Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of Tb0.5Ca0.5MnO3

The magnetic and dielectric properties of a perovskite manganite Tb0.5Ca0.5MnO3 were investigated. Magnetic measurements showed three characteristic temperatures, originating from charge ordering (~300 K), antiferromagnetic ordering (~120 K), and a transition to a glassy state (~50 K). The coexistence of the charge and antiferromagnetic orderings was confirmed by powder neutron diffraction. AC dielectric measurements showed large dielectric constants larger than ~1000 at approximately room temperature. The temperature dependence of the dielectric constant changed just below the charge-ordering temperature. From the analysis of tan δ, the activation energy for switching the directions of polar regions was calculated to be ~0.09 eV, which is close to the activation energy of the Mn 3d electron transfer. These results strongly suggest that the dielectric properties of this material are governed by the ordering and transfer of the Mn 3d charges.