Peculiar Electrical and Magnetic Properties of La(Ba)MnO3 Thin Films

In this article it is reviewed on enigmatic electrical and magnetic properties of La(Ba)MnO3 thin films, useful for tunable microwave filters. As-grown films have well separated insulating to metallic (Tp) and paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (Tc) transition temperatures, which can be understood from the phase separation model. The film shows negative magnetoresistance (MR) caused by normal double exchange coupling effect, and positive MR which is interpreted by a magnetostriction effect. The phase separation is caused by crystal strain in the film. By annealing these two temperatures, Tp and Tc, become more separated, implying a size reduction of ferromagnetic grains. The phase separation scenario can be confirmed by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) showing doublet signals. The FMR indicates anisotropic phase transition which supports the magnetostriction model. Moreover, the narrow FMR signals suggest high spin ordering and good crystallinity.