Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study of Intrinsic Phase Segregation in CMR Manganite Nd$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$MnO$_3$

We present results of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of Nd$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$MnO$_3$ with x = 0.5 across the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic, insulator to metal transition at 260 K (T$_c$) and the antiferromagnetic, charge ordering transition (T$_N$ = T$_{co}$) at 150 K. The results are compared with those on Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$MnO$_3$ which undergoes a transition to a homogeneous A-type antiferromagnetic phase at T$_N$ = 230 K and on La$_{0.77}$Ca$_{0.23}$MnO$_3$ which undergoes a transition to coexisting ferromagnetic metallic and ferromagnetic insulating phases. For x = 0.5, the EPR signals below T$_c$ consist of two Lorentzian components attributable to the coexistence of two phases. From the analysis of the temperature dependence of the resonant fields and intensities, we conclude that in the mixed phase ferromagnetic and A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases coexist. The x = 0.55 compound shows a single Lorentzian throughout the temperature range. The signal persists for a few degrees below T_N. The behaviour of the A-type AFM phase is contrasted with that of the two ferromagnetic phases present in La$_{0.77}$Ca$_{0.23}$MnO$_3$. The comparison of behaviour of A-type AFM signal observed in both Nd$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$MnO$_3$and Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$MnO$_3with the two FM phases of La$_{0.77}$Ca$_{0.23}$MnO$_3$, vis-a-vis the shift of resonances with respect to the paramagnetic phases and the behaviour of EPR intensity as a function of temperature conclusively prove that the Nd$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$MnO$_3$undergoes phase separation into A-type AFM and FM phases.