An alternative method is suggested for the ab initio calculation of effective exchange parameters in ferromagnetic metals from the magnetic contribution to the vacancy-formation energy. The advantage of the method is that is does not require a computer code that is able to rotate magnetic moments out of parallel alignment. Based on this approach, a linear-muffin-tin-orbital calculation in the atomic-sphere approximation yields a much larger effective exchange parameter than other approaches, and a likely reason for this discrepancy is discussed.
 

Physical Review B, 44 845-7, 1991.