The features and mechanism of Colossal Magnetoresistance, or CMR, in manganese oxides as well as device physics are highlighted in this book, with a focus on tunneling MR for some artificial structures. Underlying new science, such as tunable electron-lattice interaction in a metal and roles of orbital degrees of freedom in producing an unconventional metallic feature, is also discussed. The book provides a systematic exploration of the CMR materials and an extensive investigation of the electronic phenomena of those compounds by various experimental means.

Metal oxides constitute one of the most amazing classes of materials with a wide range of properties. They exhibit a variety of phenomena, such as ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism and superconductivity. A new aspect of metal oxides -- colossal magnetoresistance exhibited by certain manganese oxides, in particular rare earth manganates of perovskite structure -- has received much attention in the last four years. Some of these oxides show 100% magnetoresistance and have much potential for technological applications. Previously this phenomenon was found only in layered and granular metallic materials. Studies of colossal magnetoresistance have led to the discovery of many other new phenomena and properties such as charge ordering and orbital ordering. In view of the importance of colossal magnetoresistance, charge ordering and related phenomena exhibited by oxides to the physics and chemistry of solid materials, it is necessary and timely to have a book dealing with these topics. This book begins with a review of the subject followed by contributions from a number of experts which cover the present status of the subject.

The features and mechanism of Colossal Magnetoresistance, or CMR, in manganese oxides as well as device physics are highlighted in this book, with a focus on tunneling MR for some artificial structures. Underlying new science, such as tunable electron-lattice interaction in a metal and roles of orbital degrees of freedom in producing an unconventio

The physics of transition metal oxides has become a central topic of interest to condensed-matter scientists ever since high temperature superconductivity was discovered in hole-doped cuprates with perovskite-like structures. Although the renewed interest in hole-doped perovskite manganites following the discovery of their colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) properties, began in 1993 about a decade after the discovery of high temperature superconductivity, their first investigation started as early as 1950 and basic theoretical ideas were developed during 1951-1960. Experience in sample preparation and characterization, and in growth of single crystals and epitaxial thin films, gained during the research on high temperature superconductors, and the development of theoretical tools, were very efficiently used in research on CMR manganites. In early nineties it appeared to many condensed matter physicists that although the problem of high temperature superconductivity is a difficult one to solve, a quantitative understanding of CMR phenomena might be well within reach. This book is intended to be an account of the latest developments in the phys ics of CMR manganites. When I planned this book back in 2000, I thought that research on the physics of CMR manganites would be more or less consolidated by the time this would be published. I was obviously very optimistic indeed. We are now in 2003 and we still do not have a quantitative understanding of the central CMR effect. Meanwhile the field has expanded. It is still a very active field of research on both the experimental and theoretical fronts.

This series of books, which is published at the rate of about one per year, addresses fundamental problems in materials science. The contents cover a broad range of topics from small clusters of atoms to engineering materials and involves chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, with length scales ranging from Ångstroms up to millimeters. The emphasis is on basic science rather than on applications. Each book focuses on a single area of current interest and brings together leading experts to give an up to date discussion of their work and the work of others. Each article contains enough references that the interested reader can access the relevant literature. Thanks are given to the Center for Fundamental Materials Research at Michigan State University for supporting this series. M. F. Thorpe, Series Editor E mail: thorpe@pa. msu. edu V PREFACE This book records invited lectures given at the workshop on Physics of Manganites, held at Michigan State University, July 26 29, 1998. Doped manganites are an interesting class of compounds that show both metal insulator and ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transitions at the same temperature. This was discovered in the early 1950s by Jonker and van Santen and basic theoretical ideas were developed by Zener (1951), Anderson and Hasegawa (1955), and deGennes (1960) to explain these transitions and related interesting observations.

Learn more about foundational and advanced topics in polymer thin films and coatings besides species with this powerful two-volume resource The two-volume Inorganic and Organic Thin Films: Fundamentals, Fabrication, and Applications delivers a foundational resource for current researchers and commercial users involved in the design and fabrication of thin films. The book offers newcomers to the field a thorough description of new design theory, fabrication methods, and applications of advanced thin films. Readers will discover the physics and chemistry underlying the manufacture of new thin films and coatings in this leading new resource that promises to become a handbook for future applications of the technology. This one-stop reference brings together all important aspects of inorganic and polymeric thin films and coatings, including construction, assembly, deposition, functionality, patterning, and characterization. Explorations of their applications in industries as diverse as information technology, new energy, biomedical engineering, aerospace, and oceanographic engineering round out this fulsome exploration of one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of scientific and industrial research today. Readers will also learn from: A comprehensive introduction to the progress of thin films and coatings as well as fundamentals in functional thin films and coatings An exploration of multi-layered magnetic thin films for electron transport control and signal sensing, including giant magnetoresistance, colossal magnetoresistance, tunneling magnetoresistance, and the quantum anomalous Holzer effect An in time summary of high-quality magneto-optics, nanophotonics, spin waves and spintronics using bismuth-substituted iron garnet thin films as examples A thorough discussion of template-assisted fabrication of nanostructure thin films for ultrasensitive detection of chemicals and biomolecules A treatment of biomass derived functional films and coatings Perfect for materials scientists and inorganic chemists, Inorganic and Organic Thin Films will also earn a place in the libraries of solid state physicists and physical chemists working in private industry, as well as polymer and surface chemists who seek to improve their understanding of thin films and coatings.

This book first introduces a single polaron and describes recent achievements in analytical and numerical studies of polaron properties in different e-ph models. It then describes multi-polaron physics as well as many key physical properties of high-temperature superconductors, colossal magnetoresistance oxides, conducting polymers and molecular nanowires, which were understood with polarons and bipolarons.