Lattice-spin mechanism in colossal magnetoresistive manganites

We present a single-orbital double-exchange model, coupled with cooperative phonons (the so called breathing modes of the oxygen octahedra in manganites). The model is studied with Monte Carlo simulations. For a finite range of doping and coupling constants, a first-order metal-insulator phase transition is found, which coincides with the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. The insulating state is due to the self-trapping of every carrier within an oxygen octahedron distortion.