Metal–insulator transition and colossal magnetoresistance: relevance of electron–lattice coupling and electronic phase separation

Abstract

In this article, we review the insulator–metal transition and the colossal magnetoresistance effect in manganites. The relevance of electron–lattice coupling and the resulting Jahn–Teller polaron is elaborated. The general features of electronic phase separation, which results from disorder and strain effects, are discussed along with electron–lattice coupling effects. Although a comprehensive theory is still lacking that can account for all the intricate features of manganite physics, electronic-phase separation and electron–lattice coupling appear to capture the essence of the colossal magnetoresistance effect in manganites.