Electronic phase separation in the pyrochlore double-exchange model

Abstract

Electronic phase separation and related inhomogeneity is ubiquitously seen in strongly-correlated systems. A typical example is found between ferromagnetic metal and antiferromagnetic insulator in CMR manganese oxides. Here we demonstrate that the geometrical frustration brings distinctive aspects into the phase separation phenomena. From Monte Carlo simulation and a simple energy comparison for the pyrochlore double-exchange model, we show that such phase separation takes place between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic metals. We discuss the relevance of our results to a spin-glassy metallic phase found in Mo pyrochlore oxides under external pressure.

5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B (Rapid Commun.)