Related Experiment Videos
Visualization of the local insulator-metal transition in Pr0.7Ca0. 3MnO3
1M. 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.
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.