The ionic spin distribution and preasymptotic RKKY interactions in Heusler alloys

Abstract

The effect of the spin distribution of quasilocalised electrons on effective exchange interactions of RKKY type is considered. Some recent treatments of this problem are shown to be inadequate. A physically correct approach, which takes into account the correct l=2 angular momentum symmetry of the 3d wavefunctions and the strong resonant scattering, yields good agreement with experiment.