Spiral terraces and spin frustration in layered antiferromagnetic Cr(001) films

We have successfully fabricated a novel type of high-density spiral terraces on Cr(001) films. The influence of nanoscale spiral terraces on layered antiferromagnetic ordering of Cr(001) films has been studied at room temperature by direct imaging of both topographic and magnetic structures using spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Spin frustration and asymmetric magnetic ordering due to dense spiral terraces are observed. Sizable modification of the layered antiferromagnetic order is found to be originating from the topological asymmetry as confirmed by the continuum micromagnetic simulation.