Recent Developments in Half-Metallic Magnetism

The compound PtMnSb is a half-metallic ferromagnet and its unusual band structure is intimately connected with the high Magneto Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE). In this paper it will be discussed how various types of substitutions can modify this band structure and lead to possible enhancement of the MOKE transitions. Novel half-metallic systems will be presented comprising half-metallic ferrimagnets and half-metallic antiferromagnets.