Charge correlations in the magnetoresistive oxide La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (invited)

Neutron scattering has been used to study the nature of the spin dynamics a nd charge correlations in a single crystal of the colossal magnetoresistive perovskite La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. Diffuse scattering from lattice polarons develo ps as the Curie temperature is approached from below, along with short rang e polaron correlations that are consistent with stripe formation. Magnetic fields are found to suppress this polaron formation. The temperature depend ence of the polaron correlations follows the same behavior as both the resi stivity and the anomalous quasielastic component in the magnetic fluctuatio n spectrum, indicating that they have a common origin. (C) 2001 American In stitute of Physics.