Multiple-charge modulations in the ferromagnetic insulating state of lightly doped La1-xSrxMnO3

We investigated the texture of charge modulations and behaviors of their domains in the ferromagnetic insulating state of La1-x SrxMnO3 (x = 0.125) by low-temperature transmission electron microscopy. We observed simultaneous evolutions of three charge-modulated phases below similar to 135 K, close to the charge-ordering-transition temperature T-CO similar to 140 K. The phases form intricate domain structures within one ferromagnetic phase. This indicates that one magnetic state exhibits multiple-charge states. With further decreasing temperature, below similar to 40 K, the three charge-modulated phases behave differently from one another. We consider that the behaviors would lead to a phase separation into the ferromagnetic insulating phase and the ferromagnetic metallic one.