A ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer study of charge ordering and phase separation in the rare-earth manganates, Nd_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ and Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃

Abstract

Mössbauer studies of 2% ⁵⁷Fe-doped Nd_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ and Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ have been carried out over the 4.2-300 K range after ensuring that such doping does not change their basic properties. The charge-ordering transition in these manganates is marked by abrupt changes in the quadrupole splitting. In the case of Nd_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃, two phases manifest themselves on cooling below the charge-ordering transition temperature. The evolution of the spectra as a function of temperature shows that long-range magnetic order does not occur sharply. The observed evolution with temperature is different in the two materials studied. In Nd_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.98⁵⁷Fe_0.02O₃, it resembles that of a disordered magnetic material, whereas the temperature dependence of line shape of Nd_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.98⁵⁷Fe_0.02O₃ is typical of a superparamagnetically relaxed magnetic system. Although both the manganates show well-resolved magnetic hyperfine spectra at 4.2 K, the lines are slightly broad indicating possible coexistence of phases at low temperatures. A weak paramagnetic signal is also seen in the spectra of both the manganates at 4.2 K.