Volume 19 of the Handbook of Magnetic Materials, as the preceding volumes, has a dual purpose. As a textbook it is intended to help those who wish to be introduced to a given topic in the field of magnetism without the need to read the vast amount of literature published. As a work of reference it is intended for scientists active in magnetism research. To this dual purpose, Volume 19 is composed of topical review articles written by leading authorities. In each of these articles an extensive description is given in graphical as well as in tabular form, much emphasis being placed on the discussion of the experimental material in the framework of physics, chemistry and material science. It provides readers with novel trends and achievements in magnetism.