Discovery of Magnetic Single- and Triple-q States in Mn/Re(0001).

We experimentally verify the existence of two model-type magnetic ground states that were previously predicted but so far unobserved. We find them in Mn monolayers on the Re(0001) surface using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. For fcc stacking of Mn the collinear row-wise antiferromagnetic state occurs, whereas for hcp Mn a three-dimensional spin structure appears, which is a superposition of three row-wise antiferromagnetic states known as the triple-q state. Density-functional theory calculations elucidate the subtle interplay of different magnetic interactions to form these spin structures and provide insight into the role played by relativistic effects.