Pressure effect on electronic band structures of NiAs-type chromium chalcogenides

Pressure influence on the electronic band structure of NiAs-type CrTe is studied for non-magnetic and ferromagnetic states by using a self-consistent LAPW method. The total energy is calculated as a function of the lattice spacing a, keeping the ratio c/a as the observed value. The ferromagnetic state is found to be always stable energetically. For the ferromagnetic state, which is realized below T_c = 340 K, the theoretical lattice spacing a is obtained as 4.18 Å, which agrees fairly well with the observed one. The magnetic moment arises from mainly the Cr-site and it is remarkably reduced by the pressure as observed. A small magnetic moment is induced at Te-site in the direction antiparallel to the moment at the Cr-site.