Metal oxides constitute one of the most amazing classes of materials with a wide range of properties. They exhibit a variety of phenomena, such as ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism and superconductivity.A new aspect of metal oxides — colossal magnetoresistance exhibited by certain manganese oxides, in particular rare earth manganates of perovskite structure — has received much attention in the last four years. Some of these oxides show 100% magnetoresistance and have much potential for technological applications. Previously this phenomenon was found only in layered and granular metallic materials. Studies of colossal magnetoresistance have led to the discovery of many other new phenomena and properties such as charge ordering and orbital ordering.In view of the importance of colossal magnetoresistance, charge ordering and related phenomena exhibited by oxides to the physics and chemistry of solid materials, it is necessary and timely to have a book dealing with these topics. This book begins with a review of the subject followed by contributions from a number of experts which cover the present status of the subject.
