Faint variation of Young's modulus at low temperatures in the phase-separated La0.5Ca0.5MnO3−δ

We have investigated the phase-separated La0.5Ca0.5MnO3−δ samples, with the coexistence of ferromagnetic metallic and antiferromagnetic charge-ordered phases at low temperatures, by means of in-situ measurements of resistivity and Young's modulus combined with magnetization measurement. When the percolative metal–insulator transition occurs or the ferromagnetic domains grow up with decreasing temperature, the Young's modulus exhibits the corresponding variation. Our results suggest that the temperature-driven strain has a close correlation with basic physics such as the percolative metal–insulator transition and phase separation, etc.