| Abstract
| - In order to clarify the electronic phase separation consisting of distinct ferromagnetic (FM) metallic and charge-ordered (CO) insulating phases in the colossal magnetoresistive (La, Pr, Ca)MnO 3, we have carefully examined the electronic inhomogeneities by Lorentz microscopy, combined with conventional magnetic studies. We discovered the presence of an intermediate FM state characterized by the emergence of nanoscale (10-20 nm) magnetic regions (magnetic nano-droplets) in the intermediate temperature window above the FM transition temperature. The magnetic nano-droplets in fact precede the onset of ferromagnetic long-range order. It is also found that this intermediate state with magnetic nano-droplets is intimately coupled with the presence of the short-range CO regions.
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