Magnetism is an intriguing phenomenon. It has fascinated people already in ancient times,
when performers demonstrated the invisible magnetostatic forces which enable amber to
attract lint and dust in an – at that time – incomprehensible and miraculous way. Since then,
the exploration of magnetic effects has long been extended beyond pure curiosity. Nowadays
a lot of the fundamental magnetic mechanisms are well understood, leading to a manifold of
applications that are part of our every-day life in one way or another, ranging from effects
on a macroscopic scale, such as the compass or the generator, to omnipresent applications of
modern micro- and nanoelectronics most notably in the area of computing and information
technology. The delightful journey into the magnetic realm has just begun, and – sufficient
fundamental knowledge provided – stimulating developments are ahead of us!
Manfred Niesert