Work

Chirality-Induced Spin–Orbit Coupling and Spin Selectivity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We show that a spinor traveling along a one-dimensional helical path develops a spin-orbit coupling as a result of the curvature of the path. We estimate the magnitude of the associated spin polarization and obtain values typical of many helical molecular structures that showcase the Chirality-induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect. We find that this chirality-induced spin-orbit coupling (χ-SOC), in conjunction with broken time-reversal symmetry, may be an important ingredient for the microscopic underpinning of the CISS phenomenon.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry A

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.5c05383

Authors: Massimiliano Di Ventra, Rafael Gutierrez, Gianaurelio Cuniberti

Institutions: University of California San Diego, Max Bergmann Zentrum für Biomaterialien, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science

Language: English

Topic: Quantum and electron transport phenomena

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award: G4609112713