Persistent X-Ray Photoconductivity and Percolation of Metallic Clusters   in Charge-Ordered Manganites
  Charge-ordered manganites of composition $\rm Pr_{1-x}(Ca_{1-y}Sr_{y})_{x}MnO_3$ exhibit persistent photoconductivity upon exposure to x-rays. This is not always accompanied by a significant increase in the {\it number} of conduction electrons as predicted by conventional models of persistent photoconductivity. An analysis of the x-ray diffraction patterns and current-voltage characteristics shows that x-ray illumination results in a microscopically phase separated state in which charge-ordered insulating regions provide barriers against charge transport between metallic clusters. The dominant effect of x-ray illumination is to enhance the electron {\it mobility} by lowering or removing these barriers. A mechanism based on magnetic degrees of freedom is proposed. 
D. Casa, V. Kiryukhin, O. A. Saleh, B. Keimer, J. P. Hill, Y. Tomioka   and Y. Tokura