Coherent spin waves in a maximal entropy phase

Abstract

In solids, disorder is conventionally regarded as detrimental to coherence. It typically localizes and dampens collective excitations, as exemplified by Anderson localization or the broadening of magnetic modes in systems lacking long-range order. While high-entropy materials are specifically designed to harness disorder and stabilize homogeneous mixed-phase structures that can display unique properties, this same disorder is nonetheless expected to preclude the formation of coherent magnetic excitations. To test the limits of this picture, we selected the antiferromagnetic system YBaCuFeO5, as it features two distinct transition metal atoms with significantly different magnetic moments, rendering its spin dynamics exceptionally sensitive to local atomic ordering. Combining resonant inelastic x-ray scattering and linear spin wave theory, we reveal a surprising paradox: YBaCuFeO5 exhibits an unexpected, entropy-driven mixed phase, in which disorder, rather than reducing the lifetime of the collective excitations, favors coherence. In this mixed phase, the spin waves remain dispersive, markedly distinct from those expected for an ordered ground state, and exhibit well-defined acoustic and optical branches separated by a large optical gap. These results demonstrate that in entropy-stabilized magnets, disorder can favor coherent collective modes previously thought to be exclusive to low-entropy systems.