Electron transfer and spin–orbit coupling: Can nuclear motion lead to spin selective rates?
Suraj S. Chandran, Yanze Wu, Hung-Hsuan Teh, David H. Waldeck, Joseph E. Subotnik
Abstract
We investigate a spin-boson inspired model of electron transfer, where the diabatic coupling is given by a position-dependent phase, eiWx. We consider both equilibrium and nonequilibrium initial conditions. We show that, for this model, all equilibrium results are completely invariant to the sign of W (to infinite order). However, the nonequilibrium results do depend on the sign of W, suggesting that photo-induced electron transfer dynamics with spin–orbit coupling can exhibit electronic spin polarization (at least for some time).
Topics & Concepts
DiabaticNon-equilibrium thermodynamicsPhysicsSpin–orbit interactionCoupling (piping)ElectronSpin (aerodynamics)Condensed matter physicsSpin polarizationAtomic physicsQuantum mechanicsMaterials scienceThermodynamicsAdiabatic processMetallurgyMolecular Junctions and NanostructuresPhotochemistry and Electron Transfer StudiesSpectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies