arXiv · 1110.0354
Spin selective transport through helical molecular systems
Abstract
Highly spin selective transport of electrons through a helically shaped electrostatic potential is demonstrated in the frame of a minimal model approach. The effect is significant even in the case of weak spin-orbit coupling. Two main factors determine the selectivity, an unconventional Rashba- like spin-orbit interaction, reflecting the helical symmetry of the system, and a weakly dispersive electronic band of the helical system. The weak electronic coupling, associated with the small dispersion, leads to a low mobility of the charges in the system and allows even weak spin-orbit interactions to be effective. The results are expected to be generic for chiral molecular systems displaying low spin-orbit coupling and low conductivity.
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R. Gutierrez, E. Diaz, R. Naaman, G. Cuniberti. 2011-12-20. Spin selective transport through helical molecular systems. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.85.081404
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