Fast Electrical Switching of Thin Manganite Films

The effects of strong pulsed electric field on the electrical properties of thin epitaxial $La_{0.7}Sr_{0.3}MnO_3$ films were investigated. The fast electrical switching from high resistance off-state to low resistance on-state was obtained at current densities higher than $10^6 A//cm^2$. This current was able to induce an irreversible damage of the sample in the regions at the edges of the electrodes of the film. It was demonstrated that thermal effects are responsible for appearance of delay time and asymmetrical shape of current channel in on-state, however, the fast switching from off- to on-state is a result of electronic effects appearing when critical power is reached in the film.