Collapse of a Charge-Ordered State under a Magnetic Field inPr1/2Sr1/2MnO3

Abstract
The perovskite-type manganese oxide, Pr1xSrxMnO3 (x=0.5), shows a first-order phase transition from a ferromagnetic (FM) metal to antiferromagnetic (AFM) nonmetal at 140 K, which accompanies the transition to the charge-ordered state (generalized Wigner lattice). The nonmetal-to-metal transition temperature can be decreased down to near 0 K with a magnetic field up to 70 kOe. The temperature-field phase diagram for the charge-ordered state is presented together with a discussion on the mechanism of this field-induced phase transition.