Direct observation of photoinduced magnetization in a relaxor ferromagnet

Persistent ferromagnetic magnetization $\mathrm{(M)}$ as large as ${\text{0.6\hspace{0.17em}μ}}_{\mathrm{B}}$ per Mn site can be induced by irradiating visible laser pulses on a thin film of 1% Cr-doped ${\mathrm{Pr}}_{\text{0.5}}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{\text{0.5}}{\mathrm{MnO}}_3.$ The enhancement of $M$ upon the photoexcitation was also confirmed by the scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope as an increase of magnetic field from ferromagnetic domains. The observed photoinduced transition from a metastable charge/orbital ordered state into a ferromagnetic one is likely to be assisted by the microscopic phase separation characteristic of such a relaxor ferromagnet as the present Cr-doped manganite.