Introduction

Abstract

It is the aim of this book to shed light on selected modern aspects of artificially layered structures and bulk materials involving antiferromagnetic long-range order. Special emphasis is laid on the prototypical behavior of Ising-type model systems. They play an outstanding role in the field of statistical physics and provide experimental access to the theory of Lee and Yang. In addition, basic mechanisms of the exchange-bias effect are studied with the help of magnetic heterosystems involving Ising-type antiferromagnets. Their minimized number of spin degrees of freedom gives rise to model-type behavior. This approach allows to reduce the complexity of the phenomenon and provides access to the basic mechanisms of exchange bias.