Electronic phase separation and related inhomogeneity is ubiquitously seen in strongly correlated systems. A typical example is found between ferromagnetic metal and antiferromagnetic insulator in colossal magnetoresistance manganese oxides. Here we demonstrate that the geometrical frustration brings distinctive aspects into the phase separation phenomena. From Monte Carlo simulation and a simple energy comparison for the pyrochlore double-exchange model, we show that such phase separation takes place between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic metals. We discuss the relevance of our results to a spin-glassy metallic phase found in Mo pyrochlore oxides under external pressure.

• Received 23 April 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.060407