Magnetism of CuCr$_2$X$_4$ (X= S and Se) spinels studied with muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu$SR)

Abstract

We present muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu$SR) results for chalcogenide spinels CuCr$_2$X$_4$ with X= S and Se. Both compounds are known as ferromagnetic metals with high Curie temperatures. Our $\mu$SR and magnetization data show clear signatures for additional magnetic transitions far below the respective Curie temperatures. They can be related to changes in the Cr valence system from the mixed valence between Cr$^{3+}$ and Cr$^{4+}$ at high temperatures with collinear ferromagnetism to a charge-ordered state at low temperatures with a different ferromagnetic structure. Our results demonstrate that the electronic systems and the related spin structures of both compounds are more complex than assumed so far.