Low dimensional magnets, e.g. thin films or layered magnetic materials, can show a wide diversity of magnetic structures, in particular spiral spin density waves (SSDWs) or special linear combinations of them (multi-Q structures). SSDWs can be stabilized either by competing exchange interactions, frustration or relativistic effects (anisotropic exchange). In the latter case, chiral magnetic structures can be formed. Specific examples of all three cases will be discussed, as well as the computational methods required for an efficient sampling of the magnetic phase space. Special emphasis will be on spin-orbit effects, like the Dzyaloshinskii Moriya interaction and the Rashba-effect in magnetic systems.
Institut für Festkörperforschung – Julich, Germany