Abstract
The results of synchrotron x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements on a triangular lattice antiferromagnet $\mathrm{Cu}\mathrm{Fe}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ subjected to a pulsed high magnetic field are reported. We find the lattice constant, $b$, contracts stepwise with increasing magnetic field in coincidence with the multistep magnetization changes. These changes in the lattice constant scale with the magnetization changes. We argue that the competition among the ferromagnetic direct and antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions is a main source for this phenomenon. With the changes of the magnetic structure under an applied magnetic field, the number of up spins increases and the lattice contracts to gain the former exchange energy.
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