Electronic structure of metallic antiperovskite compound GaCMn$_3$

Abstract

We have investigated electronic structures of antiperovskite GaCMn$_3$ and related Mn compounds SnCMn$_3$, ZnCMn$_3$, and ZnNMn$_3$. In the paramagnetic state of GaCMn$_3$, the Fermi surface nesting feature along the $\Gamma{\rm R}$ direction is observed, which induces the antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin ordering with the nesting vector {\bf Q} $\sim \Gamma{\rm R}$. Calculated susceptibilities confirm the nesting scenario for GaCMn$_3$ and also explain various magnetic structures of other antiperovskite compounds. Through the band folding effect, the AFM phase of GaCMn$_3$ is stabilized. Nearly equal densities of states at the Fermi level in the ferromagnetic and AFM phases of GaCMn$_3$ indicate that two phases are competing in the ground state.