Abstract
This article is dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Robert Galazka, who has played a key role in the development of semimagnetic semiconductors. hese materials lie at the interface of two very different fields: magnetism and semiconductor physics, which has led to the emergence of enirely new and unexpected phenomena.Specifically, in this paper we will discuss the eòect of magnetization on electronic and optical semiconducting processes,that lead to giant enhancement of spin-dependent effects. We will show that, similarly, electronic effects also affect magnetic properties, as in the case of bound magnetic polarons. And, finally, we will describe the evolution of magnetic properties of these materials, from paramagnetism, through spin glass brehavior, to long-range antiferromagnetic order.