Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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TT: Fachverband Tiefe Temperaturen

TT 34: Transport: Molecular Electronics (jointly with CPP, HL, MA)

TT 34.11: Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 12:15–12:30, H2

Spin selective transport in chiral systems — •Rafael Gutierrez, Thomas Brumme, and Gianaurelio Cuniberti — Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden University of Technology, 01062 Dresden, Germany

Recent experiments have demonstrated that the transmission of electrons through layers of chiral molecules can be strongly spin-dependent [1,2]. Here, we extend a previous model [3] to discuss the interrelation between the observed effect and the presence of a spin-orbit coupling interaction induced by helical electrostatic fields. Hereby, we present a minimal model Hamiltonian based on a representation of the Schroedinger equation on a helical pathway and discuss the influence of several parameters on the spin polarization. Complementary to it, full 3D wave packet propagation is discussed in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. Our results suggest that a spin polarization can be induced as a result of the symmetry of the system. However, it appears that a full 3D description of the problem may be necessary.
[1] B. Goehler, V. Hamelbeck, T. Z. Markus, M. Kettner, G. F. Hanne, Z. Vager, R. Naaman, H. Zacharias, Science 331, 894 (2011)
Z. Xie, T. Z. Markus, S. R. Cohen, Z. Vager, R. Gutierrez, R. Naaman, Nano Letters 11, 4652 (2011)
R. Gutierrez, E. Diaz, R. Naaman, G. Cuniberti, Phys. Rev. B 85, 081404(R) (2012)