The spin-dependent propagation of electrons in helical nanowires is investigated. We show that the interplay of spin angular momentum and nanowire chirality, under spin-orbit interaction, lifts the symmetry between left and right propagating electrons, giving rise to a velocity asymmetry. The study is based on a microscopic tight-binding model that takes into account the spin-orbit interaction. The continuity equation for the spin-dependent probability density is derived, including the spin non-conserving terms, and quantum dynamics calculations are performed to obtain the electron propagating dynamics. The calculations are applied to the inorganic double-helix SnIP, a quasi-1D material that constitutes a semiconductor with a band gap of ~ 1.9 eV. The results, nevertheless, have general validity due to symmetry considerations. The relation of the propagation velocity asymmetry with the phenomena ascribed to the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect is examined.
@article{arxiv.2109.03629,
title = {Chirality Induced Propagation Velocity Asymmetry},
author = {Diego A. Hoff and Luis G. C. Rego},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.03629},
year = {2021}
}