Presented here for the first time are up-to-date reviews of a new and rapidly developing field of investigation: magnetic solids with polarized photons. The current experimental and theoretical fundamentals of the interplay of spin-orbit interaction and magnetism are described and recent advances in the understanding of the related spectroscopic phenomena are outlined. New aspects on a variety of methods are reported, covering magneto-optical Kerr-effect studies, spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, dichroism in X-ray near- and extended-edge absorption, and X-anomalous scattering. The potential of these methods to reveal new insights in the magnetic aspects of the electronic structure and the microscopic origin of magnetic properties is discussed.

Presented here for the first time are up-to-date reviews of a new and rapidly developing field of investigation: magnetic solids with polarized photons. The current experimental and theoretical fundamentals of the interplay of spin-orbit interaction and magnetism are described and recent advances in the understanding of the related spectroscopic phenomena are outlined. New aspects on a variety of methods are reported, covering magneto-optical Kerr-effect studies, spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, dichroism in X-ray near- and extended-edge absorption, and X-anomalous scattering. The potential of these methods to reveal new insights in the magnetic aspects of the electronic structure and the microscopic origin of magnetic properties is discussed.

Presented here for the first time are up-to-date reviews of a new and rapidly developing field of investigation: magnetic solids with polarized photons. The current experimental and theoretical fundamentals of the interplay of spin-orbit interaction and magnetism are described and recent advances in the understanding of the related spectroscopic phenomena are outlined. New aspects on a variety of methods are reported, covering magneto-optical Kerr-effect studies, spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, dichroism in X-ray near- and extended-edge absorption, and X-anomalous scattering. The potential of these methods to reveal new insights in the magnetic aspects of the electronic structure and the microscopic origin of magnetic properties is discussed.