Chiral control of electron transmission through molecules.
Electron transmission through chiral molecules induced by circularly polarized light can be very different for mirror-image structures, a peculiar fact given that the electronic energy spectra of the systems are identical. We propose that this asymmetry--as large as 10% for resonant transport--arises from different dynamical responses of the mirrored structures to coherent excitation. This behavior is described in the context of a general novel phenomenon of current transfer (transfer of charge with its momentum information) and accounts for the observed asymmetry and its dependence on structure.
Skourtis
Spiros S
SS
Department of Physics, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus.
Beratan
David N
DN
Naaman
Ron
R
Nitzan
Abraham
A
Waldeck
David H
DH
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004583:Electrons; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry
D010455:Peptides; D004247:DNA