J. Appl. Phys. 101, 103902 (2007)

Y. F. Chen and M. Ziese

Abstract

The influence of the base temperature, magnetic field, current, and current sweep rate on the nonlinear transport properties of La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ and Fe₃O₄ films were studied in the regime of strong Joule heating. In resistance-current curves of the La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃film an abrupt hysteretic transition was observed that was induced by global and reversible heating of the film, as could be shown by a direct measurement of the film temperature. In contrast to this behavior, in the case of the Fe₃O₄ film, only a gradual change of the voltage-current curves was detected, although also in this case Joule heating is present. Simulations of the resistance-current and temperature-current curves were carried out for the La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ film based on a model of global Joule heating. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data.