Phase separation in La–Ca manganites: Magnetic field effects

Abstract The coexistence of magnetic phases seems to be a characteristic of the La–Ca family of in colossal magnetoresistant manganites. We have analyzed this phenomenon in terms of a free energy, F, where magnetic and electronic contributions of two coexistent phases are included. Three order parameters describe the behavior of the mixed material: the magnetization of each phase and the metallic fraction. Due to the coupling between order parameters there is a range: T**⩽T⩽T* where coexistence is possible. Values for the phenomenological parameters are obtained from the experiment. In this paper we analyze the effects of an applied magnetic field on the range of T where the phase coexistence takes place, based on results obtained from dc-magnetization and ESR measurements.