UNIVERSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAGNETIZATION AND CHANGES IN THE LOCAL STRUCTURE IN QUASICUBIC AND BILAYER MANGANITES
We extend our previous EXAFS investigations on the relationship between magnetization and local distortions to the bilayer materials La 2-2x Sr 1+2x Mn 2 O 7 and to higher magnetic fields, for quasicubic La 0.7 Ca 0.3 MnO 3. For each, there is a significant change in the broadening parameter σ of the Mn-O pair distribution function (PDF) associated with polaron formation as T is increased through T c. Applying a magnetic field reduces the local distortion of the Ca sample for temperatures near T c. For samples with sharp transitions, there is still a significant change of σ2 with T below T c when the sample is fully magnetized, i.e. distortions are still present and continuing to be removed as T is lowered well below T c. A simple model is presented for the magnetization process.