Dipolar effects in magnetic thin films and quasi-two-dimensional systems

Thin films and quasi-two-dimensional systems show a wide range of ordering effects and related pattern-formation phenomena. The origins of these phenomena can often be traced to competition between the atomic (or molecular) interactions in the system and the resulting inherent frustration of the system. In magnetic thin films, a wide range of magnetic structures are possible as a result of the competition between the long-ranged dipolar interactions and localized interactions. This article reviews recent experimental and theoretical work which has developed our understanding of ordering and pattern formation in these films and in related structures.