Possible origins for paramagnetic-ferromagnetic and insulator-metal transitions as well as colossal magnetoresistance in manganites

Systematical investigations of zero-field resistivity, magnetoresistance and magnetization were performed for a typical manganese compound La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃. It is argued that the common origin for insulator-metal and paramagenetic ferromagnetic-transitions as well as colossal magnetoresistance is due to the formation of ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic background. The transition to metallic state is resulted from percolation of ferromagnetic metallic clusters, while the colossal magnetoresistance is due to the application of magnetic field, which accelerates the growth of ferromagnetic metallic clusters and causes the shift of the onset temperature for the metallic percolation to higher temperature. Based on the random resistor network model, the zero-field resistivity versus temperature dependence is simulated by using experimental parameters, and experimental data well agree with those in whole temperature range, giving a strong support to our approach.