title: Visualization of the local insulator-metal transition in Pr0.7Ca0. 3MnO3
abstract: The light-induced insulator-metal transition in the "colossal magnetoresistance" compound Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 is shown to generate a well-localized conducting path while the bulk of the sample remains insulating. The path can be visualized through a change of reflectivity that accompanies the phase transition. Its visibility provides a tool for gaining insight into electronic transport in materials with strong magnetic correlations. For example, a conducting path can be generated or removed at an arbitrary position just because of the presence of another path. Such manipulation may be useful in the construction of optical switches.
authors.affiliation: M. Fiebig, Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan, and Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST), Tokyo 171-0031, Japan. K. Miyano, Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-86.
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiebig
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyano
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura