Effect of pressure on the steplike magnetostriction of single crystalline bilayered manganite (La0.4Pr0.6)1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7

We report the effect of pressure on the steplike magnetostriction of single crystalline bilayered manganite (La0.4Pr0.6)1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7, for our understanding of the ultrasharp nature of the field-induced first-order transition from a paramagnetic insulator to a ferromagnetic metal phase. The application of pressure suppresses a steplike transformation and causes a broad change in the magnetostriction. The injection of an electric current to the crystal also weakens the steplike variation in both the magnetostriction and magnetoresistance. The stabilization of ferromagnetic interaction or the delocalization of charge carriers is promoted with the applied pressure or applied current, resulting in the suppressed steplike behavior. Our findings suggest that the step phenomenon is closely related to the existence of localized carriers such as the short-range charge-orbital-ordered clusters