Critical behavior of the metal-insulator transition in La1-xSrxMnO3

The critical behavior of the metal-insulator (MI) transition around x(c) = 0.16 has been investigated for single crystals of La1-xSrxMnO3 by measurements of low-temperature resistivity and specific heat. The electronic specific heat coefficient, gamma = 3-5 mJ/K-2 mel, indicates minimal mass-renormalization even near the MI transition whereas significant increases of the residual value and T-2 coefficient of resistivity as well as of T-3 term of specific heat are observed with a decrease of x toward x(c). The results indicate the presence of the spin-polarized anomalous metallic phase with strongly lattice- or orbital-coupled diffuse charge dynamics near x(c). [S0031-9007(98)07320-7].