Re-entrant superspin glass phase in La$_{0.82}$Ca$_{0.18}$MnO$_3$ ferromagnetic insulator

Abstract

We report results of magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements down to very low fields on a single crystal of the perovskite manganite, La$_{0.82}$Ca$_{0.18}$MnO$_3$. This composition falls in the intriguing ferromagnetic insulator region of the manganite phase diagram. In contrast to earlier beliefs, our investigations reveal that the system is magnetically (and in every other sense) single-phase with a ferromagnetic ordering temperature of $\sim$ 170 K. However, this ferromagnetic state is magnetically frustrated, and the system exhibits pronounced glassy dynamics below 90 K. Based on measured dynamical properties, we propose that this quasi-long-ranged ferromagnetic phase, and associated superspin glass behavior, is the true magnetic state of the system, rather than being a macroscopic mixture of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases as often suggested. Our results provide an understanding of the quantum phase transition from an antiferromagnetic insulator to a ferromagnetic metal via this ferromagnetic insulating state as a function of $x$ in La$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$MnO$_3$, in terms of the possible formation of magnetic polarons.