We use the self-interaction corrected (SIC) local spin-density (LSD) approximation to investigate the groundstate valency configuration of Mn impurities in p-type ZnO. In Zn1−xMnxO, we find the localized Mn2+ configuration to be preferred energetically. When codoping Zn1−xMnxO with N, we find that four d-states stay localized at the Mn site, while the remaining d-electron charge transfers into the hole states at the top of the valence bands. If the Mn concentration [Mn] is equal to the N concentration [N], this results in a scenario without carriers to mediate long range order. If on the other hand [N] is larger than [Mn], the N impurity band is not entirely filled, and carrier mediated ferromagnetism becomes theoretically possible.

The electronic structures of actinide solid systems are calculated using the self-interaction corrected local spin density approximation. Within this scheme the 5f electron manifold is considered to consist of both localized and delo-calized states, and by varying their relative proportions the energetically most favourable (ground state) configuration can be established. Specifically, we discuss elemental Pu in its δ-phase, and the effects of adding O to PuO2.

We present an overview of the locally self-consistent multiple scattering (LSMS) method. The method is based on real space multiple scattering theory, is naturally highly parallel, and has been implemented on Intel Paragon parallel platforms within the Center for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. O(N)-scaling is demonstrated for unit cells as large as 1000-atoms. We discuss in detail how the real space convergence properties of the method can be controlled by taking advantage of the stationary properties of a finite temperature Harris-Foulkes free energy functional. We show how the LSMS method can be combined with spin-dynamics to treat non-collinear magnetic states of materials. We show some preliminary results for the ground state magnetic structure of FCC Fe0.6 5Ni 0.35 alloys that indicate the possible existence of non-collinear arranges of magnetic moments in this system.

The locally self-consistent multiple scattering method is applied to ab initio spin-polarized local density approximation calculations for ferromagnetic CuNi alloys. The samples used to model the alloys are constructed with experimentally measured short range order parameters. These large cell calculations are performed using the Intel Paragon XP/S massively parallel processing supercomputer. The neutron magnetic diffuse scattering cross sections are calculated and compared with experiment. The dependence of magnetic moment formation on the local environment is discussed.

The electronic structure and bonding character of intermetallic alloys are investigated by a combination of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) experiments and ab initio electronic structure calculations. A detailed comparison is made between experimental spectra and calculations. The changes in electronic structure within a transition metal alurninide series and also due to alloying are studied using EELS spectra. The Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential-approximation method and large supercell models are used to investigate changes in composition and the effect of dopants on the electronic structure.

We have implemented the fully relativistic and spin-polarized extension of the O(N) real space locally self-consistent multiple scattering formalism [1]. Here we present preliminary results for the spin and orbital magnetic moments and magneto-crystalline anisotropy in iron metal. The spin and orbital moments are in good agreement with the results of conventional electronic structure methods. In addition we present preliminary results for the magnetocrystalline anisotropy obtained in the frozen potential approximation.

Total energy calculations for Ni-rich ß′-phase NiAl have been performed using the large system multiple scattering (LSMS) method. The large samples used to model the alloys involved up to 128 atoms per cell, and were constructed to have the experimental short range order (SRO) parameters. Both short range ordering and charge transfer effects are automatically taken into account in the calculation. The calculated formation energies of both stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric compounds are in excellent agreement with experiment.

We describe a formalism dedicated to the realistic evaluation of correlation functions in solids and give an account of its success and its limitations by discussing various applications.

The self-consistent one-electron wave functions and energy bands obtained by the LMTO-ASA method within the local density approximation (LDA) are used to calculate the wave vector and frequency dependent non-interacting spin susceptibility of paramagnetic La2CuO4 in the body-centred tetragonal (bct) structure. We show that the tendency towards the antiferromagnetic instability is strongly dependent on the effects of the matrix elements which lead to a substantial depression of the susceptibility, especially near the X-point. The Fermi surface nesting properties, although important for the susceptibility, are by far not sufficient for the instability and the interband transitions turn out to be of great significance. Our results indicate that the susceptibility is at least 3 times too small to drive this system through a transition to the antiferromagnetic state, and we discuss possible reasons for this failure.