Current-Driven Symmetry Breaking and Spin-Orbit Polarization in Chiral Wires

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• The relationship between molecular chirality and electron spin polarization is a key area of research.
• Understanding spin dynamics in chiral systems is crucial for spintronics applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether geometric chirality intrinsically induces spin polarization in current-carrying electrons.
• To explore the interplay of charge current, spin, and orbital dynamics in chiral molecular systems.

Main Methods:

• Employing ab initio real-time time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT) for direct simulation.
• Analyzing nonequilibrium currents and their effect on symmetry constraints (screw rotation, time-reversal).

Main Results:

• Dynamically correlated emergence of spin and orbital angular momenta.
• Concomitant loss of translational (linear) momentum observed.
• Current-driven symmetry lowering identified as the underlying mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Geometric chirality can intrinsically induce spin polarization in electron currents.
• The findings offer insights into chirality-induced spin selectivity.
• The mechanism has implications for designing advanced spintronics devices.