Magnetic field control of electric-field-induced local domain growth in manganites

摘要

Local charged states have been induced at the surface of lanthanum strontium manganite single crystals as result of the local bias application by a conducting atomic force microscope tip. The piezoelectric contrast is observed in these states pointing to the existence of a local polar state. The induced charged states relax with characteristic time constant of about 50-100hours at room temperature. Charge and size of the created structures increase significantly if the induction occurs in a magnetic field. It indicates the tendency of manganites toward charge segregation stimulated by the magnetic ordering.