Monte Carlo study of half-magnetization plateau and magnetic phase diagram in pyrochlore antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model

The antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a pyrochlore lattice under external magnetic field is studied by classical Monte Carlo simulation. The model includes bilinear and biquadratic interactions; the latter effectively describes the coupling to lattice distortions. The magnetization process shows a half-magnetization plateau at low temperatures, accompanied with strong suppression of the magnetic susceptibility. Temperature dependence of the plateau behavior is clarified. Finite-temperature phase diagram under the magnetic field is determined. The results are compared with recent experimental results in chromium spinel oxides.