We present an ab initio calculation of lattice-dynamical properties of the alkaline-earth oxides MgO, CaO, and SrO in the rocksalt structure. We employ the density-functional perturbation theory within the local-density approximation. We show phonon dispersion curves along several symmetry directions in the Brillouin zone. The calculated frequencies agree well with the available experimental data. The investigation of the phonon-induced charge-density fluctuations of MgO and CaO at the L point of the Brillouin zone partially supports the breathing-shell model of lattice dynamics and rules out the charge-transfer model for this class of materials. Moreover, our calculations show that the breathinglike charge-density response is more pronounced for oxygen than for the cations in these compounds.

• Received 26 April 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.50.3746