Interplay between friction and spin-orbit coupling as a source of spin polarization

TL;DR

This paper investigates how friction and spin-orbit coupling together induce spin polarization in a quantum model, explaining experimental observations in chiral molecules and their magnetic properties.

Contribution

It introduces a one-dimensional quantum model demonstrating that friction enhances spin polarization even at moderate SOC levels, linking it to chiral molecule behavior.

Findings

Strong spin polarization occurs with moderate SOC when friction is high.

The model explains the magnetic properties of chiral molecules and Shiba-like states.

Results align with recent experimental data on chiral molecule transport.

Abstract

We study an effective one-dimensional quantum model that includes friction and spin-orbit coupling (SOC), and show that the model exhibits spin polarization when both terms are finite. Most important, strong spin polarization can be observed even for moderate SOC, provided that friction is strong. Our findings might help to explain the pronounced effect of chirality on spin distribution and transport in chiral molecules. In particular, our model implies static magnetic properties of a chiral molecule, which lead to Shiba-like states when a molecule is placed on a superconductor, in accordance with recent experimental data.