Entanglement of lock-in transition and exchange bias in Co(Cr0.9Co0.1)2O4

We report here the structural, magnetic and exchange bias in a well characterized single phase sample of Co(Cr0.9Co0.1)2O4. A pronounced signature of thermal hysteresis in temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility curves is obtained across the lock-in transition TL≃10K. Concomitantly, exchange bias is observed only below the lock-in transition (TL≃10K). This indicates a possible coupling of exchange bias to the lock-in transition in this system.