Does density-functional theory predict a spin-density-wave ground state for Cr?

We present ab initio spin-density-functional investigations of static long- period spin-density waves (SDWs) in Cr. Calculations performed in the gener alized-gradient approximation (GGA) and using both projector-augmented-wave and muffin-tin orbital techniques show that the overestimation of the stre ngth of the antiferromagnetism suppresses the formation of an SDW. In the l ocal density approximation we find that a static SDW is also higher in ener gy than a commensurate antiferromagnetic structure, but with an energy diff erence that tends towards zero as the lattice constant shrinks to its low-t emperature limit. A possible scenario for the origin of the observed SDW st ate is developed.