Anomalous magnetic field dependence of magnetocaloric effect at low temperature in Pr_0.52Sr_0.48MnO_3 single crystal

We report the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in a Pr0.52Sr0.48MnO3 single crystal. A peak in the temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M) with a fairly large negative value (approximate to 3.8 J/ kg K) is observed at 275 K close to Curie temperature. MCE is spread over a wide temperature range resulting in a considerable refrigerant capacity (approximate to 293 J/kg). At low temperature the sign of Delta S-M changes, below which anomalous field dependence of Delta S-M is observed indicating the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. Interplay between the interactions is strongly influenced by direction and magnitude of applied magnetic field in the ordered state. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3340524