  Monatomic nanowires of the nonmagnetic transition metals Ru, Rh, and Pd have
been studied theoretically, using first-principles computational techniques, in
order to investigate the possible onset of magnetism in these nanosystems. Our
fully relativistic spin-polarized all-electron density functional calculations
reveal the onset of Hund's rule magnetism in nanowires of all three metals,
with mean-field moments of 1.1, 0.3, and 0.7 bohr magnetons, respectively, at
the equilibrium bond length. An analysis of the band structures indicates that
the nanocontact superparamagnetic state suggested by our calculations should
affect the ballistic conductance between tips made of Ru, Rh or Pd, leading to
possible temperature and magnetic field dependent conductance.
