Photo-induced phase transition in charge ordered perovskite manganites

Photo-irradiation effects on the charge and spin ordered manganites at quarter filling are investigated. Time dependence of spin and charge states after irradiation is calculated by utilizing the time-dependent unrestricted Hartree-Fock method in a finite size cluster. It is shown, by analyzing charge distribution, energy gap and magnetization, that the transition from the charge ordered phase associated with the antiferromagnetic order to the ferromagnetic metallic one occurs. Melting of the charge order and growing of the magnetization occur, cooperatively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.