Spin selectivity through time-reversal symmetric helical junctions
Yasuhiro Utsumi, O. Entin‐Wohlman, Amnon Aharony
Abstract
The observation of chiral-induced spin selectivity in biological molecules still awaits a full theoretical explanation. Many theoretical proposals were limited by Bardarson's theorem, which forbids spin selectivity for single-channel transport between two terminals coupled by a time-reversal symmetric Hamiltonian. This paper offers a new possible explanation: spin selectivity can arise for helical molecules with only the time-reversal symmetric intra-atomic spin-orbit interaction, provided that the helical chain has two orbital states, e.g., the carbon $p$ states.
Topics & Concepts
SelectivityHamiltonian (control theory)Spin (aerodynamics)MoleculePhysicsCondensed matter physicsChemistryMolecular physicsQuantum mechanicsMathematicsThermodynamicsCatalysisMathematical optimizationBiochemistryMolecular Junctions and NanostructuresQuantum and electron transport phenomenaAdvanced NMR Techniques and Applications