  The role played by the Nd ions in the magnetic properties of Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3
and Nd0.7Ca0.3MnO3 is studied using static magnetization, neutron diffraction
and high frequency (9.4-475GHz) Electron Spin Resonance. We show that the Nd
ions are weakly coupled to the Mn ions via ferromagnetic exchange and are
responsible for the peculiar ferromagnetic resonance observed in the FM phase
of both compounds (ground state below 120K for x=0.3, high field state for
x=0.5). We then use ESR to look for magnetic phase separation in the low field,
CO phase of Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3. We show that there is no trace of the FM phase
imbedded in the CO phase, contrary to what is observed in La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 or
Pr0.5Sr0.5MnO3.
