Dynamic percolation of ferromagnetic regions in phase separated manganites using non-uniform electric fields

Abstract

Thin films of the manganite (La$_{1-y}$Pr$_y$)$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$MnO$_3$ exhibit dynamic phase coexistence with micrometer scale, fluid-like ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) regions interspersed in a charge-order insulating (COI) background. It has been previously reported that a uniform electric field realigns the fluid-like FMM regions due to a phenomenon similar to dielectrophoresis. Here we report that non-uniform electric fields have a stronger effect on the FMM regions as expected from the dielectrophoresis model. The dynamic percolation of the FMM regions is observed over a wider range of temperatures compared to the results in a uniform field. Additionally, in a non-uniform electric field, the time required for dynamic percolation along the magnetic hard axis ($t_{\mathrm{B}}$) decreased with increasing applied voltage ($V_{\mathrm{A}}$) as a power law, $V_{\mathrm{A}}^{-\delta}$ with $\delta \approx 5$ while $\delta < 2$ for a uniform electric field. Our results in a non-uniform electric field provide strong evidence in favor of the dielectrophoresis model and a unique method for manipulating micrometer-sized ferromagnetic regions using electric fields.