We present detailed optical measurements of the mid-infrared (MIR) excitations in thin films of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_3$ (LSMO) and ${\mathrm{La}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_3$ (LCMO) across the magnetic transition. The shape of the excitation at about 0.2 eV in both samples is analyzed in terms of polaron models. We propose to identify the MIR resonance in LSMO as the excitation of large polarons and that in LCMO as a small polaron excitation. A scaling behavior for the low-energy side of the polaronic MIR resonance in LSMO is established.

• Received 3 November 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.69.100403