Self-consistent full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave
(LAPW) band-structure calculations are performed for the
fluorite-type dihydrides ScH2, TiH2, VH2, YH2, ZrH2 and NbH2 as well as for the tetragonal
low-temperature phases of TiH2 and ZrH2. For all
compounds studied which show metallic behaviour, band structures,
densities of states, electron densities and the total-energy minima
with respect to the lattice parameters are computed. Additionally,
the bulk moduli for the cubic phases are given. Good agreement with
experimental data is found where they are available. The results
obtained confirm previous interpretations of the tetragonal
distortion of the cubic unit cell as a Jahn-Teller-type effect and
show how the electron densities of the tetragonally distorted phases
depend on the splitting of states near the Fermi level. The
total-energy curves for TiH2 and ZrH2 as functions of
the c/a ratios show two minima each, of which only the ones for
c/a<1 have been observed experimentally.