Colossal resistivity change besides magnetoresistance: an extended theoretical framework for electronic transport of manganites

Abstract

Current theoretical approaches to manganites mainly stem from magnetic framework, in which the electronic transport is thought to be spin-dependent and the double exchange mechanism plays a core role. However, quite a number of experimental observations can yet not be reasonably explained. For example, multiplicate insulator-metal transitions and resistivity reduction induced by perturbations other than magnetic field, such as electric current, are not well understood. A comprehensive analysis on earlier extensive studies is performed and two types of origins for resistivity change are highlighted. Besides the insulated-to-metallic transition induced by external field such as magnetic field, the insulated-to-insulated transition induced extrinsically is even a more important source for the colossal resistivity change. We propose an extended framework for the electronic transport of manganites, in which the contribution of charge degree of freedom is given a special priority.