Since the publication of volume 3 in 1982 there has been a revival of research on magnetism and a pronounced increase in interest from both the scientific and the technological side. Volume 5 therefore contains chapters that provide the reader with an insight into modern trends in magnetism and new achievements in this area. The topics dealt with here include the increased activity and investigations of the magnetism of magnetic superconductors and investigations of the magnetic properties of hydrides, the understanding of first-order magnetic processes and of quadrupolar interactions in 4f systems and their role in magnetic ordering and magneto-elastic effects, and the magnetism of strongly enhanced itinerant alloys and compounds and the magnetism of Invar alloys.

The Handbook of Magnetic Materials has a dual purpose; as a textbook, it provides an introduction to a given topic within magnetism, and as a work of reference, it serves scientists active in magnetism research. To fulfill these two goals, each chapter in the Handbook is written by leading authorities in the field, and combines state-of-the-art research results with an extensive compilation of archival knowledge. Magnetism is a rapidly expanding field which constantly continues to encompass new phenomena. Examples of such subfields of magnetism are quadrupolar interactions, magnetic superconductors, and quasiscrystals: topics that are all covered in the present volume. The only common ground between these new materials and ferromagnets, is the possession of a magnetic moment; the series title has been slightly adjusted to reflect this. But in keeping with tradition, the Handbook of Magnetic Materials continues to allow readers to acquaint themselves in great depth with topics through the entire breadth of magnetism research.