Critical properties of the perovskite manganite La0.1Nd0.6Sr0.3MnO3

The critical properties of perovskite manganite La0.1Nd0.6Sr0.3MnO3 around the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition are investigated through various techniques such as modified Arrott plot, Kouvel-Fisher method, and critical isotherm analysis. The magnetic data analyzed in the critical region using the above methods yield the critical exponents of beta=0.257 +/- 0.005 and gamma=1.12 +/- 0.03 at T-C=249.32 +/- 0.03 K. The exponent delta=5.17 +/- 0.02 independently obtained from the critical magnetization isotherm was found to basically fulfill the Widom scaling relation delta=1 + gamma/beta. Moreover, the critical exponents also obey the single scaling equation of M(H, epsilon)=epsilon(beta)f +/-(H/epsilon(beta+gamma)). These results indicate that the obtained critical exponents are reliable. The values deduced for the critical exponents are closed to the theoretical prediction of tricritical mean-field model rather than the universal theory of three-dimensional Heisenberg model and mean-field model. These results suggest the present composition may be close to a tricritical point in the La0.7-xNdxSr0.3MnO3 phase diagram