Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic properties of the multiferroic chromium thio-spinels CdCr2S4 and HgCr2S4

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The European Physical Journal B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Powder samples of CdCr2S4 and HgCr2S4 were investigated with respect to their magnetic behavior using muon spin rotation/relaxation spectroscopy (μSR). In CdCr2S4, a second order magnetic transition at 83 ± 1 K is confirmed. No influence on the μSR magnetic parameters due to the simultaneous ferroelectric transition was detected. In the limit T → 0, persistent spin fluctuation exists as a consequence of magnetic frustration. The proposed structural transition around 150 K is barely visible in the μSR spectra, indicating that the change in local symmetry is subtle. In HgCr2S4, we see in zero field at 27 ± 2 K a second order transition from the paramagnetic into a long-range ordered (LRO) magnetic state. This LRO state is characterized in the μSR spectra by a spontaneous spin precession signal. Applications of moderate magnetic fields (up to 450 mT) destroy the precession signal in favor of a rapidly decaying exponential signal. It reflects short-range order (SRO) of strongly correlated dynamic spins. The magnitude of the field required to induce this change is dependent on temperature. The observation of an increase of magnetic spin fluctuations with applied field suggests that spin dynamics play a key role in the field induced changes of the magnetic properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A.P. Ramirez, R.J. Cava, J. Krajewski, Nature 386, 156 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. J. Hemberger, P. Lunkenheimer, R. Fichtl, H.-A. Krug von Nidda, V. Tsurkan, A. Loidl, Nature 434, 364 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. S. Weber, P. Lunkenheimer, R. Fichtl, J. Hemberger, V. Tsurkan, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 157202 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. P.K. Baltzer, H.W. Lehmann, M. Robbins, Phys. Rev. Lett. 15, 493 (1965)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. P. Lunkenheimer, R. Fichtl, J. Hemberger, V. Tsurkan, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. B 72, 060103(R) (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. C.P. Sun, C.C. Lin, J.L. Her, C.J. Ho, S. Taran, H. Berger, B.K. Chaudhuri, H.D. Yang, Phys. Rev. B 79, 214116 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. C.P. Sun, C.L. Huang, C.C. Lin, J.L. Her, C.J. Ho, J.-Y. Lin, H. Berger, H.D. Yang, J. Appl. Phys. 96, 122109 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. V. Gnezdilov, P. Lemmens, Y.G. Pashkevich, Ch. Payen, K.Y. Choi, J. Hemberger, A. Loidl, V. Tsurkan, Phys. Rev. B 84, 045106 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. T. Rudolf, Ch. Kant, J. Hemberger, V. Tsurkan, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. B 76, 174307 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. N.W. Grimes, J. Phys. C 6, L78 (1973)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. N.W. Grimes, Philos. Mag. 26, 1217 (1972)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. A.H. Heuer, T.E. Mitchell, J. Phys. C 8, L541 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Ehlers, V. Tsurkan, H.-A. Krug von Nidda, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. B 86, 174423 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Krimmel, unpublished

  15. V. Tsurkan, J. Hemberger, A. Krimmel, H.-A. Krug von Nidda, P. Lunkenheimer, S. Weber, V. Zestrea, A. Loidl, Phys. Rev. B 73, 224442 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. P.K. Baltzer, P.J. Wojtowicz, M. Robbins, E. Lopatin, Phys. Rev. 151, 367 (1966)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J.M. Hasting, L.M. Corliss, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 29, 9 (1968)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. D.J. Arsenau, B. Hitti, S.R. Kreitzmann, E. Whidden, Hyperfine Interactions 106, 277 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Yaouanc, P. Dalmas de Réotier, Muon Spin Rotation, Relaxation, and Resonance (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2011)

  20. G.M. Kalvius, D.R. Noakes, O. Hartmann, in Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earth, edited by K.A. Gschneidner et al. (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 2001), Vol. 32, p. 55ff

  21. Muon Science, edited by S.L. Lee, S.H. Kilcoyne, R. Cywinski (IOP, London, 1999)

  22. E. Karlsson, Solid State Phenomena as seen by Muons, Protons and Excited Nuclei (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1995)

  23. A. Schenck, Muon Spin Rotation Spectroscopy (Adam Hilger, Bristol, 1985)

  24. G.M. Kalvius, A. Krimmel, R. Wäppling, O. Hartmann, F.J. Litterst, F.E. Wagner, V. Tsurkan, A. Loidl, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22, 052205 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. H. Göbel, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 3, 143 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. G.N.P. Oliveira, A.M. Pereira, A.M.L. Lopes, J.S. Amaral, A.M. dos Santos, Y. Ren, T.M. Mendonça, C.T. Sousa, V.S. Amaral, J.G. Correia, J.P. Araújo, Phys. Rev. B 86, 224418 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. C.P. Slichter, Principles of Magnetic Resonance (Springer, Berlin/New York, 1978), Chap. 5

  28. A. Yaouanc, P. Dalmas de Réotier, P. Bonville, J.A. Hodges, P.C.M. Gubbens, C.T. Kaiser, S. Sakarya, Physica B 326, 456 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. G.M. Kalvius, D. Noakes, R. Wäppling, G. Grosse, W. Schäfer, W. Kockelmann, J.K. Yakinthos, P.A. Kotsanides, Physica B 326, 465 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. G.M. Luke, A. Keren, K. Kojiima, L.P. Le, W.D. Wu, U.J. Uemura, G.M. Kalvius, A. Kratzer, G. Nakamoto, T. Takabatake, M. Ishikawa, Physica B 206-207, 222 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ola Hartmann & Roger Wäppling

  2. Physics Department, Technische Universität München, 85747, Garching, Germany

    Georg Michael Kalvius

  3. Experimental Physics V, Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism, Universität Augsburg, 86159, Augsburg, Germany

    Axel Günther, Vladimir Tsurkan, Alex Krimmel & Alois Loidl

  4. Institute of Applied Physics, Academy of Sciences, 2028, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

    Vladimir Tsurkan

Authors
  1. Ola Hartmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Georg Michael Kalvius
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Roger Wäppling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Axel Günther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vladimir Tsurkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alex Krimmel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Alois Loidl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vladimir Tsurkan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hartmann, O., Kalvius, G.M., Wäppling, R. et al. Magnetic properties of the multiferroic chromium thio-spinels CdCr2S4 and HgCr2S4 . Eur. Phys. J. B 86, 148 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-31094-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-31094-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation