title: A change from second- to first-order transition in (La(1-x)Eu(x))0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2).
abstract: A detailed investigation of the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in (La(1-x)Eu(x))(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) having small Eu(3+)-content (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) has been carried out through resistivity and magnetization measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns of the compounds reveal a single phase (La(1-x)Eu(x))(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) of an orthorhombic crystal structure after annealing the precursor at 800 °C for 2 h in air. With increasing Eu(3+)-content, the second-order transition (at x = 0 and 0.1) changes to first-order at x = 0.2. The experimental results demonstrate thermomagnetic irreversibility of the transition for x = 0.2 composition. This arises between the supercooling and superheating regimes where both the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases coexist.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Centre, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, India.
authors.forename: Debasis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Roy