Access

News and Views

Nature 438, 435 (24 November 2005) | doi:10.1038/438435a; Published online 23 November 2005

Open Innovation Challenges

naturejobs

Condensed-matter physics: Focus on the Fermi surface

Peter Littlewood1 & S breveimon Kos1

Top

The electrical resistance of some manganese oxides takes a tumble when they become magnetic. Close examination confirms the interplay of conduction electrons and lattice vibrations that contributes to this effect.

Certain manganese oxides (manganites) exhibit an intriguing effect known as 'colossal magnetoresistance'. Below a certain critical temperature, these materials become ferromagnetic — showing the spontaneous alignment of electron spins that accounts for the magnetic attraction of materials such as iron — and this is accompanied by a drastic reduction in electrical resistance.

  1. Peter Littlewood and S breveimon Kos are at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK.
    Email: pbl21@cam.ac.uk

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.