Phase-coexistence and glass-like behavior in magnetic and dielectric solids with long range order
Phase-coexistence in the manganese-oxide compounds or manganites with colossal magneto-resistance (CMR) has been generally considered to be an inhomogeneous ground state. An alternative explanation of phase-coexistence as the manifestation of a disorder-broadened first order magnetic phase transition being interrupted by the glasslike arrest of kinetics is now gradually gaining ground. This kinetic arrest of a first order phase transitions, between two states with long-range magnetic order, has actually been observed in various other classes of magnetic materials in addition to the CMR manganites. The underlying common features of this kinetic arrest of a first order phase transition are discussed in terms of the phenomenology of glasses. The possible manifestations of such glass-like arrested states across disorder-influenced first order phase transitions in dielectric solids and in multiferroic materials, are also discussed.