Mixed-phase description of colossal magnetoresistive manganites

In view of recent experiments, indicating the spatial coexistence of conducting and insulating regions in the ferromagnetic metallic phase of doped manganites, we propose a refined mixed-phase description. The model is based on the competition of a double-exchange driven metallic component and a polaronic insulating component, whose volume fractions and carrier concentrations are determined self-consistently by requiring both equal pressure and chemical potential. The resulting phase diagram as well as the order of the phase transition are in very good agreement with measured data. In addition, modeling the resistivity of the mixed, percolative phase by a random resistor network, we obtain a pronounced negative magnetoresistance in the vicinity of the Curie temperature TC.