Inelastic neutron scattering measurements have been performed to investigate the spin waves of the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetic ladder compound BaFe2S3, where a superconducting transition was observed under pressure [H. Takahashi, Nat. Mater. 14, 1008 (2015)1476-112210.1038/nmat4351; T. Yamauchi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 246402 (2015)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.115.246402]. By fitting the spherically averaged experimental data collected on a powder sample to a Heisenberg Hamiltonian, we find that the one-dimensional antiferromagnetic ladder exhibits a strong nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic exchange interaction (SJR=-71±4 meV) along the rung direction, an antiferromagnetic SJL=49±3 meV along the leg direction, and a ferromagnetic SJ2=-15±2 meV along the diagonal direction. Our data demonstrate that the antiferromagnetic spin excitations are a common characteristic for the iron-based superconductors, while specific relative values for the exchange interactions do not appear to be unique for the parent states of the superconducting materials.

An inelastic neutron scattering study of the spin waves corresponding to the stripe antiferromagnetic order in insulating Rb0.8Fe1.5S2 throughout the Brillouin zone is reported. The spin wave spectra are well described by a Heisenberg Hamiltonian with anisotropic in-plane exchange interactions. Integrating the ordered moment and the spin fluctuations results in a total moment squared of 27.6±4.2μB2/Fe, consistent with S≈2. Unlike XFe2As2 (X=Ca, Sr, and Ba), where the itinerant electrons have a significant contribution, our data suggest that this stripe antiferromagnetically ordered phase in Rb0.8Fe1.5S2 is a Mott-like insulator with fully localized 3d electrons and a high-spin ground state configuration. Nevertheless, the anisotropic exchange couplings appear to be universal in the stripe phase of Fe pnictides and chalcogenides.