Augmented-plane-wave calculation of indirect-exchange matrix elements for gadolinium

The exchange matrix elements between a local 4f moment and the conduction electrons (Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida exchange) have been calculated for paramagnetic gadolinium metal using nonrelativistic augmented-plane-wave wave functions. The magnitude of the matrix elements is found to be largest for d-like conduction electrons and is quite sensitive to their angular distribution. Because of band crossings, which cause rapid changes in wave-function character, the matrix elements cannot be well described as slowly varying functions of q→=k→′-k→.