  A classical variant of the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model
reproducing inelastic neutron scattering experiments on La_5 Ca_9 Cu_24 O_41
[M. Matsuda et al., Phys.Rev. B 68, 060406(R) (2003)] is analysed using mostly
Monte Carlo techniques. Phase diagrams with external fields parallel and
perpendicular to the easy axis of the anisotropic interactions are determined,
including antiferromagnetic and spin-flop phases. Mobile spinless defects, or
holes, are found to form stripes which bunch, debunch and break up at a phase
transition. A parallel field can lead to a spin-flop phase.
