  In the active search for potentially promising candidates for spintronic
applications, we focus on the intermetallic ferromagnetic Mn5Ge3 compound and
perform accurate first-principles FLAPW calculations within density functional
theory. Through a careful investigation of the bulk electronic and magnetic
structure, our results for the total magnetization, atomic magnetic moments,
metallic conducting character and hyperfine fields are found to be in good
agreement with experiments, and are elucidated in terms of a hybridization
mechanism and exchange interaction. In order to assess the potential of this
compound for spin-injection purposes, we calculate Fermi velocities and degree
of spin-polarization; our results predict a rather high spin-injection
efficiency in the diffusive regime along the hexagonal c-axis. Magneto-optical
properties, such as L_2,3 X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, are also reported
and await comparison with experimental data.
