Ferromagnetic ground state of the robust charge-ordered manganite Pr 0.5 Ca 0.5 Mn O 3 obtained by minimal Al substitution

TLDR: In this paper, the history-dependent coexisting phases observed are explained as the outcome of a hindered first-order transition with glass-like arrest of kinetics resulting in irreversibility.

Abstract: We show that minimal disturbance to the robust charge-ordered ${\mathrm{Pr}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.5}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ by 2.5% Al substitution on the Mn site drives the system toward a ferromagnetic ground state. The history-dependent coexisting phases observed are explained as the outcome of a hindered first-order transition with glasslike arrest of kinetics resulting in irreversibility. Consistent with a simple phase diagram having a ferromagnetic ground state, it is experimentally shown that these coexisting phases are far from equilibrium.