This image shows a conical spin-spiral state of a double layer of Mn atoms on the (110) surface of W. In this structure the magnetic moments are rotated by a constant angle from atom to atom. Simultaneously they are canted by a cone angle relative to the rotation axis. The canting of the magnetic moments is stabilized by the biquadratic and the four-spin interactions which are higher-order spin interactions beyond the Heisenberg model. Large spheres represent the non-magnetic atoms of the W substrate and small spheres including an arrow stand for the magnetic Mn atoms. The topmost layer is colored to illustrate the magnetization component.
Inset: Schematic view of a conical spin-spiral. The magnetic moments are antiparallel aligned along the [1-10] direction. The angle θ cants the magnetic moments out of the film plane and φ introduces a rotation along the [001] direction.

For more details refer to the following link:

Full article: Physical Review Letters 108, 087205 (2012)

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