A Griffiths-like phase in antiferromagnetic R0.5Eu0.5MnO3 (R = Pr, Nd, Sm)

We report a Griffiths-like phase in isovalent doped rare-earth manganites R(0.5)Eu(0.5)MnO(3) (R = Pr, Nd, Sm). Rietveld refinement of the structural data reveals strong orthorhombic and Jahn-Teller distortions. The dc and ac magnetic studies nicely demonstrate aspects of Griffiths phase-like behaviour. The presence of short range ferromagnetically correlated spin clusters is observed above the antiferromagnetic transition temperature. A disorder driven phase inhomogeneity arising from strong structural distortion is the possible origin of this behaviour.