Non-linear electrical conduction and broadband noise in charge-ordered rare earth manganate Nd₀.5Ca₀.5MnO₃

Measurements of the dc transport properties and the low-frequency conductivity noise in films of charge ordered Nd_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3 grown on Si subtrate reveal the existence of a threshold field in the charge ordered regime beyond which strong non linear conduction sets in along with a large broad band conductivity noise. Threshold-dependent conduction disappears as T -> T_{CO}, the charge ordering temperature. This observation suggests that the charge ordered state gets depinned at the onset of the non-linear conduction.