Abrupt field-induced transition triggered by magnetocaloric effect in phase-separated manganites

Abstract

The occurrence at low temperatures of an ultrasharp field-induced transition in phase-separated manganites is analyzed. Experimental results show that magnetization and specific-heat steplike transitions below $5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ are correlated with an abrupt change of the sample temperature, which happens at a certain critical field. This temperature rise, a magnetocaloric effect, is interpreted as produced by the released energy at the transition point and is the key to understand the existence of the abrupt field-induced transition. A qualitative analysis of the results suggests the existence of a critical growing rate of the ferromagnetic phase, beyond which an avalanche effect is triggered.