Heterogeneous magnetic and electronic states in Ca1−xLaxMnO3−δ (x⩽0.12) single crystals with electron doping

The magnetic, transport, and optical properties of electron-doped Ca1−xLaxMnO3−δ single crystals with x⩽0.12 were studied. The magnetic measurements show that in single crystals with x=0 and 0.05 the G-type AFM phase with weak FM component is realized and in crystals with x=0.10 and 0.12 the G- and C-type AFM phases coexist. The C-type magnetic structure arises at less concentration of La than in polycrystalline samples as a result of oxygen vacancies being additional source of electrons. Under magnetic transitions in the G- and C-type phases, resistivity and magnetoresistance of the doped single crystals have anomalies. Optical absorption in IR range indicates formation of a charge gap in crystals with x=0.10 and 0.12 at appearance of the C-AFM and monoclinic phase with orbital/charge ordering. By comparing optical and transport properties, heterogeneous electronic state and its relation with heterogeneous magnetic state are shown.