Muon Spin Relaxation Study of (La, Ca)MnO3

Abstract

We report predominantly zero field muon spin relaxation measurements in a series of Ca-doped LaMnO_3 compounds which includes the colossal magnetoresistive manganites. Our principal result is a systematic study of the spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/T_1 and magnetic order parameters in the series La_{1-x}Ca_xMnO_3, x = 0.0, 0.06, 0.18, 0.33, 0.67 and 1.0. In LaMnO_3 and CaMnO_3 we find very narrow critical regions near the Neel temperatures T_N and temperature independent 1/T_1 values above T_N. From the 1/T_1 in LaMnO_3 we derive an exchange integral J = 0.83 meV which is consistent with the mean field expression for T_N. All of the doped manganites except CaMnO_3 display anomalously slow, spatially inhomogeneous spin-lattice relaxation below their ordering temperatures. In the ferromagnetic (FM) insulating La_{0.82}Ca_{0.18}MnO_3 and ferromagnetic conducting La_{0.67}Ca_{0.33}MnO_3 systems we show that there exists a bi-modal distribution of \muSR rates λ_f and λ_s associated with relatively 'fast' and 'slow' Mn fluctuation rates, respectively. A physical picture is hypothesized for these FM phases in which the fast Mn rates are due to overdamped spin waves characteristic of a disordered FM, and the slower Mn relaxation rates derive from distinct, relatively insulating regions in the sample. Finally, likely muon sites are identified, and evidence for muon diffusion in these materials is discussed.