Phase-separated states in antiferromagnetic semiconductors with a polarizable lattice - art. no. 014401

The possibility of the slab or stripe phase separation (alternating ferroma gnetic highly conductive and insulating antiferromagnetic layers) is proved for isotropic degenerate antiferromagnetic semiconductors. This type of ph ase separation competes with the droplet phase separation (ferromagnetic dr oplets in the antiferromagnetic host or vice versa). The interaction of ele ctrons with optical phonons alone cannot cause phase-separated state with a lternating highly-conductive and insulating regions but it stabilizes the m agnetic phase separation. The magnetostriction deformation of the lattice i n the phase-separated state is investigated.