Abstract:
The density functional theory of the incommensurate magnetic spiral structures will be briefly introduced. The generalized symmetry of the spirals allows very accurate calculation of their properties. Among the applications of this calculational technique are the studies of the ground and excited states of various periodical systems. The studies of the ground state will be illustrated by the examples of fcc-Fe, 4f-metals and UPtGe. The physical reasons for the formation of the spiral ground state will be discussed. The study of the spin-wave excitations with the use of the spiral magnetic configurations are performed within so-called frozen-magnon approach. The frozen-magnon approach allows the estimation of the inter-atomic Heisenberg's exchange parameters in complex magnetic systems that provides the basis for the study of the thermodynamics of these systems. As illustration the magnetism of the diluted magnetic semiconductors will be discussed. Because of the possible application in the spintronic devices the diluted magnetic semiconductors form a class of the systems that currently attracts immense research attention.