Nanometer-sized regions of charge ordering and charge melting in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 revealed by electron microdiffraction - art. no. 060407

Electron microdiffraction study of phase transition in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 revea led temperature-dependent (h +1/2,0,l) diffraction spots. Their intensity p eaks at T-c. Quantitative electron diffraction intensity analysis shows tha t they come from nanometer-sized domains with modulated transverse atomic d isplacements in the orthorhombic a-c plane, which has two types of Mn ions and thus charge ordering. The average domain is similar to3.6 nm in diamete r and similar to1.5 nm in height (along the b axis). The number of domains increases and then decreases, as the sample is cooled through T-c.