Orbital-selective magnetism in the spin-ladder iron selenides Ba1−xKxFe2Se3

Abstract

Here we show that the 2.80(8) {\mu}B/Fe block antiferromagnetic order of BaFe2Se3 transforms into stripe antiferromagnetic order in KFe2Se3 with a decrease in moment to 2.1(1) {\mu}B/Fe. This reduction is larger than expected from the change in electron count from Ba$^{2+}$ to K$^{+}$, and occurs with the loss of the displacements of Fe atoms from ideal positions in the ladders, as found by neutron pair distribution function analysis. Intermediate compositions remain insulating, and magnetic susceptibility measurements show a suppression of magnetic order and probable formation of a spin-glass. Together, these results imply an orbital-dependent selection of magnetic versus bonded behavior, driven by relative bandwidths and fillings.