Combined metamagnetic and insulator-to-metal transitions in Pr-based manganites

Abstract A new mechanism of the simultaneous metamagnetic and insulator-to-metal transition caused by an external magnetic field is proposed. It makes it possible to explain specific properties of Pr-based doped manganites by the existence of Pr 4+ ions in them at zero magnetic field. In finite fields, transfer of holes to the Mn ions takes place which manifests itself as a such a combined transition. On increase in temperature, a transition to a highly-conductive state can take place in the absence of the magnetic field.