Relaxation nature of a current settling upon the application of an electric voltage in LaMnO3 crystals

The electrical conductivity of LaMnO3 crystals was measured at room tempera ture to determine that the transition to a stable magnitude of electric cur rent corresponding to the applied voltage has a relaxational nature with a characteristic time of about 10 min. The steady-state value of the current depends on the preceding voltage applied to the sample. The effect was obse rved in both dc and ac measurements. Detailed characterization of the cryst als was performed using magnetic and x-ray methods. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/ I nterperiodica".