Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 March 2011
Fast switching from conductor to insulator induced by laser light illumination has been studied in single crystals and thin films of La1−xSrxMnO3 in the range of the ferromagnetic phase transition. Based on our experimental data on the photoresponse as a function of temperature, electric current, and intensity, we have demonstrated that the switching and relaxation processes are determined by heating and heat conduction processes. The relaxation time, specific heat and the latent heat constants have been estimated.