Ultrasonic Study on Jahn-Teller Distortions in La₁₌₃Sr₂₌₃CoO₃

The longitudinal ultrasonic velocity (Vl), attenuation (ffl), magnetization and resistivity of single phase polycrystalline La1=3Sr2=3CoO3 were measured as a function of temperature from 20 K to 300 K. The resistivity shows metallic behavior in the whole temperature range and a kink at 235 K was observed, which coincides with the ferromagnetic transition temperature (Tc). As the temperature cools down from Tc, the Vl softens conspicuously at beginning and reaches a minimum at 120 K. After that the Vl dramatically stiffens below 120 K accompanied by a wide attenuation peak. The analysis of the results suggests that these ultrasonic anomalies may correspond to local lattice distortions via the Jahn-Teller effect of intermediate spin Co3+.