The “disordered local moment” picture of itinerant magnetism at finite temperatures

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 1984-11, Vol.45 (1), p.15-22
• Main Authors: Staunton, J., Gyorffy, B.L., Pindor, A.J., Stocks, G.M., Winter, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Materials science; Metals, semimetals and alloys; Other topics in magnetic properties and materials; Physics; Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities; Specific materials
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-8853(84)90367-6

With an emphasis upon a realistic description of the underlying electronic structure, we discuss the “Disordered Local Moment” (DLM) picture of metallic magnetism. Its formulation, based upon “first principles” foundations of the Spin Density Functional Approach is briefly derived. Within the context of this theory, we place our previous, self-consistent calculations of local moments in the paramagnetic state for several transition metals and describe some details of the electronic structure which may ultimately be compared with modern experimental measurements. Finally the theory and physical picture for the wave-vector dependent, static spin susceptibility, χ ( q, T) above the Curie temperature, T c, is outlined and the degree of short range magnetic order driven by the DLM electronic structure estimated. We illustrated the theory by explicit calculations for iron and preliminary calculations for nickel. Curie-Weiss behaviour is found for χ(0; T) of both metals and Curie temperatures are 1260 K for iron and 225 K for nickel. While the calculations for χ( q; T) are broadly consistent with the initially imposed DLM state, their interpretation for nickel is rather different from that of iron. A comparison with quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements is briefly made.