Structural, Magnetic and Electrical Properties of the Slightly Doped Lanthanum Manganites

The temperature dependences of the transverse and longitudinal hypersound velocities at the frequencies (0.5-0.7) GHz were measured in the La1-xSrx MnO3 (x = 0.125; 0.15; 0.175) compositions. Structural phase transitions the position of which is confirmed by the electric resistance and magnetic measurements data for the same samples are observed. These results were analyzed within the model of the competing Jahn-Teller distortions and magnetic ordering. Anomalies in the behavior of the longitudinal hypersound velocities were related to the local Jahn-Teller distortions the suppression of which upon magnetic ordering is considered as a possible origin of a colossal magnetoresistance.