  In order to explain and predict the properties of many physical systems, it
is essential to understand the interplay of different energy-scales. Here we
present investigations of the magnetic order in thermalised artificial spin ice
structures, with different activation energies of the interacting Ising-like
elements. We image the thermally equilibrated magnetic states of the
nano-structures using synchrotron-based magnetic microscopy. By comparing
results obtained from structures with one or two different activation energies,
we demonstrate a clear impact on the resulting magnetic order. The differences
are obtained by the analysis of the magnetic spin structure factors, in which
the role of the activation energies is manifested by distinct short-range
order. This demonstrates that artificial spin systems can serve as model
systems, allowing the definition of energy-scales by geometrical design and
providing the backdrop for understanding their interplay.
