Metamagnetic steps in Eu-based manganite compounds

Magnetization and specific heat measurements have been carried out on the AB O3 type half-doped (La0.3 Eu0.2) (Ca0.3 Sr0.2) Mn O3 (LE-50) and electron-doped (La0.2 Eu0.25) (Ca0.3 Sr0.25) Mn O3 (LE-55) compounds. These compounds exhibit a metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. In LE-50, the dominant feature of the metamagnetic transition manifests itself at T≲5 K. The transition is sharp and steplike at 2 K with a critical field (HC) of 3.3 kOe and a transition width of 250 Oe becoming broad with a width of ~10 kOe at 3 K. Similarly, in the LE-55 sample, the steplike behavior occurs at T≲3 K with HC =72 kOe, whereas at T>3 K, the transition is much broader. A feature consistent with the metamagnetic transition appears in the specific heat data in these compounds. Such metamagnetic steps have been observed prior to now only in Pr-based manganites. Observation of the same in Eu-based manganites suggests that these steps have no influence of any property intrinsic to Pr ions.