Magnetic phase transition and size effect in thin magnetic film

L×L×LN multilayered film structure with long-range dipole–dipole interactions, short-range exchange interactions and magnetic surface anisotropy is considered. Based on Monte Carlo simulation and the local energy minimum methods, spin configuration, magnetization, specific heat of the systems are calculated. The phase diagram from perpendicular to in-plane magnetization with varying temperature is presented. The ferromagnetic, striped, antiferromagnetic and disordered phases exist in the system. The strong size effect of phase transition is observed. It is found that the results from local energy minimum method agree well with ones from Monte Carlo simulation.