Complexity of patterns is key information for human brain to differ objects of about the same size and shape. Like other innate human senses, the complexity perception cannot be easily quantified. We propose a transparent and universal machine method for estimating structural (effective) complexity of two-dimensional and three-dimensional patterns that can be straightforwardly generalized onto other classes of objects. It is based on multistep renormalization of the pattern of interest and computing the overlap between neighboring renormalized layers. This way, we can define a single number characterizing the structural complexity of an object. We apply this definition to quantify complexity of various magnetic patterns and demonstrate that not only does it reflect the intuitive feeling of what is “complex” and what is “simple” but also, can be used to accurately detect different phase transitions and gain information about dynamics of nonequilibrium systems. When employed for that, the proposed scheme is much simpler and numerically cheaper than the standard methods based on computing correlation functions or using machine learning techniques.

We propose and apply simple machine learning approaches for recognition and classification of complex non-collinear magnetic structures in two-dimensional materials. The first approach is based on the implementation of the single-hidden-layer neural network that only relies on the z projections of the spins. In this setup one needs a limited set of magnetic configurations to distinguish ferromagnetic, skyrmion and spin spiral phases, as well as their different combinations in transitional areas of the phase diagram. The network trained on the configurations for square-lattice Heisenberg model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction can classify the magnetic structures obtained from Monte Carlo calculations for triangular lattice and vice versa. The second approach we apply, a minimum distance method performs a fast and cheap classification in cases when a particular configuration is to be assigned to only one magnetic phase. The methods we propose are also easy to use for analysis of the numerous experimental data collected with spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy experiments.

We report on the stabilization of the topological bimeron excitations in confined geometries. The Monte Carlo simulations for a ferromagnet with a strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction revealed the formation of a mixed skyrmion-bimeron phase. The vacancy grid created in the spin lattice drastically changes the picture of the topological excitations and allows one to choose between the formation of a pure bimeron and skyrmion lattice. We found that the rhombic plaquette provides a natural environment for stabilization of the bimeron excitations. Such a rhombic geometry can protect the topological state even in the absence of the magnetic field.

We report magnetization, heat capacity, thermal expansion, and magnetostriction measurements down to millikelvin temperatures on the triangular antiferromagnet YbMgGaO 4 . Our data exclude the formation of the distinct 1 3 plateau phase observed in other triangular antiferromagnets, but reveal plateaulike features in second derivatives of the free energy, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat, at μ 0 H = 1.0-2.5 T for H c and 2-5 T for H ⊥ c. Using Monte Carlo simulations of a realistic spin Hamiltonian, we ascribe these features to nonmonotonic changes in the magnetization and the 1 2 plateau that is smeared out by the random distribution of exchange couplings in YbMgGaO 4 .