Lattice deformations induced by an applied magnetic field in the frustrated antiferromagnet HgCr₂O₄

The way geometric frustration in the pyrochlore antiferromagnet HgCr ₂O₄ is relieved by an applied magnetic field is studied by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The material shows a structural change, from cubic to orthorhombic, at the magnetic transition temperature, T_N ≃ 6 K, to relieve the geometrical frustration. Below T_N, successive magnetic phase transitions occur in an applied field, from the antiferromagnetic to the half-magnetization plateau phase followed by a transition with a kink in the magnetization. We find that the lattice constant shows discontinuous expansions that coincide with magnetization changes, indicating progressive relief of geometric frustration. We calculate the lattice deformation invoking a magneto-elastic coupling and obtain good agreement between the calculation and our observation.