Electrical Conductivity of Thin Polycrystalline La0.83Sr0.17MnO3 Films in Pulsed High Electric and Magnetic Fields

The electrical conductivity of thin polycrystalline La_0.83Sr_0.17MnO₃ films was investigated. These films were simultaneously affected by a single electrical pulse having a pulse length of several ns and a half-sinus magnetic pulse with a pulse length of 1 ms and amplitude ranging up to 20 T. The influence of the high magnetic field on the electroresistance was studied at electric field strengths up to 80 kV/cm when the temperature of the film ranged from 100 K to 300 K. It was found that depending on the temperature and magnetic field value the electroresistance (ER) can be enhanced or suppressed by the applied magnetic field. These results are explained by assuming that the ER appears due to inelastic multistep tunneling through grain boundaries and by taking into account the redistribution of voltage across crystalline grains and grain boundary regions.