Local Magnetic Moments of Conduction Electrons in Gadolinium

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Using the local-density-functional approximation to calculate self-consistently the spin-resolved density of states (DOS), we obtain qualitative information on the stability of the induced magnetic moments of conduction electrons in h.c.p. Gd with respect to the disordering of the spatially localized 4f moments. We show that the resulting changes in the DOS cannot be interpreted in terms of an exchange splitting of the conduction bands, but must be seen as an effect of spin-hybridization. We argue that the induced moments of conduction electrons are rather stable and do not disappear even above the Curie temperature. We reinterpret important features of recent photoemission experiments on Gd.