Ultrasound study of FeCr₂S₄ in high magnetic fields

We report on ultrasound studies of FeCr₂S₄ in static and pulsed magnetic fields exhibiting an orbital-order transition at 9K. A longitudinal acoustic mode exhibits distinct features in the phase space of temperature and magnetic field due to magnetic and structural transformations. Pulsed-field measurements show significant differences in the sound velocity below and above the orbital-ordering transition as well as the spin-reorientation transition at 60 K. Our results indicate a reduction of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy on entering the orbitally ordered phase.