed to the magnetost riction caused by the praseodymium ions. Furthermore, a model taking into a ccount this plausible magnetostrictive effect is shown to qualitatively rep roduce the observed low temperature transport anisotropy. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)62808-6].