Energy dependence of the spin excitation anisotropy in uniaxial-strained BaFe1.9Ni0.1As2

We use inelastic neutron scattering to study the temperature and energy dependence of the spin excitation anisotropy in uniaxial-strained electron-doped iron pnictide BaFe${}_{1.9}$Ni${}_{0.1}$As${}_2$ near optimal superconductivity ($T_c=20$ K). Our work has been motivated by the observation of in-plane resistivity anisotropy in the paramagnetic tetragonal phase of electron-underdoped iron pnictides under uniaxial pressure, which has been attributed to a spin-driven Ising-nematic state or orbital ordering. Here we show that the spin excitation anisotropy, a signature of the spin-driven Ising-nematic phase, exists for energies below $\sim$60 meV in uniaxial-strained BaFe${}_{1.9}$Ni${}_{0.1}$As${}_2$. Since this energy scale is considerably larger than the energy splitting of the $d_{xz}$ and $d_{yz}$ bands of uniaxial-strained Ba(Fe${}_{1-x}$Co${}_x$)${}_2$As${}_2$ near optimal superconductivity, spin Ising-nematic correlations is likely the driving force for the resistivity anisotropy and associated electronic nematic correlations.