This new volume focuses on a new, exciting field of research: Spintronics, the area also known as spin-based electronics. The ultimate aim of researchers in this area is to develop new devices which exploit the spin of an electron instead of, or in addition to, its electronic charge. In recent years many groups worldwide have devoted huge eforts to research of spintronic materials, from their technology through characterization to modeling. The resultant explosion of papers in this field and the sold scientific results achieved justify the publication of this volume. Its goal is to summarize t.