  We report the coexistence of lamellar charge-ordered (CO) and
charge-disordered (CD) domains, and their dynamical behavior, in
La0.23Ca0.77MnO3. Using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
we show that below Tcd~170K a CD-monoclinic phase forms within the established
CO-orthorhombic matrix. The CD phase has a sheet-like morphology, perpendicular
to the q vector of the CO superlattice (a axis of the Pnma structure). For
temperatures between 64K and 130K, both the TEM and resistivity experiments
show a dynamic competition between the two phases: at constant T, the CD phase
slowly advances over the CO one. This slow dynamics appears to be linked to the
magnetic transitions occurring in this compound, suggesting important
magnetoelastic effects.
