2025/05/09 by Pius M. Theiler, Sander Driessen, Theiler, Pius M. +3 · 1 citation
Chemistry · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #81Q80 #81R05 #81V70 #82D37 #Advanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions #FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures #Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2505.06173
openalex publication_date 2025/05/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
For over two decades, the role of structural chirality in spin polarization has been widely investigated, with implications for the origins of life, catalysis, and quantum phenomena. Yet, it remains unclear whether all chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effects arise from a common mechanism. We show that breaking all mirror symmetries in structurally chiral electron systems enforces a twin-pair electron exchange, inherently violating both parity P and time-reversal T symmetry while preserving combined PT-symmetry of the Hamiltonian. This exchange produces chiral quantum states where electron spin and motion are intrinsically linked, a key feature of CISS. At interfaces, these states drive spin and charge accumulation via spin-momentum locking. Our findings establish a new paradigm connecting quantum statistics, non-Hermitian physics, and spin transport with structural chirality. This framework unifies all observed CISS effects and provides guiding principles for designing chiral materials for spintronic and quantum applications.