Reciprocity between local moments and collective magnetic excitations in the phase diagram of BaFe 2 (As 1−x P x ) 2

Unconventional superconductivity arises at the border between the strong coupling regime with local magnetic moments and the weak coupling regime with itinerant electrons, and stems from the physics of criticality that dissects the two. Unveiling the nature of the quasiparticles close to quantum criticality is fundamental to understand the phase diagram of quantum materials. Here, using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) and $${\rm{Fe}}-{{\rm{K}}}_{\beta }$$ emission spectroscopy (XES), we visualize the coexistence and evolution of local magnetic moments and collective spin excitations across the superconducting dome in isovalently-doped BaFe $${}_{2}$$ (As $${}_{1-x}$$ P $${}_{x}$$ ) $${}_{2}$$ (0.00 $$ \le $$ x $$\le 0.52$$ ). Collective magnetic excitations resolved by RIXS are gradually hardened, whereas XES reveals a strong suppression of the local magnetic moment upon doping. This relationship is captured by an intermediate coupling theory, explicitly accounting for the partially localized and itinerant nature of the electrons in Fe pnictides. Finally, our work identifies a local-itinerant spin fluctuations channel through which the local moments transfer spin excitations to the particle-hole (paramagnons) continuum across the superconducting dome. Understanding the effect of the subtle interplay between strong and weak coupling regimes on the properties of quasiparticles is key to understanding unconventional superconductivity. Here, X-ray spectroscopies reveal the partially localized and itinerant magnetic character of quasiparticles in a doped iron pnictide material.