Critical behavior of metal-insulator transition in La1-xSrxVO3

Critical behavior of the metal-insulator transition (MIT) coupled with spin/orbital correlations has been investigated for single crystals of La1-xSrxVO3. In the paramagnetic (PM) metal. phase (x > 0.260), the precursor to the MIT manifests itself as an enhancement of carrier effective mass. In the antiferromagnetic (AF) metal phase (0.178 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.260), the carrier density decreases and the correlation of the orbital seems to evolve towards the: MIT (x = 0.178). In the AF insulating phase (x < 0.178), the distinct first-order structural phase transition occurs with the decrease of temperature,, perhaps concomitantly with the orbital ordering.