Polaron ordering in low-doping La1-xSrxMnO3

We have found a polaron ordered phase in low-doping rate La1(-x)Sr(x)MnO(3) (x = 0.10 and 0.15) by neutron scattering study. The onset temperature of the polaron order coincides with the point of resistivity upturn. The periodicity of the hole lattice is commensurate to the structural lattice translation, the unit cell being given by 2a x 2b x 4c in cubic perovskite basis. The nominal hole concentration corresponding to this periodicity is n = 0.125. The polaron lattice seems to have the tendency to lock into this commensurate structure within a finite concentration range around the nominal value of x = 0.125.