Wave-particle duality of electrons with spin-momentum locking

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin-momentum locking influences electron interference and diffraction patterns in systems with spin-orbit interaction, revealing geometry-dependent modifications in quantum behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of spin-momentum locking on interference patterns, highlighting the role of spin degrees of freedom in quantum electron experiments.

Findings

Interference patterns are altered by spin-momentum locking.

Diffraction patterns depend on system geometry due to spin effects.

Spin-orbit coupling modifies quantum interference phenomena.

Abstract

We investigate the effects of spin-momentum locking on the interference and diffraction patterns due to a double- or single-slit in an electronic \emph{Gedankenexperiment}. We show that the inclusion of the spin-degree-of-freedom, when coupled to the motion direction of the carrier -- a typical situation that occurs in systems with spin-orbit interaction -- leads to a modification of the interference and diffraction patterns that depend on the geometrical parameters of the system.