  We studied the magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field
in the compounds Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3. It allowed
us to identify the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and charge ordering phases
in each case. The intrinsic magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ho3+ ions experienced
a short range order at low temperatures. We also did specific heat measurements
with applied magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T and temperatures between 2 and
300 K in all three samples. Close to the charge ordering and ferromagnetic
transition temperatures the specific heat curves showed peaks superposed to the
characteristic response of the lattice oscillations. Below 10 K the specific
heat measurements evidenced a Schottky-like anomaly for all samples. However,
we could not successfully fit the curves to either a two level nor a
distribution of two-level Schottky anomaly. Our results indicated that the peak
temperature of the Schottky anomaly was higher in the compounds with narrower
conduction band.
