Spin excitations in the excitonic spin-density-wave state of the iron pnictides

Abstract

Motivated by the iron pnictides, we examine the spin excitations in an itinerant antiferromagnet where a spin-density wave (SDW) originates from an excitonic instability of nested electron-like and hole-like Fermi pockets. Using the random phase approximation (RPA), we derive the Dyson equation for the transverse susceptibility in the excitonic SDW state. The Dyson equation is solved for two different two-band models, describing an antiferromagnetic insulator and metal, respectively. We determine the collective spin-wave dispersions and also consider the single-particle continua. The results for the excitonic models are compared with each other and also contrasted with the well-known SDW state of the Hubbard model. Despite the qualitatively different SDW states in the two excitonic models, their magnetic response shows many similarities. We conclude with a discussion of the relevance of the excitonic SDW scenario to the iron pnictides.