Unusual temperature dependence of the oxygen-isotope effect on the exchange-energy of La_(1-x)Ca_xMnO₃ at high temperatures

We report magnetic susceptibility $\chi(T)$ measurements on oxygen-isotope exchanged La$_{1-x}$Ca$_{x}$MnO$_{3+y}$ up to 700 K. The $1/\chi(T)$ data show that the ferromagnetic exchange-energy $J$ depends strongly on the oxygen-isotope mass. The isotope effect on $J$ decreases with temperature up to 400 K and then increases again with temperature above 400 K. This unusual temperature dependence of the isotope effect cannot be explained by existing theories of the colossal magnetoresistance effect for doped manganites. The present results thus provide essential constraints on the physics of manganites.