Quantum mechanics

Magnetic field

Spin (aerodynamics)

Chemical physics

Pion

Materials science

Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model

Electronic structure

Thermodynamics

Chiral anomaly

Physics

Mathematics

Fermion

Molecular physics

Condensed matter physics

Circular polarization

Combinatorics

Chirality (physics)

Electron

Topology (electrical circuits)

Spin polarization

Chiral perturbation theory

Nature Materials

Topological aspects of the geometry of DNA and similar chiral molecules have received a lot of attention, while the topology of their electronic structure is less explored. Previous experiments have revealed that DNA can efficiently filter spin-polarized electrons between metal contacts, a process called chiral-induced spin-selectivity (CISS). However, the underlying correlation between chiral structure and electronic spin remains elusive. In this work, we reveal an orbital texture in the band structure, a topological characteristic induced by the chirality. We find that this orbital texture enables the chiral molecule to polarize the quantum orbital. This orbital polarization effect (OPE) induces spin polarization assisted by the spin-orbit interaction from a metal contact and leads to magnetorestistance and chiral separation. The orbital angular momentum of photoelectrons also plays an essential role in related photoemission experiments. Beyond CISS, we predict that OPE can induce spin-selective phenomena even in achiral but inversion-breaking materials.

Chirality-driven topological electronic structure of DNA-like materials