  Using the density matrix renormalization group technique we investigate the
low-energy properties and the magnetization plateau behavior in a 2-leg mixed
spin ladder consisting of a spin-1/2 chain coupled with a spin-1 chain. The
calculated results show that the system is in the same universality class as
the spin-3/2 chain when the interchain coupling is strongly ferromagnetic, but
the similarity between the two systems is less clear under other coupling
conditions. We have identified two types of magnetization plateau phases. The
calculation of the magnetization distribution on the spin-1/2 and the spin-1
chains on the ladder shows that one plateau phase is related to the partially
magnetized valence-bond-solid state, and the other plateau state contains
strongly coupled S=1 and s=1/2 spins on the rung.
